抄録
Pornography for heterosexual men prominently displays a gender–disproportionate allocation of the gaze. The question of whom the viewer identifies with, shaped by the gaze constituting pornography involves the power of not only oppression over women but also subjectification over men. However, discourse on the relationship between pornography and identification oscillates between attributing a near–singular effect to techniques and overestimating the potential for diverse interpretations. Therefore, this paper uses male–oriented adult videos as an illustrative case to explore the ways in which visual techniques shape viewer identification with female or male personas. The analysis elucidates that identification is influenced by visual techniques but remains open to various intrinsic possibilities encapsulated within the images.
This paper introduces the concept of “point of view (POV)” and subjective objectification termed “semi–subjective” image. The prevalent screen composition in male–oriented pornography, centering the actress, could be potentially perceived as prioritizing identification with women, especially when interpreted as a female semi–subjective image. Moreover, contextual factors and selective viewing practices in AVs allow for the possibility of “misinterpretation” for viewers to identify with women. Male semi–subjective images sometimes appeared simultaneously with POV, which are usually incompatible, as in cubism.
Consequently, this paper reveals that male–oriented adult videos are a visual culture with a unique style, in which the technique has an effect that differs from that of film. The study elucidates that while identification is guided by the technique, the potential for gendering to the opposite sex is
inherently depicted in pornography.
