Chris Brickell Importance Of The Internet

1535 Words7 Pages

The introduction of the internet has changed the way individuals communicate and interact. It has led to new ways to create culture and community and has even brought about new forms of intimacy (Hillier & Harrison 2007, p. 83, Zhao 2006, p.459 & 472). Michael W. Ross goes a step further and suggests that the internet has helped to shape sexual culture ( 2005, p. 349), and argues that it has not necessarily transformed sexuality, but rather it has transfigured it. He said, “it has illuminated certain aspects of it so that they stand out from their equivalent social sexual interactions” (2005, p. 342). Often times individuals who are attracted to the same-sex may have negative experiences out in the world, but the internet can provide a place …show more content…

The number of outlets sexuality is expressed on the internet ranges from music and sexual health information sites, to confessional sites and dating websites (2012, p. 28). Brickell uses multiple different theoretical perspectives to strengthen his argument regarding the importance of the internet on sexuality. He acknowledges Foucault’s work on discourse and subjectivity, as well as the Althusserian account of interpellation (2012, p. 31). Brickell also mentions the ‘symbolic interactionist writings’ on how people may present themselves in certain social situations. The internet gives people the ability to establish themselves, whether it be through Facebook, Myspace or any other social media outlet (2012, p. 30). People, no matter their sexual orientation, can control how they present themselves and in turn, they can create and convey the specific gender identity that they wish to portray to society (2012, p. 31). This gives people the opportunity to express their sexuality in an outlet where they have control over what society …show more content…

Each method has it’s own benefits. In work by Dimaggio et al, referring to their study about the internet and the importance it plays on human nature, they said that they “encourage sociologists to synthesis existing research findings in order to further our understanding” (2001, p. 308). This supports Brickell’s method of viewing other