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Centre for Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies (CCLPS)

Mr Art Mitchells-Urwin

BA Southeast Asian Studies (SOAS), MA Gender Studies (SOAS)

Overview

Art Mitchells-Urwin
Name:
Mr Art Mitchells-Urwin
Email address:
Thesis title:
Representations of the Thai body and locality within Western-produced pornography: Interactions and responses from those within and outside of the pornographic screen
Internal Supervisors

PhD Research

The discussions regarding contemporary pornography have, during the 20th and 21st century, ranged from feminist anti-porn rhetoric, religious and legal objections and latterly to the social effects of pornography and erotica. The intersections of race and pornography have been touched upon in previous academic discourses, however these have not adequately incorporated an acknowledgement of the cross-cultural audiences of pornography, nor the overt intersections of any remnants of colonial or postcolonial sentiment within the pornographic arena.

Taking as its subject the Thai body and Thai locality, as identified in the diegesis of Western-produced pornography, my research incorporates psychoanalysis, postcolonial theory and anthropological discussions (specifically that of ethnofiction) into the predominant methodology. This textual analysis incorporates discussions of corporeal, verbal and other abstract forms of interactions between the Western and Thai bodies within such pornographic representations.

Providing empirical evidence in order to collaborate the analytical aspects of this research, a multi-site and online ethnographic survey will be undertaken. Conducted during the period of fieldwork in Thailand, Thai respondents will be surveyed as to their own usage and responses to the particular pornography they choose to use, or are able to access, within Thailand.

The ultimate aim of the research is to demonstrate that both static and changing cross-cultural relations are observable within the pornographic screen, and that issues such as access, taboos and illegality interact with Thai responses to pornographic representations of themselves and others.