Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

202209

Prosthetic intimacy

Alex Lambert

pp. 95-114

Abstract

In this Chapter I discuss the various social surveillance practices my participants engage in on an everyday basis while using Facebook. I emphasise the role of intimacy and social context in structuring how and why surveillance takes place, and what consequences result. I build up to a discussion of voyeuristic 'spying" and the way it 'steals' intimacies from weak ties in order to morally and biographically articulate the self. Because of its distinctly artificial qualities, I term this process "prosthetic intimacy". It can be contrasted with the more natural, 'symbiotic" intimacy which is produced from watching and interacting with close friends. Finally, I discuss how Facebook affords a kind of subjective truth-giving, constituted through the mediated gaze, which I term first-hand judgement. This becomes significant in the following chapter, as this gaze can often make participants feel objectified and dissatisfied with Facebook.

Publication details

Published in:

Lambert Alex (2013) Intimacy and friendship on Facebook. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.

Pages: 95-114

DOI: 10.1057/9781137287144_7

Full citation:

Lambert Alex (2013) Prosthetic intimacy, In: Intimacy and friendship on Facebook, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 95–114.