Lecture on "A Billion Wicked Thoughts" and Gendered Pornographic Fantasies

Introduction

• Book: "A Billion Wicked Thoughts"
  • Authors: Google engineers
  • Topic: Analysis of billions of Google searches

The Role of Pornography in Internet Development

• Early internet development driven by young men's searches for sexually provocative images.
• Pornographic content was a significant driver in advancing internet technology.

Analysis Methodology

• Approach: Google engineers analyzed pornographic search processes.
• Segregation: Male vs. Female searches
• Engineers used plot analysis to study typical female pornographic fantasies.
• Unconventional approach by engineers (vs. social scientists) led to new discoveries.

Findings: Female Pornographic Fantasy

• Basic Plot: Innocent, well-meaning young woman encounters a male "monster".
• Types of Male Monsters: Vampire, Werewolf, Billionaire, Pirate, Surgeon.
• Recurring themes:
  • Dominance and Aggression: Central to male figures.
  • Taming the Aggressive Male: Core narrative of the female hero myth (e.g., Beauty and the Beast).

Psychological Implications

• Female Preferences: Desire for aggression mixed with taming fantasy.
  • Aggression as Vital: Necessary yet dangerous, requires civilization.
• Taming of Chaos: Female role in seducing and taming the aggressive male figures.

Broader Context

• Pop Culture: Popularity of vampire and werewolf themes in media (Netflix, etc.).
• Gender Dynamics: Male dominance hierarchy reflected in fantastical preferences.
• Complexity: Female fantasies seen as more intricate and complex, mirroring real-life scenarios.

Conclusion

• These findings open up new ways of understanding gendered sexual fantasies and their implications on both internet development and societal norms.