Homebodies

Homebodies: Performance and Intimacy in the Age of New Media sheds light on a fascinating yet often overlooked phenomenon: how ordinary people transform their private lives into captivating performances for the digital stage. Focusing on home dance videos shared on Instagram from 2010 to 2020, the b...

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Main Authors: Porter, L. Archer, Porter, Lindsey Archer
Format: Online
Language:English
Published: Michigan State University Press 2026
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Online Access:https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/110788
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author Porter, L. Archer
Porter, Lindsey Archer
author_browse Porter, L. Archer
Porter, Lindsey Archer
author_facet Porter, L. Archer
Porter, Lindsey Archer
author_sort Porter, L. Archer
collection Directory of Open Access Books
description Homebodies: Performance and Intimacy in the Age of New Media sheds light on a fascinating yet often overlooked phenomenon: how ordinary people transform their private lives into captivating performances for the digital stage. Focusing on home dance videos shared on Instagram from 2010 to 2020, the book explores the delicate art of "intimaesthetics"—the aestheticization of intimacy through the interplay of body, space, and media—and the paradox of the homebody. These seemingly spontaneous performances reveal how users craft images of closeness and authenticity, drawing audiences into a curated version of their domestic lives. Yet, Porter argues, these intimate portrayals exist within a larger system of platform control, algorithmic surveillance, and the commodification of personal expression. Porter utilizes hand-drawn illustrations in place of screenshots, which reflects their commitment to critiquing the exploitative dynamics of digital visibility while respecting the personal nature of the media studied. By examining the intersection of personal agency, algorithmic control, and the commodification of authenticity, Homebodies provides a nuanced understanding of how technology redefines intimacy, identity, and creativity in the twenty-first century.
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publishDate 2026
publishDateRange 2026
publishDateSort 2026
publisher Michigan State University Press
publisherStr Michigan State University Press
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spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-1740772026-03-19T14:44:36Z Homebodies Porter, L. Archer Porter, Lindsey Archer Intimaesthetics Home dance videos Instagram Social media performance Digital intimacy Choreographed intimacy Algorithmic surveillance Neoliberal commodification Personal branding Digital visibility Homebody Embodiment in media Aestheticization of intimacy Digital culture Self-expression online Domestic performance Candid dancing Moving selfie Nonchalant gestures Home concerts Autochoreography Minor choreography Data commodification Performative identity Algorithmic control Performer agency Platform control Digital aesthetics Media aesthetics thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATQ Dance thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBC Cultural and media studies::JBCT Media studies thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATD Theatre studies thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATX Other performing arts Homebodies: Performance and Intimacy in the Age of New Media sheds light on a fascinating yet often overlooked phenomenon: how ordinary people transform their private lives into captivating performances for the digital stage. Focusing on home dance videos shared on Instagram from 2010 to 2020, the book explores the delicate art of "intimaesthetics"—the aestheticization of intimacy through the interplay of body, space, and media—and the paradox of the homebody. These seemingly spontaneous performances reveal how users craft images of closeness and authenticity, drawing audiences into a curated version of their domestic lives. Yet, Porter argues, these intimate portrayals exist within a larger system of platform control, algorithmic surveillance, and the commodification of personal expression. Porter utilizes hand-drawn illustrations in place of screenshots, which reflects their commitment to critiquing the exploitative dynamics of digital visibility while respecting the personal nature of the media studied. By examining the intersection of personal agency, algorithmic control, and the commodification of authenticity, Homebodies provides a nuanced understanding of how technology redefines intimacy, identity, and creativity in the twenty-first century. 2026-03-19T14:44:35Z 2026-03-19T14:44:35Z 2026-03-02T17:49:18Z 2026 book https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/110788 9780472905454 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/174077 eng open access image/jpeg Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/110788/1/9780472905454.pdf Michigan State University Press University of Michigan Press 10.3998/mpub.14524406 10.3998/mpub.14524406 aa7f6664-5117-41d8-90f8-c3af56526b92 9780472905454 University of Michigan Press 258 open access
spellingShingle Intimaesthetics
Home dance videos
Instagram
Social media performance
Digital intimacy
Choreographed intimacy
Algorithmic surveillance
Neoliberal commodification
Personal branding
Digital visibility
Homebody
Embodiment in media
Aestheticization of intimacy
Digital culture
Self-expression online
Domestic performance
Candid dancing
Moving selfie
Nonchalant gestures
Home concerts
Autochoreography
Minor choreography
Data commodification
Performative identity
Algorithmic control
Performer agency
Platform control
Digital aesthetics
Media aesthetics
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATQ Dance
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBC Cultural and media studies::JBCT Media studies
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATD Theatre studies
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATX Other performing arts
Porter, L. Archer
Porter, Lindsey Archer
Homebodies
title Homebodies
title_full Homebodies
title_fullStr Homebodies
title_full_unstemmed Homebodies
title_short Homebodies
title_sort homebodies
topic Intimaesthetics
Home dance videos
Instagram
Social media performance
Digital intimacy
Choreographed intimacy
Algorithmic surveillance
Neoliberal commodification
Personal branding
Digital visibility
Homebody
Embodiment in media
Aestheticization of intimacy
Digital culture
Self-expression online
Domestic performance
Candid dancing
Moving selfie
Nonchalant gestures
Home concerts
Autochoreography
Minor choreography
Data commodification
Performative identity
Algorithmic control
Performer agency
Platform control
Digital aesthetics
Media aesthetics
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATQ Dance
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBC Cultural and media studies::JBCT Media studies
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATD Theatre studies
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATX Other performing arts
topic_facet Intimaesthetics
Home dance videos
Instagram
Social media performance
Digital intimacy
Choreographed intimacy
Algorithmic surveillance
Neoliberal commodification
Personal branding
Digital visibility
Homebody
Embodiment in media
Aestheticization of intimacy
Digital culture
Self-expression online
Domestic performance
Candid dancing
Moving selfie
Nonchalant gestures
Home concerts
Autochoreography
Minor choreography
Data commodification
Performative identity
Algorithmic control
Performer agency
Platform control
Digital aesthetics
Media aesthetics
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATQ Dance
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBC Cultural and media studies::JBCT Media studies
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATD Theatre studies
thema EDItEUR::A The Arts::AT Performing arts::ATX Other performing arts
url https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/110788
work_keys_str_mv AT porterlarcher homebodies
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