Presumed Intimacy: Para-social Interaction in Media, Society and Celebrity Culture

by Chris Rojek

‘Presumed intimacy’ refers to a relationship that requires instant trust, confidence, disclosure and the recognition of vulnerability. Chris Rojek investigates the impact of relationships of ‘presumed intimacy’, where audiences form strong identifications with mediated others, whether they be celebrities, political personae or online friends. Arguing that the way the media are able to manage these relationships is a significant aspect of their power structure, the core of the book is an investigation into the complicity of the media in encouraging presumed intimacy and the cultural, social and political consequences arising from this. Beyond this, it examines how intimacy is performed as a masquerade in many social settings – the scripts we follow in social settings that try to manufacture a shortcut to intimacy.

A compelling look into mediated relationships in the network society, Presumed Intimacy will be a key contribution to the critical analysis of society, media and culture.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Sociology, Technology, American

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2015

About the author

Chris Rojek is Professor of Sociology and Culture at Nottingham Trent University, UK.
In 2003 he was awarded the Allen V. Sapora Award for outstanding achievement in the field of Leisure Studies.

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The term "para-social relationship," to put it simply, refers to relationships that are one-sided in which one participant feels that they deeply know, understand, and identify with the other in the relationship. The other in this relationship has no or almost no knowledge of that participant. An example of this would be a fan of a movie star who follows every single detail in that movie star's life. That fan would feel a deep relationship to the star, but the star would probably not even know of the existence of that particular fan.

In this book, Rojek examines para-social relationships in media, politics, and society. Rojek considers this at both the individual and at the societal level. However, there is much more coverage of the societal level than the individual level. So if you were thinking of reading this from a fan studies perspective, this may not be the book you want to read if you would like to focus on fans as individuals.

As for the topics, the coverage is quite broad, which can be a good thing and a bad thing. As an introductory text, it could be considered a positive point. However, there are times when it feels like Rojek has gone off on a tangent. For example, there is a section defending the tenure system at universities. At the moment, I can't say how that connects to para-social relationships. Perhaps it is a book that requires more than one reading to digest it.

[Dosia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fucken finally. I was sure I've been reading this since March, turns out I started only in May 😅

The main thing I'm gonna remember from this book is dense writing. Gosh I wish it was more accessible. Still I enjoyed learning about the topic. "Presumed intimacy" is definitely going to inspire my reading choices in the future.

[cathy]

read for a disastrous uni paper

[Thijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A critical take on para-social relationships. Impressive theoretical frameworks like Habermas’s ‘constitutional patriotism', therefore not a light read. Rojek introduces some interesting concepts and thoughts like 'gestural economy', the difficulty of living with statistical men and women, and the increase in 'mediated emotions' experiences.