Hanging, blowing, slamming and playing: Erotic control and overflow in a digital chemsex scene

Abstract

Based on participant observation, this article details the use of methamphetamine (crystal meth) in a social scene mediated by a video conferencing service similar to Zoom. Taking an affective-materialist approach and applying concepts from play theory, it describes the visual erotic culture that emerges in the 100 simultaneous videos of drug-using people, mostly men. It details the scene’s modulation of temporality, how drug use is performed in relationship to numerous screens and the way ceremonialization counters the platformed deintensification. Finally, it discusses how digital chemsex encounters might overflow categories of gender and sexuality, and how the article may enrich the study of drugged sexual play.