Final answer:
Audre Lorde associates the erotic with sensuality and physical pleasure, which encompasses a broad range of sensory experiences and a deep connection to one's capacities for joy and fulfillment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Uses of the Erotic, Audre Lorde primarily associates the erotic with sensuality and physical pleasure. Lorde's conceptualization of the erotic extends beyond the narrow definition of sexual acts. Instead, she views the erotic as a source of power and a lens through which women can experience joy and fulfillment in various aspects of their lives, including the intellectual and the spiritual.
The erotic, as Lorde explains, is about feeling and sensation. It involves not just the physical act, but the totality of sensory experiences that contribute to an individual's understanding and enjoyment of the world. This connection with the erotic lends a quality of satisfaction that enhances all aspects of life, by encouraging a pursuit of excellence and genuine engagement. However, beyond mere sensation, the erotic is also integrally connected to our capacity for feeling deeply about the things we do, enabling us to invest ourselves fully and derive pleasure from our most meaningful endeavors.