The article (which I did read, albeit somewhat impatiently) was
talking about conflicts that arise from the self's exposure to "a
bloody and oppressed history", and presents "the sensual physical
world" as something that can be opposed to that history. So the
conflict is presented as being between an inherently good and
delightful sexual self, and an inherently oppressive and evil
historical circumstance. I think that's rather naive.
I also think it's a bit silly to suggest that racists and homophobes
necessarily fear the "sensual physical world", and that evoking or
inhabiting that world is necessarily an act of resistance to the
imperatives behind racist and homophobic crimes. Some of the most
startlingly wicked and hateful people in human history have also been
indulgent sensualists.
Dominic
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 23:42:25 +1100, Alison Croggon
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> On 15/3/05 11:36 PM, "Dominic Fox" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Incidentally, where does this idea that the poetic articulation of
> > erotic longing will help to construct a more mutually respectful
> > social milieu come from? It seems like wishful thinking at best to me.
> > I don't find in my sexual makeup a great deal that would be of use in
> > making a better society.
>
> Hi Dominic
>
> Did you read the essay (from which I distorted that quote in order to write
> a chatty intro)? It says precisely where ideas similar to that (but not
> quite what you're saying here) comes from, in some contemporary indigenous
> writings; and it's an idea that absolutely embraces conflicted selves. "Not
> despite, but because of, a bloody and oppressed history, Indigenous writers
> speak up/from their sexuality, determined to bring pleasure into the
> political arena and beyond. Even mourning for the crimes of racism and
> homophobia, these writers remind us of the sensual physical world that those
> who commit these crimes fear. "
>
> Best
>
> A
>
> Alison Croggon
>
> Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
> Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
> Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
>
--
// Alas, this comparison function can't be total:
// bottom is beyond comparison. - Oleg Kiselyov
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