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'An aphorism, properly stamped and molded, has not been "deciphered" when it has simply been read; rather one has then to begin its interpretation, for which is required an art of interpretation.' -- Nietzsche, 'On the Genealogy of Morals'

In favour of fetishism « Previous | |Next »
January 15, 2004

Gary, I read your latest contribution after I made my last entry, which is why I appeared to ignore what you had to say. Since then I’ve read what you said on fetishism, and while that might be okay as far as it goes, it’s not relevant to what I was talking about. That’s why I suggested that we forget about the social issues for a moment. I wanted to talk about the artistic effect on the viewing audience of works like Tanner’s and Newton’s. We’re talking about an effect that is akin to a shock effect. It may effect some people as revulsion. Talking about fetishes is just a way of changing the subject.

In any case, I’m not sure that Newton is portraying a fetish. This whole notion of fetishes presupposes a notion of normal sexual activity, or some such. But what’s normal? Imagine a roadworker standing in the bar. “Have another drink Fred?” “No, I promised the missus I’d be home early. We’re gonna do the business tonight.” Is this normal? It sounds a bit ritualistic. Fred is obviously not normal at all.

Quentin Crisp said that being healthy was having the same diseases as everybody else. Is being normal something like being healthy? Is the missionary position normal? Should we be naked or clothed? Is foreplay okay? If so, how much? Isn’t Newton depicting a kind of foreplay?

Perhaps a lot of us are kind of diminished human beings. We’d like to have good sex but somehow it has all become something of a routine. Perhaps we’re all a bit like Fred? And perhaps Newton is just reminding us of it.

Anyway, I reckon Newton is an artist. I think I can see a phantasm ticking away there in his work, even if I can’t say what it is.

| Posted by at 2:17 PM | | Comments (2)
Comments

Comments

Look over you sight, you may catch sight of something of interest.

i dig what Quentin Crisp said! you get alotta sex yaself? :) gotta run!