Ars Erotica
The beginning of dialogue
“Every time desire is betrayed, cursed, uprooted from its field of immanence, a priest is behind it. The priest cast the triple curse on desire: the negative law, the extrinsic rule, and the transcendental ideal”- Deleuze
Michel Foucault meditated a lot on sexuality and power; he concluded that throughout history sexuality always has been repressed. But approaches of sexuality in west and east were different. In Eastern society, it was an "Ars erotica", "erotic art", where sex is seen as an art and a special experience and not something dirty and shameful. It is something to be kept secret, but only because of the view that it would lose its power and its pleasure if spoken about. In Western society, on the other hand, something completely different has been created, what Foucault calls "scientia sexualis", the science of sexuality. Once sexuality became an object of scientific investigation, it lost its sacred nature; it lost its subjective nature. What was the consequence? It became an object to be exploited, to be analyzed, over all it became an object for political as well as psychological discourse. It was treated as merely a biological instinct which could be mastered through various mechanical techniques and discourses. Suddenly, Sex became biggest issue in sociology, literature, cinema, art and philosophy. Earlier it was repressed by moral philosophers, now it became a discourse it self; directed against all posteriori thoughts or ideologies. Christianity was attacked from every side. It was declared that Christianity is a moral philosophy in which it is considered that repression of sexuality is a precondition for a healthy society.
In west sexuality became most important issue, over and around it philosophers started meditating; it became subject for all kinds of logies. It is considered to be an epicenter of all powers. It is most secret bomb, if cleverly used it can destroy whole humanity. Thus a new theory of power has been conceptualized, a law has been discovered which can make the empire a -real Empire. What this Bomb is? It is a biological weapon but this time it will not be bombarded physically rather will be inserted in peoples mind through visual bombardment or ideational bombardment. Sex which was kept most secret and sacred must come in open. Thus sex education became urgent task for neo educationists; a child may or may not know about various truths about her/his subject, society or culture but it is must for him/her to know how to perform sex well. A girl child must know why she menstruates in order to know that she is physically adult and can make sex. Sex is not bad thing, it is good for health, and it makes man free.
To be free means, have sex and more in number. Every thing is associated with sex from tangible to intangible- perfume, car, bike, television sets, soap, cloth etc up to cinema, art, dance, drama, music etc. The root mantra of this kind of postmodernism is – “if a song is being sung, sing a song of sex and orgasm.” And lo, it is very finely tuned. In India, every where, this esotericism is being promoted by progressive bourgeoisies- intellectuals and pseudo-Marxists. Saffron brigade have come out opposing that this sex-song should not be sung, while liberals are crying it must be sung in order to liberate the society. The artists from various fields creating art objects in order to sodomize people suggest that every thing should loss its sanctity for revelation of artistic truth. Cinema actresses with their sodomizing body (far they no longer have brain or nerves or chest or stomach or guts. All they have is skin.) have come out in open to wage a war of freedom for open sex. Now sex is opening its wing, a long cherished desire to fuck mummy- papa, to attain its real desire- the Oedipal.
In the west it is already becoming, see how a big porn industry is offering sex with mummy-son, daughter-father, sis-brother, grandpa-granddaughter etc to the people. Who wants to “play Oedipus”? We the people! Postmodernists suggest that it can be achieved through intensifying the innate sexual urge( what Lyotard terms intensities). Michel Foucault says that in post -modern capitalist society through control of people’s innate sexual urge control over society is gained. Since in a free society like postmodern society which is more like communism in the ground of relationship; law will be ineffective because there will be no society as such rather there will be groups structured in a fabric called ‘bio political fabric’. Therefore only the philosophy of orgy will be eternal law which will control them since they will be like animals. Just like dog that is controlled by food of interest people will be controlled.
This postmodern philosophy is rooted in “biologism” from which “bio-politics” appears: the political ideology of the future. The new political ideology will produce a new kind of subjectivity in order to control the society from within. This new subjectivity is instinctual, like standardized machine parts produced in the mass factory. Instinctual subjectivity is solely guided by sex and other biological instincts and will be part of a larger group in which each and every one have the same subjectivity. According to Antonio Negree and Michel Hart the authors of a celebrated book ‘Empire’, “the control of society over individuals is not conducted only through consciousness or ideology, but also in the body and with the body. For capitalist society bio- politics is what is most important, the biological, the somatic, the corporeal.” Man will be treated as machine which can be controlled, put on hold, and engaged in production. According to post modernist philosophers the great individual and financial powers produce not only commodities but also subjectivities. Authors of ‘Empire’ says ‘ they produce agentic subjectivity, they produce needs, social relations, bodies and minds- thus life is made, produced to work for production’. Agentic subjectivity will work for the capitalist production machinery it is a bonded subjectivity which has no individuality.
Exploiters have invented a new thinking, an idea to regulate and use free subjectivities. How they will implement it? Or how they will insert this venom in the society? Through production of language, communication and the symbolic that are developed by communication industry. This is what is going on in India and other under developed countries. In the making of this ‘new order of things’ humanity will loss its individual subjectivity and visual language will play a big role since visual language is most convincing in all the existing languages. This is why postmodern philosophers give much importance to visual language. The new order in which man will be almost machine - body, almost an animal guided by biological instincts will not have any higher goal other than satiation of instincts. Thus ends the discourse on sexuality and order of new society called postmodern society.
Now let us see another view that is of Marxism
The first postmodernist as it is said by many philosophers is Marx; let us have a look what he proposes to humanity. The political philosophy of Marx was from the very outset libidinal since his epistemology revolves around desire. For him, the entire history was nothing but a war for sex. And in this culture plays most vital role. Marx after meditating on history of humanity found that culture is the first field where political war had been waged. So he too proposes it to humanity. For him, “Culture” is culturing of society or group of people (Falun Gong a cultivation practice of ancient China); it has nothing to do with play of life. It is from the very out set political since it was political cultivation for power control. It is like cultivation, breeding of a plant like individuals. From what ‘they are’ to what ‘they should be’ or what they must be. It is imposition of some thought or imagination on majority. ‘Culture’ is not that what people do in a normal course of life, it is a cultivation of what people must do - it is dictatorial in essence. Now, since culture is not created by people but by politicians therefore it should be entirely new. What is sublime must be dismantle in order to create a culture of pleasure. What this new concept of culture is?
It is culture of materiality, machanicality, instinctuality; means what is related to body i.e. pleasure principle. It is a culture of biologism- the scientific. Marx was first who proposed the very concept of scientific humanity which is from epistemological point of view biologism of postmodernism. In past, culture had a religious fervor, but in present, intellectuals of the mainstream society have succeeded in giving it a new fervor-sexuality. Sexuality is not any new thing it is part and parcel of human society. Every one experiences it in the course of life but according to the so called main stream thinkers it was not explored properly. Now in this present age of globalize society sex is the center around which every thing revolves; art, literature, cinema, philosophy, education, every thing is sexual. Sex is sublime, sex is god, goodness everything.
Sex is the center of all human activity. Many intellectuals are referring that humanities first thinking which appeared in art was already porn. When humans discovered the technology of scratching lines on stone, they used it immediately on walls of caves, to draw genitals doing what genitals do.
The first intellectuals of the savage society were from the very beginning pornographic. From these very intellectuals our modern intellectuals learned it, they are inheritors of pornography. With sex these savage men were also war lovers, they also drew lines in caves about wars and hunting. This tradition too they passed to our intellectuals. What these savage intellectuals of yore were thinking and doing in their savage societies is our ideal today. We too are war hungry and sex maniacs. We have not left anything which is not libidinal and political.
Libidinal is political and vice versa (Every political economy is libidinal say Lyotard). Sex-War dyad had always been the goal of political society hence influence on civil society becomes detrimental. War has been always fought for the sex. Conclusion of Marxian meditation on philosophy of politics is war-class struggle and it is for desire-sex. Lyotard gives him another name libidinal Marx. Some times He calls him libidinal economist friend. There is appropriate reason to call Marx libidinal since his whole meditation revolves around production of life i.e. procreation. This desire to procreate leads human beings to produce hence production phenomena appeared and with it society, politics every thing came in to existence. With this production mechanism naturally exploiters came, in prehistoric society too they were existed but their nature of exploitation was solely based on force; while in historic age its nature changed. Now exploitation became more acute and more complex since theories and philosophies of exploitation appeared. When Man in his historic development reached at a historic juncture called capitalism the exploitation phenomena became unbearable and Marx (a theory) was needed to over through it. For what a theory was needed? To make people free from all kinds of bondages and to make them live in a free world where they could peacefully enjoy their instinctual becoming. They could copulate freely with each other without any moral rules and regulations. They will be able to form a society where there will be no mummy- papa, brother-sister, uncle-niece since these relationships are not natural relationships. In this commune every act will be instinctual. People will be as free as animal, there will be no work, no labor, no art, society will achieve its highest goal: Anamality.
According to Marx, in man’s quest for this natural life capitalism have provided many things, science, technology, industry, etc. Though, capitalism too was moving towards anamality but on wrong track. They have torn away all hitherto moral values and family values in order to lead the society towards animality, which was needed; but they unknowingly created proletariats. This new class which is in majority is a big hindrance therefore to settle account with them, capitalism and its philosophy must give way to Marxism. But it is not possible to for capitalism to give up easily since in the making of history of the people they have contributed a lot, they have their vision and hopes. Over all they are enjoying their libidinal inspirations on both levels; physical and mental.
See how Marx questions to the capitalists regarding what they are doing? “our bourgeois, not content with having the wives and daughters of their proletarians at their disposal, not to speak of common prostitutes, take the great pleasure in seducing each other’s wives” Marx tone of chiding in manifesto is like this-“you people in the name of progress fucked daughters and wives of proletarians even each others wives and you question what we are going to do. You question us that we are going to introduce a concept of commune where woman will be enjoyed openly. You people in the name of family established prostitution, who are you to raise any question regarding this? You immoral beasts! Marx has said more clearly about bourgeois family and Marxist concept of emancipation of women –“On what foundation is the present family, the bourgeois family, based? On capital, on private gain. In its completely developed form, this family exists only among the bourgeoisie. But this state of things finds its complement in the practical absence of the family among the proletarians, and in public prostitution.” Against one discourse of exploitation another discourse on exploitation has been introduced by Marxism. Which thought unites Marxism and postmodernism?
This that knowledge is no autonomous entity but is a product of society hence must be marketable, usable for power, exploitation etc. what distinguishes both? This that, in Marxism knowledge is organized towards realization of communist society while postmodernism fixes it in the service of capitalism. Lyotard says that knowledge is no longer organized towards the fulfillment of human goal. Instead towards realization of postmodern society, in which; it is valued in terms of its efficiency and profitability. Though in these two concepts of the use of knowledge, what Lyotard suggests is more universal than Marxian use of knowledge which is dictatorial in intent since it fixes it in the realization of one and only thought called Marxism. In these two concepts, idea of truth is persecuted hence humanity. Human is no longer free, it becomes an entity in the movement of grand narratives or metanarratives or political discourses. In Emmanuel Levinas words man becomes coram deo.
Author is an art critic and writer of three books 'contemporizing Buddha', ' Hindu Tantra Yoga' and 'Concerning The Spiritual In Art-an Indian modern art perspective'. He has been awarded with 'Lalit kala Academy Scholarship Award' for art criticism in 2005. Currently working on a book 'Buddhist tantra yoga'. He lives and works in Delhi India.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rajesh_Shukla
“Every time desire is betrayed, cursed, uprooted from its field of immanence, a priest is behind it. The priest cast the triple curse on desire: the negative law, the extrinsic rule, and the transcendental ideal”- Deleuze
Michel Foucault meditated a lot on sexuality and power; he concluded that throughout history sexuality always has been repressed. But approaches of sexuality in west and east were different. In Eastern society, it was an "Ars erotica", "erotic art", where sex is seen as an art and a special experience and not something dirty and shameful. It is something to be kept secret, but only because of the view that it would lose its power and its pleasure if spoken about. In Western society, on the other hand, something completely different has been created, what Foucault calls "scientia sexualis", the science of sexuality. Once sexuality became an object of scientific investigation, it lost its sacred nature; it lost its subjective nature. What was the consequence? It became an object to be exploited, to be analyzed, over all it became an object for political as well as psychological discourse. It was treated as merely a biological instinct which could be mastered through various mechanical techniques and discourses. Suddenly, Sex became biggest issue in sociology, literature, cinema, art and philosophy. Earlier it was repressed by moral philosophers, now it became a discourse it self; directed against all posteriori thoughts or ideologies. Christianity was attacked from every side. It was declared that Christianity is a moral philosophy in which it is considered that repression of sexuality is a precondition for a healthy society.
In west sexuality became most important issue, over and around it philosophers started meditating; it became subject for all kinds of logies. It is considered to be an epicenter of all powers. It is most secret bomb, if cleverly used it can destroy whole humanity. Thus a new theory of power has been conceptualized, a law has been discovered which can make the empire a -real Empire. What this Bomb is? It is a biological weapon but this time it will not be bombarded physically rather will be inserted in peoples mind through visual bombardment or ideational bombardment. Sex which was kept most secret and sacred must come in open. Thus sex education became urgent task for neo educationists; a child may or may not know about various truths about her/his subject, society or culture but it is must for him/her to know how to perform sex well. A girl child must know why she menstruates in order to know that she is physically adult and can make sex. Sex is not bad thing, it is good for health, and it makes man free.
To be free means, have sex and more in number. Every thing is associated with sex from tangible to intangible- perfume, car, bike, television sets, soap, cloth etc up to cinema, art, dance, drama, music etc. The root mantra of this kind of postmodernism is – “if a song is being sung, sing a song of sex and orgasm.” And lo, it is very finely tuned. In India, every where, this esotericism is being promoted by progressive bourgeoisies- intellectuals and pseudo-Marxists. Saffron brigade have come out opposing that this sex-song should not be sung, while liberals are crying it must be sung in order to liberate the society. The artists from various fields creating art objects in order to sodomize people suggest that every thing should loss its sanctity for revelation of artistic truth. Cinema actresses with their sodomizing body (far they no longer have brain or nerves or chest or stomach or guts. All they have is skin.) have come out in open to wage a war of freedom for open sex. Now sex is opening its wing, a long cherished desire to fuck mummy- papa, to attain its real desire- the Oedipal.
In the west it is already becoming, see how a big porn industry is offering sex with mummy-son, daughter-father, sis-brother, grandpa-granddaughter etc to the people. Who wants to “play Oedipus”? We the people! Postmodernists suggest that it can be achieved through intensifying the innate sexual urge( what Lyotard terms intensities). Michel Foucault says that in post -modern capitalist society through control of people’s innate sexual urge control over society is gained. Since in a free society like postmodern society which is more like communism in the ground of relationship; law will be ineffective because there will be no society as such rather there will be groups structured in a fabric called ‘bio political fabric’. Therefore only the philosophy of orgy will be eternal law which will control them since they will be like animals. Just like dog that is controlled by food of interest people will be controlled.
This postmodern philosophy is rooted in “biologism” from which “bio-politics” appears: the political ideology of the future. The new political ideology will produce a new kind of subjectivity in order to control the society from within. This new subjectivity is instinctual, like standardized machine parts produced in the mass factory. Instinctual subjectivity is solely guided by sex and other biological instincts and will be part of a larger group in which each and every one have the same subjectivity. According to Antonio Negree and Michel Hart the authors of a celebrated book ‘Empire’, “the control of society over individuals is not conducted only through consciousness or ideology, but also in the body and with the body. For capitalist society bio- politics is what is most important, the biological, the somatic, the corporeal.” Man will be treated as machine which can be controlled, put on hold, and engaged in production. According to post modernist philosophers the great individual and financial powers produce not only commodities but also subjectivities. Authors of ‘Empire’ says ‘ they produce agentic subjectivity, they produce needs, social relations, bodies and minds- thus life is made, produced to work for production’. Agentic subjectivity will work for the capitalist production machinery it is a bonded subjectivity which has no individuality.
Exploiters have invented a new thinking, an idea to regulate and use free subjectivities. How they will implement it? Or how they will insert this venom in the society? Through production of language, communication and the symbolic that are developed by communication industry. This is what is going on in India and other under developed countries. In the making of this ‘new order of things’ humanity will loss its individual subjectivity and visual language will play a big role since visual language is most convincing in all the existing languages. This is why postmodern philosophers give much importance to visual language. The new order in which man will be almost machine - body, almost an animal guided by biological instincts will not have any higher goal other than satiation of instincts. Thus ends the discourse on sexuality and order of new society called postmodern society.
Now let us see another view that is of Marxism
The first postmodernist as it is said by many philosophers is Marx; let us have a look what he proposes to humanity. The political philosophy of Marx was from the very outset libidinal since his epistemology revolves around desire. For him, the entire history was nothing but a war for sex. And in this culture plays most vital role. Marx after meditating on history of humanity found that culture is the first field where political war had been waged. So he too proposes it to humanity. For him, “Culture” is culturing of society or group of people (Falun Gong a cultivation practice of ancient China); it has nothing to do with play of life. It is from the very out set political since it was political cultivation for power control. It is like cultivation, breeding of a plant like individuals. From what ‘they are’ to what ‘they should be’ or what they must be. It is imposition of some thought or imagination on majority. ‘Culture’ is not that what people do in a normal course of life, it is a cultivation of what people must do - it is dictatorial in essence. Now, since culture is not created by people but by politicians therefore it should be entirely new. What is sublime must be dismantle in order to create a culture of pleasure. What this new concept of culture is?
It is culture of materiality, machanicality, instinctuality; means what is related to body i.e. pleasure principle. It is a culture of biologism- the scientific. Marx was first who proposed the very concept of scientific humanity which is from epistemological point of view biologism of postmodernism. In past, culture had a religious fervor, but in present, intellectuals of the mainstream society have succeeded in giving it a new fervor-sexuality. Sexuality is not any new thing it is part and parcel of human society. Every one experiences it in the course of life but according to the so called main stream thinkers it was not explored properly. Now in this present age of globalize society sex is the center around which every thing revolves; art, literature, cinema, philosophy, education, every thing is sexual. Sex is sublime, sex is god, goodness everything.
Sex is the center of all human activity. Many intellectuals are referring that humanities first thinking which appeared in art was already porn. When humans discovered the technology of scratching lines on stone, they used it immediately on walls of caves, to draw genitals doing what genitals do.
The first intellectuals of the savage society were from the very beginning pornographic. From these very intellectuals our modern intellectuals learned it, they are inheritors of pornography. With sex these savage men were also war lovers, they also drew lines in caves about wars and hunting. This tradition too they passed to our intellectuals. What these savage intellectuals of yore were thinking and doing in their savage societies is our ideal today. We too are war hungry and sex maniacs. We have not left anything which is not libidinal and political.
Libidinal is political and vice versa (Every political economy is libidinal say Lyotard). Sex-War dyad had always been the goal of political society hence influence on civil society becomes detrimental. War has been always fought for the sex. Conclusion of Marxian meditation on philosophy of politics is war-class struggle and it is for desire-sex. Lyotard gives him another name libidinal Marx. Some times He calls him libidinal economist friend. There is appropriate reason to call Marx libidinal since his whole meditation revolves around production of life i.e. procreation. This desire to procreate leads human beings to produce hence production phenomena appeared and with it society, politics every thing came in to existence. With this production mechanism naturally exploiters came, in prehistoric society too they were existed but their nature of exploitation was solely based on force; while in historic age its nature changed. Now exploitation became more acute and more complex since theories and philosophies of exploitation appeared. When Man in his historic development reached at a historic juncture called capitalism the exploitation phenomena became unbearable and Marx (a theory) was needed to over through it. For what a theory was needed? To make people free from all kinds of bondages and to make them live in a free world where they could peacefully enjoy their instinctual becoming. They could copulate freely with each other without any moral rules and regulations. They will be able to form a society where there will be no mummy- papa, brother-sister, uncle-niece since these relationships are not natural relationships. In this commune every act will be instinctual. People will be as free as animal, there will be no work, no labor, no art, society will achieve its highest goal: Anamality.
According to Marx, in man’s quest for this natural life capitalism have provided many things, science, technology, industry, etc. Though, capitalism too was moving towards anamality but on wrong track. They have torn away all hitherto moral values and family values in order to lead the society towards animality, which was needed; but they unknowingly created proletariats. This new class which is in majority is a big hindrance therefore to settle account with them, capitalism and its philosophy must give way to Marxism. But it is not possible to for capitalism to give up easily since in the making of history of the people they have contributed a lot, they have their vision and hopes. Over all they are enjoying their libidinal inspirations on both levels; physical and mental.
See how Marx questions to the capitalists regarding what they are doing? “our bourgeois, not content with having the wives and daughters of their proletarians at their disposal, not to speak of common prostitutes, take the great pleasure in seducing each other’s wives” Marx tone of chiding in manifesto is like this-“you people in the name of progress fucked daughters and wives of proletarians even each others wives and you question what we are going to do. You question us that we are going to introduce a concept of commune where woman will be enjoyed openly. You people in the name of family established prostitution, who are you to raise any question regarding this? You immoral beasts! Marx has said more clearly about bourgeois family and Marxist concept of emancipation of women –“On what foundation is the present family, the bourgeois family, based? On capital, on private gain. In its completely developed form, this family exists only among the bourgeoisie. But this state of things finds its complement in the practical absence of the family among the proletarians, and in public prostitution.” Against one discourse of exploitation another discourse on exploitation has been introduced by Marxism. Which thought unites Marxism and postmodernism?
This that knowledge is no autonomous entity but is a product of society hence must be marketable, usable for power, exploitation etc. what distinguishes both? This that, in Marxism knowledge is organized towards realization of communist society while postmodernism fixes it in the service of capitalism. Lyotard says that knowledge is no longer organized towards the fulfillment of human goal. Instead towards realization of postmodern society, in which; it is valued in terms of its efficiency and profitability. Though in these two concepts of the use of knowledge, what Lyotard suggests is more universal than Marxian use of knowledge which is dictatorial in intent since it fixes it in the realization of one and only thought called Marxism. In these two concepts, idea of truth is persecuted hence humanity. Human is no longer free, it becomes an entity in the movement of grand narratives or metanarratives or political discourses. In Emmanuel Levinas words man becomes coram deo.
Author is an art critic and writer of three books 'contemporizing Buddha', ' Hindu Tantra Yoga' and 'Concerning The Spiritual In Art-an Indian modern art perspective'. He has been awarded with 'Lalit kala Academy Scholarship Award' for art criticism in 2005. Currently working on a book 'Buddhist tantra yoga'. He lives and works in Delhi India.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rajesh_Shukla
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