The Frogs Have More Fun...

Flowers



"All the names I know from nurse:
Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse,
Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock,
And the Lady Hollyhock.

Fairy places, Fairy things,
Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,
Tiny trees for tiny dames.
- These must all be Fairy names !"

(from Child's Garden of Verses
by R.L. Stevenson)


"Anyone can write a short-story.
A bad one, I mean."

(R.L. Stevenson)
----------------

"Science without conscience is the Soul's perdition."
- Francois Rabelais, Pantagruel
- Acc to/above is citated from: Medical Apartheid. The dark history of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, by Harriet A. Washington (Doubleday ; 2006 ; p. 1.)

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"In the high society of the first half of the century, marriage, despite it's bestowal status upon the wife, was the most absurdity. Marriage, conferring instanteous rank or money, ... lost most of its prestige and moment right after the wedding. ...By the end of the century, spurred by Rousseau's moralistic Nouvelle Hèloíse, a contrary cult, that of virtue, arose. After 1770 conjugal and maternal love became not merely admissible, but, for some, moral imperatives. ...

[...]
...Rousseau, who sought for himself the crown of morality in ostensibly defending marriage, presents in his Nouvelle Hèloíse the most enticing and extended defense of illicit love ever penned. The root of the problem is that as the century progressed sensibility became confused with morality: passionate feeling, if expressed in a highly civilized mode with grace and nuance, makes us forgive the Rousseau of The Confessions, for example, his pettiness, his jealousies, his betrayals. This moral-amoral byplay, present already in the novels of Richardson, was to be more intense as the century unfolded."
-
Madelyn Gutwirth : Madame De Staèl, Novelist. The emergence of the Artist as Woman (10,15.)

;
"...As the social contract seems tame in comparison with war, so fucking and sucking come to seem merely nice, and therefore unexciting. ... To be 'nice', as to be civilized, means being alienated from this savage experience - which is entirely staged. [...] The rituals of domination and enslavement being more and more practiced, the art that is more and more devoted to rendering their themes, are perhaps only a logical extension of an affluent society's tendency to turn every part of people's lives into a taste, a choice; to invite them to regard their very lives as a (life) style." - Susan Sontag , on 'Fascinating Fascism' (-74; p 103;104-5 at Under the sign of Saturn)
; "Anyone who cannot give an account to oneself of the past three thousand years remains in darkness, without experience, living from day to day." (Goethe) - as cited by Sontag (on same compile; p. 137.)

;
"It is widely accepted that we are now living in the 'Anthropocene', a new geological epoch in which the Earth's ecosystems and climate are being fundamentally altered by the activities of humans. I loathe the term, but I can't deny that it's appropriate."
; (Goulson), Silent Earth : Averting the Insect Apocalypse (2021; p 47.)
;
"It is sometimes said that humanity is at war with nature, but the word 'war' implies a two-way conflict. Our chemical onslaught on nature is more akin to genocide. It is small wonder that our wildlife is in decline."
; (Goulson, 2021 ; 118.)
;
----------------
"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." (Voltaire)
- Citated from; (Joy, Melanie), Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows : An Introduction to Carnism(2010; p. 95.)
;

"In the presence of the monster, you have eyes and ears for nothing else."
; (Flora Tristan) : London Journal of Flora Tristan: the Aristocracy and the Working Class of England ; 1842-edit. (tr: 1982. ; p. 71.)

;
"Every minority invokes justice, and justice is liberty.
A party can be judged of only by the doctrine which
it professes when it is the strongest."
Mdme de Staêl
(on) 'Consideration sur le Révolution de la Francaise' [1818]


11/13/15

The MSW Book Recommedations 47 ;


...Few pulses from 'heart of the matter', Or, 'purely, virily...a view'
; Pt one (from the two-part serie)



  --------------------------

The power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true.”
; Honóre de Balzac, (a famous aphorism, cite via Wikipedia's Portal for francophone literature.)

... For a timid soul, exalted in silence and perpetually adolescent, what more seductive depths could one plunge into than the eyes of the loved one, and descend in thought and blissfully lose oneself between the seaweed and the star?
The seduction emanating from a person of uncertain or dissimulated sex is powerful. Those who have never experienced it liken it to the banal attraction of the love that evicts the male element. This is a gross misconception. Anxious and veiled, never exposed to the light of the day, the androgynous creature wanders, wonders, and implores a whisper...It's half equal, man, is soon scared and flees. There remains it's half equal, a woman. There especially remains for the androgynous creature the right, even the obligation, never to be happy. If jovial, there androgynous creature is a monster. But it trails irrevocably among us its seraphic suffering, it's glimmering tears. It goes from a tender inclination to the maternal adoption. ...”
; Colette, The Pure and Impure (; p. 79-80.)

As she went slowly across the empty campus she was conscious of a vague tenderness for the scene spread out before her. It was so incredibly lovely, so appealing, and so facile. The trees in their spring beauty sent through her restive mind a sharp thrill of pleasure. Seductive, charming, and beckoning as cities were, they had not this easy unhuman loveliness. The trees, she thought, on city avenues and boulevards, in city parks and gardens were tamed, held prisoners in a surrounding maze of human beings. Here they were free. It was human beings who were prisoners. It was too bad. In the midst of all this radiant life. They weren't, she knew, even conscious of its presence. Perhaps there was too much of it, and therefore it was less than nothing.”
; ...of Quicksand (novel by Nella Larsen, p1928. ; p. 15.)
  --------------------------

The Recommended Reading / Read(s):

The Pure and Impure
(Orig. L'pur et l'impur. p. 1930s/-41)
by Colette (Sidoney-Gabrielle Côlette, 1873-1954)
(repr. 2000 ; 184 p.)

Aids and It's Metaphors
by Susan Sontag (1933-2004)
(p. 1989, Allen Lane; 95 p.)

Madame Edwarda
by Georges Bataille (1897-1962)
(p. 1941/-58 ; 49 p. ...on the transl. text, that I read)

[Recommendation(s) V / 2015]
[ ; Pic (Above right) ”...Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night.” ]
(...Bette Davis, spoken line at All About Eve. - movie, 1950)

The primordial intention, on this recom No 47, (was) to feature anything interesting and worth reading from topics so exciting and especielt humaine: sex, porn and what generally known to L'erotismo (or eroticism, the 'pornography of the elite', according to a good, simple definition given.) ...If you accept that (definition), at least the continuously discussed criteria between 'good' and 'bad', the pornographic and erotic, favourably disappears (For example, seems the brief definition on porn1., from Dictionary, read as: 'obscene and exploitive depiction of erotic acts'.) Of course, the above noted, mainly appears valid only if by it meant refer to categories and distinctions about the public taste or 'common morals', purposefully maintained on any society. 
 
So, if we think this of any other perspectives, I neither see any necessity of to separate the pleasures of the sense (individual experience) and the flesh (the 'property' of the partner; or partners, in case you happen enjoy the group things...) – only that the modern eroticism rarely bothers from any effort to actually cultivate any sensual body. It's merely a field of erotique jokes (merely so due from historical and present necessities...of the social kind.) Sensing itself, or any sensuellism, is undervalued in our society which mainly tolerates the expression but not the withdrawal...ie, in our days of the 'liberal' views and values concerning sex, seems it often (limitedly) permitted of showing any extravaganza, yet not of any shame. ; Generally (,'usually', quite a common attitude I think) on sex is allowed two kinds of behaviours: active and passive (Women, 'usually' appearing from 'favor' being 'conquered', as some archetypical social 'norm', or, normative a social scheme.) The woman therefore (at least it used to be so...) considered to the passive 'participant'. Yet, no particular (physical, or mental) necessity/reason makes that so.


 'Steal' ; But I don't know if there's much of any use from the above presented – it only some definitions, terms. I only discussed that from to avoid any commonplace use of the said, or normative language from these terms used. For circumnavigating any obvious reefs on these 'erotic' seas we may perhaps better move on...Yet, while noted the importance of terms, why not also to mention in the same also of phrases; (such as): 'Slave to (her) passions', 'Slut by nature'2. ; Also...'Lusful as a bitch', 'Cute as a kitten', and even smtgh as innocent than 'Sweet as the cherrypie'...So you see, sex is everywhere if one thinks solely language, fx. ; The sexual 'appetites' are also, of course, usually quite individuelt kind. Yet, the sexual 'attitudes' clearly are not. Soforth it's at least good to know from where them may have origins from. To some conclusive view after these pre-thoughts, I only think it best from maintain some criteria of my own...concerning anything of sexuelt and fictionalized in particular. Actually the only advice I could offer to any reader for pornographic/erotic fictions.

; …I also recently fx happened notice a definition about – so called - 'women's fiction'. Acc. the words on article by Roxana Gay ('Beyond the measure of men'), it a ”label designed to sell a certain kind of book to a certain kind character” And, (a few sentences after): somehow (there are) ”only books by women or about certain topics that require this particular 'women fiction' designation” (Designs typically featured at the covers, colouring, sexy or 'sexist looks' by the woman, etc.); ...Of course I don't want to mess on this too much with the said things - I practically not read any 'womens fiction'. (Actually I don't see any reason why anyone should, but that not from any discriminating assumptions or views.) But that may be also just due because of the said reason, it packed on the said kind of decorations. 'Camouflaged' under visibility...or, wrapped on normatives (about sex), to put it briefly. The typical criteria, of course, said for that 'holy demand' by the sales, these days. (Sometimes often, the discriminitive and pejorative, hide under smght like that.) ; However, what I think I do know for sure, is that any labelling often leads for denials from any books real contents, or from it's actual value. I mostly prefer reading anything quite randomly, or rather decidedly and selective (and from various kinds), but acc. my own choices.

; Briefly, anything written mainly, or practically to sell, is also usually respectable for those established norms – and as such rarely worth from any interest. It also usually concerns majority, almost any of these newly saleable pocket readings provided, I think. And not surprisingly the porn, and erotic, always appears been more of the area from pocket readings - Not even anything called for 'good bad books', at least not smgth to any 'quality fiction'. (But, occasionally you might be surprised joyously. For another positive side it mostly appears cheap. Anything cheap is...cheap, no more, but at least rarely less.) Also that suffices explain for me why there's often practically not anything worth a read at the shelves reserved for 'porn-' or 'erotic'-fiction...unless the best books always on loan/bought out. The (so called) popular taste not equals for anything strickly low by quality, but it seems equal for generalizations of the social attitude. What is 'popular' will have it's market, even if it a pure crap - and as the 'erotic' sells mainly by book covers, at least so is assumed, it quite fits to that category of the 'low'. Namely – it would do bad for these temporary markets from provide anything good. People might learn for to demand some quality (erotic) – and then it would even be of necessicity to pay some effort on anything else but the marketing and back-catalogue of some stereo-typifications....


; ...Of course, one can't usually know beforehand (unfortunate but unavoidable). Especially there it always a matter, ao, of how it packed and perhaps sealed with certain label. (And more so, if presented on some 'appreciated' publication-serie.) So I usually tend glance the reviews like most people. Though, equally often I just bypass them, and as well nowadays I rarely read the backcover texts either, just opening the book of my interest from any random page – to form my own opinions. Takes quite a lot reading, as the obvious downside. ; Also, people these days a lot rely on the social media(s) – So let's just offer along this mention from that a good favouring remark by Orwell (...Who says that, on someplace3., that often the reviews by regular people are more worth for the author than any wrote by the 'professionals'. Any amateur usually has had more time and more genuine interest for any particular book considered, it said.) Quite much the same could be said of readers benefit too... However, I think, it not so good advice concerning anything on sex, esp. the fiction. 
People usually posses quite differing tastes, and also I've often noted that common/regular appreciated stuffs are most often rather boring. The fact is also that any good sex novel usually not features too much any actual 'sex-scenes', etc...But anything labelled by sex is usually typically exaggerated by it – over-filled, or alternatively adverted much from w. less than nothing actually by content. On the other hand, fx Harlequins, believe it not (and I won't confess from reading them...much.), tend contain sex inserted on quite 'proper' amounts – from amount to make otherways boresome story a bit more seductive, and soforth it serves for more succesfull a solution. (Them occasionally feature scenes wrote for bit pornish in comparison to the regular level of an unreal romantized narration. But any intentionally wrote 'pornifications' is often less convincing due because it lacks any good, evidentual contrasts...like most of the porn, actually. Even so, this not said to any recommendation from those... )
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; ...But, due this was to be about the erotic fiction - for some further ”definition”, I thought cite a few words from Angela Carter's Sadeian woman (p. 1978. ...book a classic 'study' on that famous sado-masochist, Marquies de Sade, 1740-1814):

Since sexuality is as much a social fact as it is a human one, it will therefore change its nature according to changes in social conditions. ...The sexual act in pornography exists as a metaphor for what people do to one another, often in the cruellest sense; but the present business of the pornographer is to suppress the metaphor as much as he can and leave us with a handful of empty words.

Pornographic pictures, movies and narrative fiction are pure forms of sexual fiction, of the fiction of sex, where this operation of alienation takes place most visibly.(; p. 19)

; ...Nothwithstanding, (that) there's much of truth on Carter's (view/definitions), esp. that any common/commercialized porn (fiction) in overall is mostly suppressing and mainly 'reactionarist' (Subordinate to a prevailed social condition), I also think that there arts/fiction where the sexuelt and erotic (or 'porn') adopts a bit different function(s). Say...if we wish from avoiding any typical externalisations of the sexualitet (of body/mind), and have a bit from of 'real' anima4., instead of the more usual 'animalisms' (That not considered from less worth, if positively understood.) – We may need look elsewhere too, than just for social role of any conventional pornographism (Which also is probably, somewhat, less conventional by variety of reflected attitudes/sexisms than around the 1970s discussions...) ; Also, at least we could also add on that the sex (on any written or viewed form, obscene or romanticed, the brutal or natural, any way one wishes...) also is quite dependable of/about the medium it presented by – at least as much as any social codes it serves, or the actual 'labels' and cultural values it placed to serve.


For example...I (sort of) noted the same distinction btw any erotic and porn, observed for quite artificial and then in the same also (slight) defended that said overt 'sexism' (/porn) 'inherent' at the comics. (On the introduction for some recent published albums on history of the Erotic Comics, two volumes, by Pilcher). As an art-form comics5., seems it said, also were quite overlooked from their early beginnings (...part of a common legend these days, merely, but wasn't so in the pasts.)

 As their development also been ever since from early begins, at the 1920s and subsequent decades, that much affected on formation of the said status from art-form 'low' and 'cheap'...Also natural ground for any 'sexism', any pornographic imaginations. Therefore, notice that comics as medium often in the past did permit a bit more freedom on depicting topics that've otherways were considered of questionable morals, or unspoken topics; Comics, like the 'comical pics'. So comics also were soon, variably at the different countries, to be suppressed by several moral guards. (By the time 'comics-code' was still maintained on publishing, at least on U.S.) ; To some example from their (comic's) capability from to challenge any 'proper morals', picked from that for example the beside mag cover from the 1960s (mag 'Phoebe's zeit-geist'). It said for an early serie, where typically sexually irritating material and 'socially questionable' topics quite successfully handled - any drawn stories within the limits of the said prevailed moral codes. Seems on it some effort where 'cheap' and some sexistically loaded scenes, along with monsters type from then popular horror films, were blended for more usual  comics adventurist tale. (From drawing-style seems resembled sort of Rip Kirby' b/w-stylish newspaper sunday stories from 1950s, about. ...In the said adventures the story's 'heroine' fx was whipped and put through under all kinds of sadistic scenes.) ...The mag's cover (beside) also seems for delicately drawn parody about some from my early comic-story favorites, that giant robot-ape Mytek (earlier recoms here)...Or, so it makes me suppose. Some humours referring to the more renown ('established') comics-series seems been common at the time, along the 1970s fashionable 'scifism'. ; Obviously I don't mean to say the comics as medium from any lesser quality, or that it wouldn't demand any less 'artistry' compared for the erotic writing. (Only that a good erotic/porn may be equally rare, or random, on comics too, but also it been very integral part on comics from their early begins. As result, often was 'developed' for more various purposes, not necessary reactionarist of the social function, but quite contrary.) 
 
; ...Yet, it of course so that people quite much read comics due from their certain sexism. Especially men, as the drawings of the female body appear perhaps a most favored subject, and what any story traditionally built from to circle around. And why not, isn't it a sensuelt, stylish, an eye-pleasing object/subject for drawing/viewed ? Besides, almost with no exception anything erotic, or even more so, porn, looks much better on the comics than at photographs. ('Guess we can allow ourselves to this much praising the pictorial arts...) ...Although, after all it's also often quite as obvious how much these drawn lines usually created of to please malish imagination. At least quite as noticeably than is the said 'rebellious nature' of the comics against the standards by (any) common morals. Didn't, any case, in the long run prevent so much the general fall of markets towards that suffocating, capitalizing (exaggerated, over-sized) bosom of the great Mother Money (Mmmmm...you possibly know the meaning of that far better than me; bought, markets sniffed, spoiled.) Albeit, (the little that I comics by recent times viewed), seems it during few last decades yet emerged also from tendency again for the less expensive and more inventive kind, probably. But even so, it anyways still an aspect worth mention the comics also having capability from to offer about sex(-es, female or male) a more 'natural' impressions, than/compared to the written word. 
 
; ...But I actually meant not to say much on comics here, in the first instance, or at all. Besides, quite as noticeably not all comics, or even most, appears anymanner 'adult-oriented', or contains sex. Fx, on my early memoir about the comics, or the general feelin' from reading, collecting, exchangin' them as young kid...But let topic be from now. Anyway, if one can learn anything from the pasts, any demystification of the sex is more often than not quite recommendable. (Holy combination of sex and commerce all too much everywhere elseways...) In that sense the comics always had an important function in society.
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'Borrow' ; ...Guess we should now consider some from our attention on 'Recoms' of this part. To mention, it may be made clear that it not anything erotic we're here discussing about – The main reason to these just from a reason anything quite suitable, good erotic novels I didn't find for this first sequel:

; Of Sonntag; I only notice that it probably only some realism to feature on these (texts), a book w. the main topic on veneral disease. Or, the diseases generally and the metaphorical distortments attached to (those). Essay appears quite renown and while perhaps a bit less actuel by now (It said, fx, that nowadays from some time disease itself, Hiv, has been curable, at least the methods from it's treatment w. the proper medical care has been reached.) ; ...And even that I think somewhat differently about some referred sources/topics, certainly it for read is well-worth the praises text having received since the time it appeared.6. Soforth, having only reread it for some reminder at this particular instance, I'm not saying more on that.


; In contrast, from Colette I actually meant to write a lot more to this. Namely, Colette was her times appreciated and renown fictionalist, but is by now (relative) little so – but in early 1900s, she was some 'forerunner', or for most 'liberal femine person' (...Carter's Sadeian writings here referred, a 'libertine' would sound a bit too...nihilistic.). Yet, it noted too she never from had much, or at all, identified for then emerged early feminism itself. ; As a writer she was rather productive work-a-holic; Colette seems authored (penned, published by her name or formerly under a 'patronage') some near 50 novels or other fictional text - plus the usual journalisms, letters. ; But actually I chanced to find her writings almost by accident, and quite soon I was, sort, captured by her foremost quality (...Namely, her inventive and unreplicable use of the language. It seems noted Colette being practically untranslatable from her unordinary, sometimes self-invented terms and unique expressions by her native french. (As I've only read her on translation, and only a fewsome of her novels, this a good excuse not going any deeper for her novels characteristics...Even that their social setting, that emotional landscape of the wealthy and the 'leisurous classes', appears apparently rather old-fashioned from present view.)

; Concerning the Pure and Impure we shall also, therefore, limit ourselves to a few overall remarks. Insufficient these are, but I take for the main background Colette's own definition of book's content; ”my personal contribution to the sum total of our knowledge of the senses” (;Via from Thurman's preword to text.) It seems also said the book been Colette's own favorite among her many novels. (Acc. Thurman, Colette considered novel 'In 1941, and several times and thereafter...to be her finest work, and the one most likely to endure.') Reader is likely to agree too. ; ...Said also the text at first was serialized (like her usual manner in 'chronic shortage of cash'), and put on '...popular journal of politics and culture which was not yet, though it would soon become, a pro-Nazi propaganda vehicle.' (; referred preword, p. xii). But, publication soon was abruptly cut short on texts first installment at 1930s. , in response to 'outrage of certain conservative readers'. ...Only later on, then during the occupation on war years (at 1941) her re-edited final version was then published as book. ...One can't avoid of notice the several peculiarities on these events, even more so when learning details about Colette's life during that war-era. (There exist apparently several biographies, like usual. I only glanced this, of shortly.) ; ...Generally she seems noted mostly not cared about any politics, or remained cold on that 'humanity's downward path' at the time (Considering her character, life history and the overall circumstances of the time, I can hardly imagine whether that could've even been any manner differently.)


; Book begins w. novel-resembling description, yet soon (after first chapters) narration sort of shows that it wrote just for disguise her real intentions – From describing her discussions w. some 'subjects' of her curiosity and those in relation to her contemplations from (their) 'emotional register'...and of that on more general level. (Namely, the said characters contain fx homosexuels, lesbians, Don Juans, high-class 'coquettes' or other types of the high-class woman celebrities from excessive immorality, etc...ao.) There's also many parts where the said acquaintences and 'commentators' seem referred by their real names, and she also makes not any effort from conceal her own persona on the said discussions.(But the book not considered  for any key-novel of it's time.)  She also gets quite much socially interesting out of her characters, while most value perhaps on historically exploring the said 'impure' topics, quite 'uncartographed' by her time of writing. ; ...Considering, the manner book gathered, mostly of the manner it treats those 'subjects', dialogues w. them and via her narrative contemplation accompanying, it has -sort from, some - resemblance for other 'human galleries' of the early 20th century. Actually, this combination, a bit, reminds me of that (ca y. 1932) movie Freaks, that contained a presentation of people 'with disfigurements' (...on a circus or smtgh. A movie 'banned on numerous countries', at the time mostly from it's choice of topic. And you can't possibly find more suitable example about typical 1930s atmosphere.) ; ...Probably due from that the general change for the 'purer' morals, by the time, at the time society emergently increasing was/or had begun from interrogate any people from diverging from the then existed common 'reality' (...on many countries, at least, and not just on the renown fascist, dictatorist. After the war years, perhaps already by the 1930s incidents, those views were soon quite much reconsidered, of course...) ; So, maybe her selection of the topic possibly also had somewhat wider scope by description than seemingly high middle-class or 'rich and bored' life-styles' and disappointing passsions depicted. It also rarely falls for any apparent artificiality, or say, to any emotional incredibility7.).

; Textually on Pure and Impure sometimes has quite much of a...sensualisation - yet the general tone is not anyhow overtly of that. Mostly it still remains very readable, and rewarding. (Precisely her exploration, also of her novels, not goes for any erotic scenes, but depiction is about the passions/senses by humans. ).


One can probably shortly say that the result wouldn't been a 'purer' view on the sexual passions and emotions – at least considering the said limits of the time when it written, also those publication obscenities/period (esp.), and in the light of her own character's particularity. Yet her contemplations are quite timid, indeed interesting from observations of the 'emotional register', and seem of quite honest. From some difference to fx many her comtemporary/more modern writers, she also really can pour much life on her words – even if it bitter occasionally, maybe sarcastic too.
--------------
; ...From Bataille there's neither very much said at this, having read only limitedly anything of the man or from his life-story. Like often in case from writings of Bataille, apparently, the text some mixture of pornographic/sexuelt themes and of the philosophical 'speculations' (In case one can call his style or writing to something like that.) ...While not anyhow explicit or particularly pornographic by any present standards, certainly an interesting aspect about Madame Edwarda is that it was 'pre-censured' by author, earliest editions not appearing w. Batailles name. (Seems noted then that the text was earliest anonymously published - very much in the manner any old pornography always been. ...And, only to reappear later w. false name, and still later (I assume) after Bataille having gained more officielt acceptance, the final reprints having featured him as the author of text. ) ; Bataille also considered for a widely read 'philosophical' writer8. still on more recent times, fx said for having influenced various renown 'cornerstones' for the modern intellect – mainly french, of course, and particularly some known from theories on the matters from sexualitet, and/or of social historical and psychological theories important, (by names, ao, Foucault, Lacan, Derrida, Heidegger.) ...And on more modern studies on the history of the sexualitet/sexual body.9.
 
Anyhow, maybe, also something on the said story (Madame Edwarda), which also makes it more exicting is that narration features scene on graveyard – (Possibly, that even (made intentionally for) necessary concealment in during the strickt standards of officielt morality of the (De) Gaullist France.) The french, historically and sensually, are usually considered for rather 'liberal' and sensuelt unprejudided, acc. the usual views or characterizations concerning sex. ; However, as a previous example about Colette also would seem to tell, there's limits for any open-mindedness in relation to criteria of social acceptability, on any time or era. Our days would perhaps seem very free and tolerant what comes to the stimulants of the senses (sexual 'appetites', say). Yet, if you consider that from the perspective of any 'sexual liberation', the outright impression maybe somewhat...disappointing. ; In comparison for the modern praisings from any pleasures of the flesh (at least on adverts, mostly of the malish view-point), any drawn or written word examining and contrasting the pleasures (/extremes) from/on aspects about life and the death (,or the afterlife...), of course, appears every (imaginable) manner lot more convincing. (Such like from this case, part of Bataille's 'story' situtated on cemetery.) (In fact, more sexy...in case you understood I mean by this not any popular vampyrologies et sim fashionable 'sexuelt-but-not-teethed' type schemes.) So, they seem say, the graveyard always is quite saucy place. It often has, actually, more life than much of that modern consumerised, capitalized flesh.
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'Beg' ; ...On a short mentions from any actual sex fiction, seems we're now merely obliged provide a few 'picks' - In fact, these neither, or only few of em' consist solely from any usual pornifiction or typical 'erotic'. (Traditional erotic writings were often sold w. 'under the desk'-method, and much of that what published, usually anonym, also been from quite low quality. ...And the plain truth of it, quite much the common sold/lot praised also is/was. Exceptions may exist, or some we at least hope from find, perhaps, on that second sequel from this.) 
 
; ...Resultatively, by their style or quality most old 'classics' are typically of (comparative) boring, and disappointing from any fiction writing. The most usual story centering around an innnocent poor girl arrived to town, where she's deteriorated and ending for whore houses (almost of natural following by her very 'natures'), the story following her in the arms of as many men as lenght of story can provide. Perhaps most typical popular story Fanny Hill by Cleland (p. 1748). - It also says smtgh about erotic fiction itself as the said book originally was sold of a small sum by its author, yet became soon in time 'enormously succesfull', later also copied for numerous replication, etc.... ; ...But in short, the usual general structure w. often sentimentalist dramatique, 'inmoralities', and sex scenes accompanying the poorly constructed romantique plot. ...Actually not wasn't ever before too original or rarer story-plot on a more valued 'quality fiction' works (Some featuring not any particularly wrote scenes or depictions from sexual encounters.) Fx Defoe's novels (like the Moll Flanders, p. 1922, or; Roxana, the fortunate mistress, p. 1724), have just resembling plot tied around the moralizing 'peeps' to a fall and unavoidable corruption of a femine, (often) from some noble birth, but of questionable morality, albeit also a victim to unlucky 'circumstances.' (Even that his heroines might occasionally reflect other moral sentiments, motherly affection, endurance and ambitions, etc.). ; ...Since most from it been written by men, this of course not anyhow surprising. (Actually, it all becomes bit more interesting from recognition that anyone usually writes better from a topic one knows well. At least my few readings on these examples mentioned seem, sort from, give that impression...) 
 
; ...This maybe well also is considered to an apparent reason for lack from any variety or much the same kind schematism on more modern stories, women's depiction, and elsemuch on any sex fiction. ; ...It is of course quite typical to modern (sex) 'classics', for example brings mind writers like Henry Miller (1891-1980) or Charles Bukowski (1920-94). ...Even that neither any typical pornographists, perhaps we can allow some merit on these 'malish, pornish boys' - On Bukowski's part that maybe mainly due his intentional (sexist) banalism. For he brings to it's extremes anything said, showing the 'phantasies' and makes that way visible the unrealism of a usual (male) erotic imagination, even that anything on narration never goes beyond the limits from conventional sovinist criterias, or women hatred (apparent on much) – ie the usual 'sluts', blow jobs and the repeated stories concerned on adulterisms. The Post Office (p. 1966) maybe best known novel, while his short-stories perhaps more worth a view (Anything of that kind soon bores, though, since can't offer much variation btw the first sheet and the last page...but at least he occasionally succeeds make it all quite laughable.) ; ...on Miller's fiction, the sex and irritative language were merely harnessed/presented by mean of to tear apart the limiting, and often perverted, social values by his time (So Tropic of Cancer, p. 1935, is bit questionable example from any erotic novel at all. Yet it still regularly seems featured if one searches by that term. Also, the book probably now feels bit more commonplace novel than on the era of it's publication. So only mentioned.) ...But, in short, obviously on both cases the main aspect that anything wrote is so much hampered by the said limits and weaknesses of these (above noted) 'conventions' of the erotic/pornographic fiction. ...And as I think neither not particularly good writers (weren't yet completely bad), simply put, nowadays the similar machoisms targetfully wrote with sex scenes rarely even have any...same quality. Doesn't exclude that any modern sex fiction, esp. some decomposing the referred sexism, wouldn't provide many better examples, probably, only that I've not read much any of those.
; ...But therefore (my acquintance on this relative recent and limited) I only in passing mention few other 'popular classics' of pasts. On 1970s movies lot popularised Emmanuelle-novels (p. 1959, First sequel perhaps not quite so mediocre as the follow-ups, or in comparison to several movies made of it...After the 1980s and the Aids, it merely been seen to an advert from at that time fashioned emerged sex tourism.) ; And probably unavoidable also to mention of any 'modern classics' the Nabokov's Lolita (p. 1955), but it some time since I read that (so nothing else much from say).


; Yet, any good classics of the erotic fiction are likelier from to be found of stories wrote prior 20th century. Therefore I also read fx Musset's (A., 1810-57) Gamiani (p. 1835). ...Not that it would avoid any typical caveats from the said kind (priorly noted typicalities, fx the usual narration from the innocent 'victim' and the 'greedy bitch' for some schematic extremes presented about women). But the book seems said intentionally written with the purpose to avoid most typical sexual phraseology, and any usualities from stimulative language. (...Brings along the earlier noted questions of how limited are the means any written sex fiction can use. Namely, just think about how uncredible it actually is from describing any sex act solely by words, fx w. the usual banalities like: '...Yes! Oh, no...please don't...no, don't stop. ...Oh! Please...' , etc.) ; ...So, Gamiani some experiment of it's kind, and considering that the result is not at all too bad - And also the end is at least funny laughable. Actually, I almost considered it for some alternate choice to these selections. Yet, I considered more decidedly that maybe book owns smght lot for it's predessors (which I've not read), so not... 
 
; ...Another good example for selection that passed my consideration was that early vampyre-novellette by Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmille (p. 1872. ...But mainly due it's delicate treatment of a lesbist theme. Book falls merely out of any erotic literature specifically, but that theme used skillfully on it.) ; All in all, on the 19th century fiction, there's of course several efforts by the number of (relative) renown authors, fx, could mention, by Flaubert, Apollinaire, Swinburne, Beardsley...All having experimented by the era from 'sensationelt' sexual themes and w. humours included - Yet, 'suppose, maybe much on these were considered more worth than similar material by authors from less merits. (Typical anyway, that often their efforts too were published anonymously, and perhaps also often did have some references of the Orient (fashionable at the time), also usual are fx exaggeration, or sort of 'pervertment' of sexual topics – or anything beyond the common good taste.) ; Along any from the said general conventionalisms another aspect worth some notice is the fact that in the older (1800s, esp.) porn fiction - of course, mainly some of the 'low taste' - ie what was targeted for wide publics, not wrote for any 'quality erotic', etc...Usual some 'exotic' stories where (usually) the briton gentlemen go unprevented exhibiting and satisfying their sexual desires and dreams. (...Typically, albeit perhaps there were equally many such cheap books of the imperialist 'travelers', only that British writers perhaps generally sold on wider markets or were more translated, I guess...) (The above referred meaning chasing innocent, pure virgins and also equally often characteristically the text may have presented/contained racial and scornful views.) Probably there much modern comparables, if not quite similarly resembling. But actually, the said have somewhat much in common with cheap romantique, not solely due the notably distorted perverted morality expressed. ...Not that I'd recommend any such filth to anyones readings, I only notice that worth some mention on this.) ; Then, in the pasts (also by somewhat more modern efforts) on the 19th century a popular form of sex-narration, were the diaries, typically fictional and (assumedly) from some authentism, sometimes/often. Anyhow, apparently, that mainly what made them popular, rumoured from described erotic 'pursuits' of certain renown authentic figures (usually the high class woman, ...but w. several variations or exceptions from the rule, likely.)

; ...Of course, on basis of the above referred examples, could one then even expect men from ever having wrote smght worth the read, concerning the sex/porn, or the female, or the erotique more generally ? ...Possibly, yet I must also to admit that any good women writers always been even less renown to me. (Even that from my recent reads, actually the best depictions on the sex actually have been wrote by women, as I've noted of books erotique and precisely not particularly erotic...) ; Anyway, I've fx not read any of those collections from short fiction by Anaís Nin (Erotica, and Little birds) that seem appreciated. (The stories apparently wrote around 1930s, to -50s, maybe?). Neither not having read the more modernised erotic 'adult fairy tales', w. some thematics of/from the SM, pornographic sexuelt phantasy, or smght resembling, ie those books by Anne Rice on her Sleeping Beauty-series. (p. btw 1983-5.). ; ...Plus whatever else there may have been, or might be worth some view. ; However, now to end up our random picks shortly, we may close this recom. Pephaps the prospected follow-up then shall provide more coherent view or permit finding a few actual sex-erotic book to recom.

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'Bargain' ; One could probably pay lots of the references/words on the topics from the bit less commonly ”accepted” behaviours related on sex (Anything what usually arouses some argument, such as the Bondage/SM, female abuse, any sovinism, sexual disturbance on the workplace, the high heels, animal magnetism, humane unmorality concerning the sexual and romantique generally, nymphomanism/frigidity, fetishes...) ...But in fear from any stigmatization for any favorer of the mentioned practises, I think it better us keep silent on any of those. ; ...Besides, here somewhat above noted/discussed commercialization of the sex is obviously on every level far more apparent a factor in the permanence of the established normative categorism the society tends treat any sexual matter. ...Fox example, just think that there a number of sexual 'habits', attitudes, and -commerce that are, often justified, considered quite socially threatening - some of that openly condemned, while some, maybe, even is - openly or less so – encouraged. (...The said include fx such things as pedophilia, any sexual cruelty, sexual violence, violent porn, child porn, prostitution, the 'teenage lust' (/in contra the common adverted 'lust for the teen bodies'), sex slavery, etc, ao.) 
 
; ...Concerning our short notes on sex fiction, probably also worth noting that instead from letting the body and mind (yours, or anyones) from being 'sold' on that social 'whole-sales', or in the ever expanded commercial sex market, it better cultivate some more inspirative views on the sex. In fact, noted sometimes it said that nowadays probably more imaginative of to sexitize anything else but oneself. Since, there are lots eroticism (damn, that word again...) on a few glances, or fx reading a few pages of a good sex-novel (...in case you can find some, since that was noted an exceptional case...), or from fx picking a few fruits of the grocery desk...or anything else one can think - In short, good sex is something you don't have to pay (anything much), it always been so. And in truth very cheap, but don't let yourself be cheated. (And not solely for the 'chosen ones', either.) (; W-G.)
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'Overhaul'
[ The Notes]


1. ; ...Of these terms...seems it also said that the word (porn) actually been derived, not directly, but owes likely it's earliest origins to the [Greek] word porné- which simply translates for a 'harlot'. (In contrast, already the word erotic contains a much wider and more sublime meaning(s) - ie [Gr] erôtikos, said derived of word erôs, or erôtos, 'love'. - At least acc. the definition on dictionary.) ;...Of / for a wider explanation, seems it also by origins (...apparently?) derived of(, or etymologically it a derivative from) word 'pornocracy' – which (acc. Cassell's) 'n. The rulé or domination of harlots, as in the government of Rome, during the 10th cent.' ; ...But once interested ourselves on terms, why not also view the definition about term that also appears quite interesting concerning aspects here discussed, namely (the word) metaphor It (again acc. dictionary) 'a figure of speech by which a word is transferred from one object to another, so as to imply comparison'. [; Cassell's] ; ...While I'm not too sure of the exactness by any of these transl. meanings/terms, of course is usually interesting from notice what the words any common terms/speech typically leave out from mention, or how the original meanings might change in time.

2. ; B-t-w: This seems quite interesting (pejorative) phrase...I've known, a few, but some sort of sluts, and, I've seen (somewhat) of the Natures – But never the two in combined. ; Of course, biologically thinkin' any promisquity, by males or females, isn't anyhow rare at Natures. (While, I think, from simple necessity, probably, on most species it seem more common from males...Yet, renownly fx Darwin was bit horrified or ashamed of the relative opposite examples what comes for birds, fx.) ; But, this said combination, itself sounds lot more to smgth rather monstrous and like very unfavorable (...Considering the same biological reasons, namely. Also supposin' that the phrase, at least partly, might have it's roots on 19th centurian natural history, and by the time prevailed judeo-christian patriarchaist moralitity, or moralitets, ...ao.) ; ...Guess', these thoughts from no particular importance here...Yet, inspired to think about that, perhaps, was from that I recently happened view some old (...about of early 20th centurys) prewords to a 19th centurian novel. (And on that was discussed about novels author, whom had married a prostitute, from having impregnated her priorly). And – those prewords interesting solely due the open underrating (or apparent wider cultural bias, it seemed tell from) of this unlucky prostitute, who was described of no chance to turn from a ' course that nature had set on her' (Italics added.) – ie, her having then died some time postward the marriage on alcoholism. (Biased, obviously, very determined views, very erring). ... 'Cause Nature practically never sets any course on anything. If it selects – like the common term, natural selection – that neither ever even is too predeterminined a process. More often the results are quite surprising, contradictional. In short, not any one-way street, not tends favor any unambigiously prevalent 'traits' in the said 'selection'. (But this not too relevant to these things...and of course any resembling social darwinisms been rejected since long ago. But the case in point at this is, how much the single word altered actual meaning of the said. Namely the nature is often as good an auctoritet than some people consider God, fx. Referring on that you express from having some evidentual knowledge about how the Nature really works...and in reality it rarely the case, people very little do.) 
 
3. ...I think it on 'Confessions of the book reviewer', (possibly) publ. at the late from 1930s. (On vol. 1 from The Collected essays, etc.) ; Anyway, on 'In defense of the Novel' (Coll. Essays..., v. 1 ;p. 281-7), he makes practically similar remarks: ”For even if there were no question of bribery, direct or indirect, there can be no such things as good novel criticism so long as it is assumed that every novel is worth reviewing. ...A man who is not a practised writer but has read the book which has deeply impressed him is more likely to tell you what it is about than a competent but bored professional.” (Italics by Orwell.)

4. ; Acc. the Dictionary-definition (here too relied on it, not from elsewhere checked...), the Anima would interpret for 'n. (Psych.) a person's true inner self; the feminine aspect of themale personality. [L. Mind, soul]' [; Cassell's] ; Although, I'm not much of a beliver to any psychological explanats...

5. ; A point-of-view (on comics too), of course, that the word 'porno-graphic' also has quite lots in common with any early origins of the graphic and 'comicesque' pictorials. (For example, it usually noted that on antique towns, preserved roman ruins most typically, there tended be some graphical descriptions, or sexual 'signs', showing any visitors of the town where situated the local brothels.) ; ...More distantly, and while now here said already quite much on written words and images in combined - there's perhaps few other aspects to mention about, related or not much to this. Precisely, that every device (or, any channel) that mixes picture and text appears usually considered for more evidentual and the presented said taken as such, from to state some actual ”truths” (...I-o-w: the comics, fx, are perceived for funny unrealistic, offensive sometimes, caricaturist, but not any manner from expressing 'distorted' views on the realities them might represent. No matter how fantastical or imaginous impossible are scenes them might depict – that is still considered from to have smtgh to do with the actual reality. Same might be said/concern all fictional, of course, but the pics have capabilitty posses viewer's attentions more influensively for a momentum.) Likely, of quite the same reason tv-adverts (et sim.) appear from so enthusiastically believed as effective manner for marketing. ...What is perhaps less likely and apparently exaggerated is the capability of a pictorial narration from to transform anything presented (objects, products) for worth some desirability and 'lusting'. (...It has some capacity, possibly, only to arouse any physical, or 'biologal' needs that are targeted – such as the hunger, sex. And, of course, the kids may be more adjustable to such 'tactics'.) In that sense on some past decades popularised 'whole-sale consumerism' (or the increase of a life-style marketing), merely desperate efforts from capture buyers 'total' attentions, since the traditional methods quite poor succes on consumerizing the peoples tastes(...supposedly.) ; But, of some interests, also fx that, in the adverts – much similarly than on comics – seems it taken for granted and allowed exaggerate, falsify, (almost) anything seems permitted from to keep viewer captured by the pictorial phantastication (And, also seems, we don't generally feel for any actual distaste from that, only some obvious resentment about the usual boringness of it all.) ...Even any open lies seem accepted and possible to render to smtgh presented as smght evidentual and unfalsified. - Yet, however, the said technique (from pics and textual narration, and what any comics artist perhaps might know, I suppose) serves the imagination only up for certain limit, until it's effectivity turns against itself. And , fx, I think that noted for a reason why after the Chernobyl and Bhopal-disasters (at the 1980s), consumers not been obliged of to receiving any adverts by the nuclear- and chemial-industries. (...At least not here, can't say from any other regions or countries. And, of course the said not any inventions of my own, while I don't at the moment recall the source where I did read about that.) ; ...Presently, already by some time of course, there's been various rivalling channels to tv, and (as I recall it assumed...) I think we did predict the TV's disappearance, or it fusing for the emerged newer information highways around sometime from the 2030s/40s – happily awaiting that. (...You maybe noticed that I'm not much of a believer for the 'media education', either.)

6. ; (Only to mention) but there's, I think, at the -78 published earlier essay by the name 'illness as Metaphor'. It may be even more out-dated now, and noted on this mainly from reference to (perhaps) on the past decades more actuelt themes – ie some about medicalisation of the life at wider level, ...the healhcare-systems, the 'medical ethos' and all about that general attitude on thinking of the contrasts, such as the health/sickness,ao... ; Actually I noted that essay perhaps more interesting to read due from it's wider references on past centuries, ao. (Main subject is on the differences from concepts and metaphorical medical language, of the time, used fx in relating to diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer,...ao.) 
 
7. ; ...For example, in the latter part from the book (a short cite) ”...O innocents! ...may find they are givers of life. Shall I ever know what I take from those who have trusted me? Did I owe them nothing more than to warm them? ...Scruples come to me, as usual, by extrahuman routes. The feeling had grown in me that I owe a debt to the animals which have dedicated their brief existence to me. Am I their guardian? My role is more nearly raptorial.”(; p. 165.) - Where she exaggerates her own pains about being the mediator for the described denied and hidden passions of these people referred...Or (it about) herself being in 'debt' to them as some 'documentarist' for the said 'forbidden' desires...but my brief notes perhaps also might a bit overemphasize the books unconventionalism on the said time ('cause 1930s wasn't any Victorian era, while perhaps equally hypocritic by morals, no doubt of that...). ; Apparent at least is that while there on her writing (practically) contains very little anything 'abusive', or practically nothing from any sexual descriptions at the text – it seems yet been in those social circles considered too peculiar for, or at least not quite unproper to common moral. ; ...Colette's compassion on animals also was an integral part of her persona, while maybe merely better renown to her closer peoples, and not similarly of her 'public character' (Yet, on her case these quite inseparable, quite impossible define without considering each other...)

8. ; ...Some claims seem say that Bataille actually did consider this short piece to text his most ambitious writing. But, actually my own original purpose to this, was from his text that w. no restraint plays also with sexuelt-racial views by the time and (apparently) openly disgraces those. Or so it said, at least, namely the essay/writing referred Histoire de L'oeuil (p 1928.) (Also, features other interesting thematics concerning these things...like the name would say. But, of course then, the transl. by the time I viewed, wasn't available for us to view.)

9. ; ...The following not any manner (much) relating for these discussed views (on eroptic, sex and porn), but it a worth quote a few words - but briefly – from historical conceptions to the femine body. Ie, those contrasts about life and death, beauty and decay (of the body) were at past more often than today directly linked to conditions reflecting to persons worth, or virtue, in this life too – along the more generally recognized dominance of the religious life and views. ; Fx (at pasts) ”...beauty was often a strongly negative factor, one that could lead to what Georges Bataille would later call a 'desire for defilement' and destruction, a desire most fully and internally chronicled by the Marquis de Sade at the end of the early modern period.
Once a woman's beauty had disappeared and its powerful effect was forgotten, it became suspect. Her body was associated with death, whose grimacing, sexless skeleton, staring at her from beyond the mirror, already held decaying but still bedized body in its embrace. … The skeleton's embrace was absolute, far more intimate than any anonymous embrace, because death and decay were the promise of a future contained within the beautiful body itself, underneath the skin.
Later, the image of the woman gazing at herself in the mirror shed its more terrifying connotations at the whole concept of female beauty was reinterpreted in the Renaissance.
...Ideal, changeless beauty was also suspected of being empty or vain or spiritless or soulless or uncultivated, silent because it had nothing to say. Or it might turn out to be cold and deceitful. ” ; ”The Beautiful Woman” (by Nahoum-Grappe, on A History of Women, V. III Enlightenment and Renaissaince paradoxes. p. -94 ; p. 98-99) 

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 Pics: (Excluding those mentioned at text.) ; 'Phoebe's Zeit-Geist' (magazine cover) via from book referred on text, Erotic comics. The illustrated history. ; comics screen (detail) from Comédie Pornography Sentimentale (Beauilleu) ; Shoes, (detail, of erotic drawing-art by Willie, 1950s - pic via from the Er. Comics. ; Jazz-poster from late 1920s (detail) - of Albertson's biography on Bessie Smith, 'Bessie' [...there's quite much comic stylism on the old graphic posters, esp. those from 1930s, 'golden age' for comics and animated cartoons, supposing...] ; Of a book cover to Defoe's Roxana (detail) ; 'Diary of the lost girl'  - poster-advert from Louise Brooks movie (from 1920s) ; 'Girl on bath' - of that renown scifi-saga, of the 1970s [...Seems the name of it, btw, on some of translated publications enshortened simply for 'Valerian'. ...It not any erotic comics, of course, but worth mentioned due from that at their adventures (esp. in the earliest stories) the girl was wrote/drawn from quite equal companion for Valerian – and she's quite peppered too, I always liked the character, as I recall that – so seems fx also noted in comparison to many old stories different from bimbo-types common to comics.”] ; The combined art-work from Donald and that Barksian 'vamp' [...Don't recall the name of that character either (meaning that on what Donald disguised for parodising some superhero-comics) – Since on those books, original story names (or neither artists names) were rarely presented...a rather common usual practice at the past decades comics, it was.]




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