Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sexuality and The Gay or Straight Question
This discussion started on Facebook but I decided I should develop it further for this blog. The conversation was about the controversy surrounded the film Bruno. A friend expressed the view that the depiction of homosexuals in the film was offensive in its stereotyping. But I felt that he missed the aspect of the film that was a social commentary on this, as well as other, stereotypes.
What I felt that was perhaps most offensive in the film is the artificiality of the human condition. Our concepts of sexuality are by and large artificial constructs developed through conditioning our psyche as we develop within our social context.
Why do we even care who is gay or straight? Is there even such a thing as either? why do we insist upon a choice? I dont believe anyone is entirely gay or straight, and that we are all at birth innately bisexual. For example, I recall on 60 minutes (or some such programme) a woman in prison saying how prison makes all woman gay. I am sure it is true for men also (the popular media certainly implies such) and it was true in the trenches.
We think the Ancient Greeks were Queer, but I am sure they would think the same of us. Did they contain some 'gay-gene' as some mentally retarded scientists seem to believe exists.
“Innate bisexuality (or predisposition to bisexuality) is a term introduced by Sigmund Freud (based on work by his associate Wilhelm Fliess), that expounds all humans are born bisexual but through psychological development (which includes both external and internal factors) become monosexual while the bisexuality remains in a latent state... Many modern uses of the term innate bisexuality are more indicative of Alfred Kinsey's research than Freud's. In this sense, it is a suggestion that most or all human beings are functionally bisexual to some degree, but may not express that bisexuality as behavior. Both theories have a great deal of controversy surrounding them, so it is particularly important to be aware of which is being discussed.” Link
Images from apollonius.net
What I felt that was perhaps most offensive in the film is the artificiality of the human condition. Our concepts of sexuality are by and large artificial constructs developed through conditioning our psyche as we develop within our social context.
Why do we even care who is gay or straight? Is there even such a thing as either? why do we insist upon a choice? I dont believe anyone is entirely gay or straight, and that we are all at birth innately bisexual. For example, I recall on 60 minutes (or some such programme) a woman in prison saying how prison makes all woman gay. I am sure it is true for men also (the popular media certainly implies such) and it was true in the trenches.
We think the Ancient Greeks were Queer, but I am sure they would think the same of us. Did they contain some 'gay-gene' as some mentally retarded scientists seem to believe exists.
“Innate bisexuality (or predisposition to bisexuality) is a term introduced by Sigmund Freud (based on work by his associate Wilhelm Fliess), that expounds all humans are born bisexual but through psychological development (which includes both external and internal factors) become monosexual while the bisexuality remains in a latent state... Many modern uses of the term innate bisexuality are more indicative of Alfred Kinsey's research than Freud's. In this sense, it is a suggestion that most or all human beings are functionally bisexual to some degree, but may not express that bisexuality as behavior. Both theories have a great deal of controversy surrounding them, so it is particularly important to be aware of which is being discussed.” Link
Images from apollonius.net
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sacred Sex by Catherine Yronwode
"Sacred Sex web site is a place where you can read about tantra yoga, karezza, and other forms of sex worship. This is a personal, non commercial project, developed to honour the spiritual sexuality I have seen in others and have sought to express in myself." Link
The site contains a collection of articles writen by Catherine Yronwode
The site contains a collection of articles writen by Catherine Yronwode
Society for Sacred Sexuality
"The Society for Sacred Sexuality is a community of sacred sex professionals, teachers, students, and just plain curious/interested folks who desire to share, learn, and talk about the most exciting transformational wonder in the world today — sacred sex.
We are a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to promoting awareness, understanding, and practice of sacred sex.
Our online community is a visionary step toward a real-world society founded on freedom and fulfillment of human potential through sacred sexuality.
The Society for Sacred Sexuality offers clear, step-by-step lessons that make it easy for anyone to learn sacred sex. Sacred sex involves no fancy techniques, difficult practices, nor special faith or belief. You don't even need to believe it works. It is a bodily act — like exercise or brushing your teeth — that produces results regardless of other factors. Sacred sex easily fits into and adds to your current sex practice.
Our Sacred Sex Lessons are available in our Learning Center Forum, allowing you to read, ask questions, share experiences, and view posts by other users." Link
We are a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to promoting awareness, understanding, and practice of sacred sex.
Our online community is a visionary step toward a real-world society founded on freedom and fulfillment of human potential through sacred sexuality.
The Society for Sacred Sexuality offers clear, step-by-step lessons that make it easy for anyone to learn sacred sex. Sacred sex involves no fancy techniques, difficult practices, nor special faith or belief. You don't even need to believe it works. It is a bodily act — like exercise or brushing your teeth — that produces results regardless of other factors. Sacred sex easily fits into and adds to your current sex practice.
Our Sacred Sex Lessons are available in our Learning Center Forum, allowing you to read, ask questions, share experiences, and view posts by other users." Link
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Art of Gustav-Adolf Mossa
"Gustav-Adolf Mossa was born in Nice on 28th January 1883. His father Alexis Mossa (1844-1926), was himself a painter from Nice who produced many posters for the Carnival of Nice at the end of the 19th century and would strongly influence the career of his son. Up to 1900, Gustav-Adolf studied at l'École des Arts Décoratifs de Nice where he familiarised himself with Art Nouveau. At the same time, his father introduced him to landscape art, the use of watercolours, and the surroundings of Nice, thus enabling him to develop a pictorial technique. As early as 1900, however, after the visit of the universal exposition, he was taken by the Symbolist movement and Art Nouveau..." Link
"Only after Gustav-Adolf Mossa died in Nice on 25th May 1971, was his Symbolist work rediscovered. It had been kept concealed by Mossa from a public that had known him essentially by his work as a printmaker for the Carnival of Nice..." Link
gallery
"Only after Gustav-Adolf Mossa died in Nice on 25th May 1971, was his Symbolist work rediscovered. It had been kept concealed by Mossa from a public that had known him essentially by his work as a printmaker for the Carnival of Nice..." Link
gallery
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Venus Project
What is perhaps the most difficult aspect of building meaningful relationships, sex lives and spiritual development?
Argueably, this would have to be finding the time and an environment conducive to those practices. We are so busy with work and social obligations, that it becomes very difficult to take the time out to focus on our spirituality. We don't the time or its hard to find a quiet spot to sit and meditate.
Last night my partner and I went along to The Venus Project lecture that was held in our town. The basic message resignates with us both: that today's social system is outdated and counter productive; that human servitude and debt is unnecesssary; that war and crime are unwanted symptoms of our outdated system that is based on the assumption that resources are scarce; that we need world unity; And most importantly, that we should stop trying to patch our failing system and start looking at new ways that society could be run.
The Venus Project not only critises our current system but poses a viable alternative. Some mistakingly call this alternative a utopia. However, The Venus Project does not advocate a utopia, but rather an emmergent civilisation based upon the very best possible science, technology, intelligent design and resource management.
The society they propose is a resource based economy. This means that all resources become the common heritage of all the worlds people and that the economy is based upon available resources (labour, technology and resources) as opposed to the monentary system that we have today. It sees a monentary system as an out growth of scarcity, which they feel is nolonger relevant today. Today we have the technology to create and abundence of all the necessities of life and that scarcity in todays society is mostly artificially created. One example of this is food. We already produce more than enough food to feed the entire human population. The only scarcity is money.
You might ask, who would work and for what if there was no money? Ultimately the majority of occupations would either become outdated or replaced by machines. This is a process that is already happening today. The only difference is that these machines would work for the good of humanity rather than that of a few.
Inncentive to work would come from a desire to learn, innovate and contribute to society. This sounds far fetched to some but it should be remembered that millions volunteer every year and that many advancements in science and technology did not come about for profit but the quest for knowledge.
In a world free of crime, debt and servitude, where your basic needs are meet as a humanright, one is free to advance their education free of charge, to invent,to create, to enjoy more lesure time, or to spend more time on their respective spititual path.
"The Venus Project is an organization that proposes a feasible plan of action for social change, one that works towards a peaceful and sustainable global civilization. It outlines an alternative to strive toward where human rights are no longer paper proclamations but a way of life." Link
The Venus Project
The Zeitgeist Movement
Argueably, this would have to be finding the time and an environment conducive to those practices. We are so busy with work and social obligations, that it becomes very difficult to take the time out to focus on our spirituality. We don't the time or its hard to find a quiet spot to sit and meditate.
Last night my partner and I went along to The Venus Project lecture that was held in our town. The basic message resignates with us both: that today's social system is outdated and counter productive; that human servitude and debt is unnecesssary; that war and crime are unwanted symptoms of our outdated system that is based on the assumption that resources are scarce; that we need world unity; And most importantly, that we should stop trying to patch our failing system and start looking at new ways that society could be run.
The Venus Project not only critises our current system but poses a viable alternative. Some mistakingly call this alternative a utopia. However, The Venus Project does not advocate a utopia, but rather an emmergent civilisation based upon the very best possible science, technology, intelligent design and resource management.
The society they propose is a resource based economy. This means that all resources become the common heritage of all the worlds people and that the economy is based upon available resources (labour, technology and resources) as opposed to the monentary system that we have today. It sees a monentary system as an out growth of scarcity, which they feel is nolonger relevant today. Today we have the technology to create and abundence of all the necessities of life and that scarcity in todays society is mostly artificially created. One example of this is food. We already produce more than enough food to feed the entire human population. The only scarcity is money.
You might ask, who would work and for what if there was no money? Ultimately the majority of occupations would either become outdated or replaced by machines. This is a process that is already happening today. The only difference is that these machines would work for the good of humanity rather than that of a few.
Inncentive to work would come from a desire to learn, innovate and contribute to society. This sounds far fetched to some but it should be remembered that millions volunteer every year and that many advancements in science and technology did not come about for profit but the quest for knowledge.
In a world free of crime, debt and servitude, where your basic needs are meet as a humanright, one is free to advance their education free of charge, to invent,to create, to enjoy more lesure time, or to spend more time on their respective spititual path.
"The Venus Project is an organization that proposes a feasible plan of action for social change, one that works towards a peaceful and sustainable global civilization. It outlines an alternative to strive toward where human rights are no longer paper proclamations but a way of life." Link
Peter Joseph: "Where are we going?" Nov. 15th '09 1/2 from peter joseph on Vimeo.
The Venus Project
The Zeitgeist Movement
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