Power and Pain II

1. Power and Pain II • from The Story of O • from Lesbia Brandon • “Grand Testament” • from Last Exit to Brooklyn • from Venus and Adonis • But first: • the Response to an Article Assignment and pieces

2. Response to an Article three options to respond to: Andrea Dworkin (ch. 6) from Pornography Jennifer Kalmanson “It’s Only Human” Hystericalliterature.com • and three options to respond with: • 500 words written response • poster (digital only, please!) • a short video (PG only, please!)

3. Response to an Article Andrea Dworkin from Pornography pornography = writing pornēia (whore, slut) all pornography turns upon treating women as whores if it is sexual, then that’s because sex = women as whores if it is erotic, then that’s because erotic = women as whores proliferation of technology for porn = greater need for pornēia – validates and universalizes women as sluts/whores

4. Response to an Article Jennifer Kalmanson “It’s Only Human” defining porn is nearly impossible trying only leads to banning all speech it is really about being uncomfortable with others’ fantasies and practices – what we find disgusting is pornographic suggests it may be about female empowerment, allowing women the full range of sexuality and fantasy

5. Response to an Article Clayton Cubitt hystericalliterature.com women reading passages of literary works simultaneously being stimulated to orgasm the relationship between literature and arousal women’s sexuality essays by the women, FAQ, About, etc.

6. Response to an Article You your work Your task is to respond to one of these pieces, all of which are very different. Questions? Good. Go do it.

7. Tomorrow Power and Pain II from The Story of O “Grand Testament” from Lesbia Brandon

8. The Story of O Pauline Reage (1954)

9. The Story of O Pauline Reage (1954) • domination, submission, power, control, violence • possession, ownership, marking, branding • but also female sexuality understood as masochistic • complicity with violence • it is possible both to plead for mercy authentically • and to be thankful that it was not granted • “her condition as woman” is key (p. 103) • patriarchy, male domination – branding • the ring… • women’s relationships with other women

10. The Story of O Pauline Reage (1954) • right – so what makes it erotic? • where is the arousal in it? • what is the reader’s role and how are we projected by the piece? • violence | objectification | fluidity of desire • (the reader can flit from mind to mind, and body to body, inhabiting the one that is most arousing to be, and moving freely as events unfold) – total mastery

11. “Grand Testament”François Villon (c. 1461) • violence, complicity, consent, codependence • exposure of the exploitative nature of many relationships, sexual and otherwise • the economics of desire, sex, and love foregrounded • vulgarity, obscenity, the “dirty underbelly” of love • kinship systems under patriarchy • OK, but that’s not fun. So…

12. “Grand Testament”François Villon (c. 1461) • what makes this one erotic?

13. “Grand Testament”François Villon (c. 1461) • what makes this one erotic? • Hint: you have to tell me.

14. Lesbia BrandonAlgernon Charles Swinburne (1877) • shifting to an all-male scenario • elemental, nature, the ocean • pederasty again, but with a twist • homoerotic if not outright homosexual • contrast between the ocean and Herbert v. Denham • wild, free, unruly, young, laughing • v. • stern, hard, restrained, oppressive - disciplined

15. Lesbia BrandonAlgernon Charles Swinburne (1877) • the eroticism here comes from • the appeal of the natural freedom • the appeal of the young man on the cusp of sexual awakening • the dark mature man who promises to teach • the link to the educational context and history • the delicious promise of a little BDSM in store • Young Herbert is about to embark on a journey of erotic discovery… • anything else?

16. Venus and AdonisWilliam Shakespeare (1593) • story of the goddess Venus pursuing the young man, Adonis • Venus is of course the goddess of love • Adonis is a mortal – but really hot • Adonis is only interested in hunting • Venus puts the moves on him, but fails • woman as aggressor, pursuer, huntress • shortly afterwards, Adonis has an “accident” while hunting (it’s not good)

17. Venus and AdonisWilliam Shakespeare (1593) • eroticism lies in the tension, the chase, the promise of sexual release, bliss, ecstasy • key points: • ll. 16-20 • ll. 25-30 • ll. 40-45 • ll. 60-63 • ll. 83-90 • ll. 128-32

18. from Last Exit to BrooklynHubert Selby, Jr. (1957)

19. from Last Exit to BrooklynHubert Selby, Jr. (1957) • Selby 1928-2004 – writer, taught at USC • gritty works that captured working-class life • street violence, gangs, rape, domestic violence • gang rape, transvestism, rough trade, sex work • rough and unflinching realism • also wrote Requiem for a Dream

20. from Last Exit to BrooklynHubert Selby, Jr. (1957) • Last Exit: • published 1957; 1989 film adaptation • huge uproar over it • on trial for obscenity in UK • banned in Italy • another bombshell in midst of 1950s backlash • parallel with The Story of O • concerned with lower class life in Brooklyn 1950s • really a series of stories that all turn around violence, sex, desperation • recurrent interest in homosexuality, trans- identity

21. from Last Exit to BrooklynHubert Selby, Jr. (1957) • our excerpt: • Alberta  brings home • Harry and seduces him

22. from Last Exit to BrooklynHubert Selby, Jr. (1957) • how does the eroticism work here? • reader’s role/reaction/arousal? • permission, sanction, approval • education, learning, instruction

23. from Last Exit to BrooklynHubert Selby, Jr. (1957) • how does the eroticism work here? • reader’s role/reaction/arousal? • permission, sanction, approval • education, learning, instruction • performance of sexuality and gender • Judith Butler on gender • learning what to do and how • is this female sexuality on show, then?

24. NEXT WEEK… • from Fanny Hill • from Ulysses • from The Conservationist • “My Subway Lover” • from My Secret Life SURPRISE! Voyeurism, Anonymity, the Unexpected