Sex for Fantasy--Some Analysis

Sex for Fantasy--Some Analysis

A lot of time and energy are dedicated to all aspects under the huge umbrella of the subject of sex.

There is the topic of gender and its identity. There is the subject of sexual drive, attraction, and desire. There is sex appeal. There is sexual abuse. There is sexual addiction. There is sexual health. There is sexual promiscuity, monogamy, bigamy, celibacy, and many others forms of sexual relationships and practices, postures and attitudes. There are sex workers and shows and programs dealing with sex, the act and the practices, the visual, mental, physical, cultural, spiritual aspects of it.

In the modern 21st century globalized world there are all types of discussions and specialists and professionals, money-generating and active industries that earn fame, fortune, notoriety related to sexual matters, and of course there are the negative consequences of sexual activity and behavior. Millions of people are driven by it openly and inwardly; it is the topic of religion, science, and entertainment. Casual humor abounds with it. Some comedians use it the most.

Sigmund Freud had theories about it, many of them became famous or fashionable albeit later antiquated or relegated to obscurity or disgrace; most organized religions have commandments and decrees regarding it, rules and standards regulating sexual good and bad practices, millions of people, religious or secular, use it to get what they want, both the drive and the act, others simply want it, billions of us are directed or informed by it, especially by identity, but also concerning desires and appeal. Some pretend to act like it is not there, mostly, others ignore it altogether, others sublimate it, some flaunt it, some abuse it or exploit it. 

It's a big deal.

In art, which reflects reality, and fantasy, (right? or is it the other way around?), sexual images and messages are widespread and ubiquitous, naturally. It is a large part of our psyches, collective identities, social mores and taboos, science and beliefs. We, as humans, of course like to understand the biological aspects of sex in not only humans, but the animal world. Sexual reproduction be it conjoining of mates or asexual in all forms of life. The science of it is crucial. Some economists track it a lot, law enforcement and other groups pay close attention to aspects of sex and its traffic, both paid and hobbyists use it as their specialty or their cause d' etre, or simply as an extra part of their overall presence. Think of the gamut of music, dance, film, theatre, television, the Internet, books, magazines, news articles. I have not even touched on pornography, the explicit usage or exploitation of the powerful images and sensations of sexual appetites and passions, or abuse and immodest exploitation that occurs illicitly, more behind the scenes but found everywhere.

Some individuals and groups are very opinionated and authoritative about sexual mores and practices, others are lax. Some are in between.

Scientists and medical professionals have their strong beliefs and principles, most of us take a stand somehow, as individuals, families, peer groups, societies, religious faith, governments.

Part of the title of this article (essay?), I derived from a 1980s song by the pop rock star Billy Idol, who used sex and its appeals in a lot of his music. The song is called "Flesh for Fantasy". Fantasy, as we know is big business. The sexual appeals with those fantasies are constant seller. Sex sells, goes the true adage. Sex and identity are huge subjects of power and control, we know now more than ever in the newly branded post #METOO movement. Many -isms, notably feminism, have a lot to say about sexual identity, politics, and economics and status according to how it is defined and used, or abused. Power and control.

Identity and exploitation, even to the point of the term "sexploitation". That's a thing.

Another 1980s rock reference to sex is the Chilean pop band Los Prisioneros, their song called Sexo.

They produced the following song (shared and translated below), which at first glance may appear to simply be reveling in the appeal of sex and its delights, as so many pop songs do, directly or through insinuation or innuendo; however, perhaps it deserves a deeper appreciation or understanding. That is what I wish to do in this article post.

I think that it is worth noting that David of the Old Testament wrote many or most of the Psalms of the Bible, and many verses of that book and other Biblical topics and verses resort to the principles and practices of lawful and proper sexual relations. And modesty and virtue, of course. Holy books and writ throughout human history deal with sexual standards and rules.

For some today, these older standards might be considered prudish notions in the 21st century. For others it is an embarrassing taboo subject. For many of us, it is worth pondering and scrutinizing. Does it control us or do we have more power and control in regards to its influences and presence? The kama sutra originating from India is an interesting take on sex as well.

Here is the song by translation. Keep in mind, in the original Spanish much of it rhymes, and the rhythm and tempo is upbeat and fast, but: not all that glitters is gold. Not all pop art is purely bubble gum and the quest to sell for titillation and lucre . I see the more profound meanings in it, anyway.

 Sexo (Sex)

Lyrics

El mejor gancho comercial             (The best commercial hook)
Apela a tu liberalidad                      (It appeals to your liberalism)
Toca tu instinto animal                    (It touches your animal instinct)
Rozando la brutalidad                     (Brushing upon your brutality)

Te lo encuentras en la pared           (You find it on the wall)
En el anuncio del licor                     (In the liquor advertisement)
Pegado en un mostrador                 (Stuck on the counter)
Gritándote a todo color                    (Screaming in full color)

Sexo compro                                    (I buy sex)
Sexo vendo                                      (I sell sex)
Sexo arriendo                                  (I rent sex)
Sexo ofrezco                                    (I offer sex)

Sexo compro                                    (I buy sex)
Sexo vendo                                      (I sell sex)
Sexo arriendo                                   (I rent sex)
Sexo, sexo, sexo, sexo, sexo           (Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex!)

Ya no hay de qué enrojecer             (Nowadays you do not have to blush)
Es cotidiano ya lo ves                      (It's an everyday thing you see)
Ahora la virginidad                           (Currently virginity)
Es una cosa medieval                      (Is a medieval thing)

Es tu carnet de madurez                  (It is your license to maturity)
Tu pasaporte a la adultez                 (Your passport to adulthood)
Ella no es una mujer para amar       (She is not a woman to love)
Sino un enemigo al cual doblegar    (But rather an enemy to twist)

Sexo compro                                       (I buy sex)
Sexo arriendo                                     (I sell sex)
Sexo vendo                                         (I rent sex)
Sexo ofrezco                                       (I offer sex)
(Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex!)                    (Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex!)

Sexo compro                                      (I buy sex)
Sexo vendo                                        (I sell sex)
Sexo arriendo                                     (I rent sex)
Sexo, sexo, sexo, sexo, sexo             (Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex!)
Sexo, sexo, sexo                                (Sex, sex, sex)

Las rotativas de imprenta                   (Rotary printers)
Ya están empezando a editar             (Are now starting to publish more naked ladies)

más mujeres desnudas
Y tú tienes una cara de cliente fácil      (You have the face of an easy client)
Tú compras por una promesa de sexo (You purchase for a promise of sex)
 

Abres la boca y te meten el dedo       (Open your mouth and they stick their finger in)
Y les sigues el juego                           (And you follow their game)
Y les das tu dinero                              (And you give them your money)
Y te sientes muy hombre                    (And you feel very manly)
Y me río en tu cara de tu estupidez    (And I laugh in your face for your stupidity)

El mejor gancho comercial                  (The best commercial hook)
Apela a tu imbecilidad                         (It appeals to your imbecility)
Te trata como un animal                      (It treats you like an animal)
Poniendo en claro tu brutalidad           (Making clear your brutality)
 

Es un trofeo la ilusión                          (It's a trophy of illusion)
Que quiebras en la situación               (That fails you in the situation)
Me estas dando la ocasión                  (You are giving me the opportunity)
De gritarte con razón                           (To scream at you with logical reason)
 

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh

Gamulán que se duerme se lo          (Shepherd boy that sleeps is carried off by the current)

lleva la corriente
Tangente de cuarenta y cinco           (Tangent of 45)
Gamulán que se duerme se lo          (Shepherd boy that sleeps is carried off by the current)

lleva la corriente
Tangente de cuarenta y cinco           (Tangent of 45)

 

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jorge Gonzalez

Sexo lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

     This song, subjected to interpretation and analysis, may come across as tawdry and cheap, itself trying to sell the commerce of sensual pleasures, i.e. sex, like so many rock songs do. Yes, Mick Jagger, you and so many others! I do not think it is trying to promote sex or encorage it, but rather give us pause to its power and allure. However, unfortunately by the sheer repetition of the wording, it may overtly or subconsciously defeat its own purpose and popularize the theme more, contrary to its intentions.

  Again, let's step back and analyze the subject within this song a bit more. This particular rock group wrote and performed a lot of serious protest music back when Chile was under a pretty harsh, represive dictatorship in the 1980s. They sang songs about poverty, political strife, commercial or consumer vapidness or mindlessness, male chauvinism, openly critical of pop culture and trends and things amiss in the world and in life, Chile and Latin America.

This song is against cheap and tawdry sex and those that push it, those who exploit people with it and gain from it. Sexploiters, like certain musicians, movie makers, writers and marketers and profiteers of sex-based entertainment.

Hurrah for the "Prisoners", the very name of the group another indication of where their sympathies lie.  They are not trying to push this topic, sex, upon the public for money. They protest it, they critique its overuse and abuse. To quote another rock group, the Eagles in their seminal hit "Hotel California" a song perhaps in reference to a brothel, proclaim, "We are only prisoners here, of our own device."

Both the client and the servant are trapped, it would seem. Addicted? Perhaps? Imprisoned by this trade and low practice. This song may be about prostitution. Although, it could be about any prison or addiction that we find ourselves in.

Yes, low. Sex work is low. When not practiced in the right time or place, this very beautiful act also  known as procreation becomes a lower form of behavior. And, it is exploited to sell and make money for billions of dollars worldwide. To mostly detrimental ends.

I studied more advanced words in English for a graduate exam back in 1997; we learned groups of words to test better, words that would be on the test, so we learned synonyms and associated meanings.

Prurient

Ribald

Libidinous

Lascivious

Banal

Crude

Lewd

Vulgar

Bawdy

Salacious 

Low

Low brow

Off color

Blue
Dirty
Unclean
Sexist
Chauvinist
Not for mixed company
R-rated
X-rated
Adult
Profane
Obscene
Debased
Degraded
Depraved
Sick
Debauchery
Filthy
Picaresque* (not exactly heavy)
Smut
Trash
NC-17
Not appropriate for minors
Not appropriate for young audiences

Porn
Pornography

These adjectives mostly refer to sexual things and terms, words that are related to sexual thoughts, ideas, acts, jokes, stories, scenes.

People try to make it a fantasy, a world of play and wonder that is outside of the normal family, outside of a regular committed marriage, outside the bounds of modesty and chastity.

Outside of morality. Beyond virtue, like virtue does not exist. Are we in a world with no more sexual virtue? Of course we are not. We know that there are boundaries and limits, and just because we turn a certain age does not give us free reign to pour over the libidinous extremes of the flesh, either visually or tactically, personally or vicariously.

As if God, or virtuous living in the secular sense, either never existed or were a thing of the past! Passé. Yesterday's news. Out of la mode.

I am here to let you know that sexual purity and fidelity are not out of style. Never was, and never will be. These virtues, living cleanly and faithfully, have always been the best way to live. Virtue is what we need to strive for.

Analyze your status and assess your current standings within the bounds of human sexuality.

Are you clean? Should you be? Are you morally straight? Should you be? Are there sexual images, thoughts, actions, or practices that distract you or drag you down into the sewer? Should this continue?

Do the Ten Commandments apply to you? Adultery and fornication are against His law. Yes, the commandments are universal, they apply to all of us.

Sexual sin is real. Impure thoughts and actions drag us down. There needs to be healthier alternatives to keep us balanced and clean.

Please don't be the shepherd boy or girl being carried away by the current of hyper-sexuality, as Los Prisioneros claim that people are stolen from their better selves, be it their lowered self image or the over-fixation on others, as subjects or objects. We are all sexual beings, yes, in part, but this is not who we are as people en totum, as a whole. We are bigger than that aspect alone, we are full and complete human beings, and we are not meant to be swept up in the seas of trash and flotsam and jetsam.

Thanks for analyzing some things with me.

Stay pure. Or strive towards it! Purity and virtue are beautiful. Stay true to your loved ones and yourself. Be chaste and modest. This is who we are, or who we should be. Freud was a bit off; there is more to life than sex drives and death drives. Choose pure life.