Vulgar?

Would you consider this poster to be vulgar? Well, apparently the Hong Kong subway department seems to think so. This is actually a movie poster, with the design apparently meant as a positive promotion to women's public health. Just a note, the movie is an adaption of a novel telling the story of a woman with breast cancer. Anyway, the poster is banned in the HK subways.

Cultural differences are still pretty apparent. In a way, everyone is trying to get their foot onto the bus of technological advancements. But are the cultural values riding on the same bus too?

My neighbor lives in Timbaktu!

mrdennis mentioned on how the world is essentially getting smaller, with the example of the formation of EU. When EU came about, the positivities were highlighted in terms of travel and the most obvious being the common currency used. It never quite occured to me that pornography had any piece of the cake. I don’t think Vatican City will be joining EU, ever.

The internet definitely has made the world really really small! An email is received almost instantaneously. Imagine that you’re virtually connected to the world, with just a computer and an internet connection. Common as it may seem but when you really sit down and think, it’s quite amazing. It doesn’t matter if you live in Germany or Indonesia, cyberspace becomes a common playground. Swatch even went as far as creating the Swatch Internet time, which I never quite understood how to read.

Distribution of porn becomes so much easier, especially with P2P networks. Those living in countries with bans on porn can simply log onto P2P networks and download them off the web. It’s a child’s play really. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to do that. Well, you don’t need to be a scientist at all! Ram into walls? Forums and tutorials are there to help.

Obscenity act!

Heaven forbid, I seriously hope the timeline in question is not THE timeline from lecture 1 until now. Otherwise I’ll be in deep, deep shit! Somehow it was easier just listening to the lectures than having to jot down notes at the same time. Frankly speaking, if the quest for knowledge should be done willingly, why are there exams? Oh well, I don’t think anyone’s going to listen to me. They’ll just think I’m some lazy moron. But wouldn’t it be more meaningful if our drive to learn comes from within and not due to exams? Of course the argument then goes on to what about those who are not interested in anything at all? If exams really do get scrapped someday, I bet it’s not going to happen in the next month or so.  

Okay, on to the topic of obscenity. Once again it boils down to community standards. Similar to porn, it becomes highly subjective. Even local standards vary from one to another. It definitely would be less problematic if the differences are not extreme but this is undeniably not the case. Materials which are considered obscene in one state is not in another. What really are community standards? There is no a single absolute perception within the community. Let’s say that a particular community has strong church influences. Does that mean the standard of the church thus becomes the standard of the community? 

Then there’s the issue of venue shopping. Since there are obscenity laws in other states, the provider of such materials should be more concerned of where their materials are mailed to. Contrary to this, the stopover locations of the mails are beyond the control of the provider. To think that he/she can be prosecuted due to reasons such as this is pass what I can comprehend.

Kudos for Morgan

It’s the week of opposites. I have to say it's a little frustrating in a way having to argue for something that I do not whole-heartedly agree with. But I don’t really have a choice do I? I’m trying to psych myself that pornography is the theory, and rape the practice. Okay, maybe it’s not at all that difficult.

Let’s see, Morgan mentioned that the context of rape really depends on what the society finds acceptable. But her belief is that of “rape exists any time sexual intercourse occurs when it has not been initiated by the woman out of her own genuine affection and desire.” Of course, certainly! However when you read further into the meaning of the sentence, and the article of course, the phrase begins to take on another perspective. Women, who engage in sexual intercourse without the compassion and want, are deeming to be raped. If the law takes on this explanation for rape, I dare say that every single woman on this planet has been raped at least once if not multiple times. This explanation may seem outrageous, even downright amusing to some. Wait, hear me out!

In our typical rape, the victim is frequently traumatized more psychologically rather than physically. The flesh wound heals, but the distress and suffering of the mind is what’s affected most. The same holds true for women who have sex not out of genuine affection and desire. This may possibly sound absurd but a happy healthy relationship does not require constant sex. I would rather have my woman clawing and hungering for me, than lie on her back like a dead fish when doing the deed. If women feel the need to have sex just to keep their partner happy, there exists some level of stress. It then becomes a form of emotional disturbance, although different from that of a rape victim. Porn portrays women as sex-crazed individuals which is really not the case for most women. Porn is most often targeted at the male population. That said, fact and fiction slowly becomes a blur.

Myths

This week we're supposed to do an argumentative entry on either Porn Myths or the Morgan article. Well, I've not decided which one to write on, much less arguing for or against. Anyway, this entry here did a pretty good job with the Myths website. I have to agree that it's disheartening to know that some parents actually do consider their children as assets that can be bought or sold. This reminds me a little of soccer players who are very much like entities that are sold, and traded between clubs. Of course the soccer players are alot more willing to be doing what they are doing.

As for the part on men who are fooled, or women too, I feel that porn may not be the main reasons here.  My cousin was fooled by her boyfriend. Well, the guy wasn't a stripper or in the porn industry. Maybe it's love that's playing the trick here, or the belief in the existence of it. The myth where porn helps men stay faithful to their women may not be entirely false. I mean not all porn watchers are unfaithful. Maybe it does help, at least for some of us.

1,2,3…

The first blog which caught my attention was that of Way2Much's. The entries are well-thought of and the humor factor really catches on.

The second blog is Cyberyporn and Me-sounds good. The layout of the blog is eye-catching with the pictures and all. They make reading the entries alot more interesting.

The third one is Eat, Breathe, Think. The entries are well written and organized. On top of that, some of the responses to the lectures made me think, "Why didn't I think of that?"

It’s gonna be Friday, smile a little!

Since we’re on the topic of pedophiles, I thought I’ll put up a few prints I saw on T-Shirt Hell. The website has more extremely funny t-shirts which some of us may find very offensive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

 

Here, is a very candid account of a Singaporean blogger’s first visit to a porn theatre. Her blog won her the title of Best Asian Weblog for 2 years running.

And to sum it up, this one’s for all the professors out there! Nothing related to porn but I just find it highly amusing. Got it from a January 1996 edition of Reader’s Digest that I was flipping through from my dad’s collection.

A university student has to know everything. A teaching assistant has to know in which books to look for what the professor wants to know. The professor has to know where to find the teaching assistant. -Contributed by Adrienn Kiss

Of burgers and steamed buns.

Is there an indirect correlation with people engaging in extra-marital affairs or cheating on their partners, and porn-watchers? A research in this area could very well be considered. For me, I do believe that pornography does somewhat have an effect on a more promiscuous sexual life. If it doesn’t introduce it, it certainly increases it to some extent.

Look at it this way. To be watching porn, the individual most probably is comfortable and acceptable of this kind of activity (watching porn). And to be able to have this mindset, there involves a certain level of openness towards sexual matters. I am not implying that all porn viewers are agreeable with the idea of cheating on their significant other. But the notion that porn unknowingly puts naughty thoughts into our mind is justifiable. That said, one with a sexual fantasy unable to be fulfilled by their partner may jolly well look for other more willing individuals.

I was, and still am trying to see if there’s a relationship between westernization of the Asian society and decline in morals. Wait, stop! Don’t shoot me yet. I absolutely agree that Westerners are of high morals, but the Asian society is still pretty conservative in comparison. Maybe I should instead say that westernization is causing Asians to be more liberal. When I say Asian, I really do mean South East Asian as they are who I’m familiar with.

Just last week I came across this article on Indians who worked in the call centres for British and American companies. 1/5 of them have admitted to having affairs in the workplace, and one in four of them said they regularly had casual affairs. It is said that traditional Indian values are at threat. Click on the article “Are call centres casual sex den?“  to further read about this issue.

I grew up in an era when Western influence was extremely dominant and changes can be seen on a daily basis. Everything from food, clothing to technology, were taking on a more western look. In grade school, I wrote endless essays on effects of westernization on the Asian society. When I was a kid, I played with marbles and plastercine. Kids nowadays have computer games, and Play-Doh just to name a few. In a way I consider myself fortunate to be able to live in two different “worlds” so to speak.

With the incident of Tammy which I related in one of my posts, we can see that Asians are indeed becoming more sexually adventurous. Maybe the younger generations are more welcoming towards this new “trend” but the government does not seem to think likewise. I do not see the lifting of the law banning pornography anytime soon. Just to show you a glimpse on how conservative the societal values are, “Brokeback Mountain” is banned in some countries there. Maybe it’s due to reasons like these that piracy is prevalent.

So, after all the ramblings, where does pornography come in? The Chinese have their fair share of ancient porn. The Indians bask in the glory of the Kamasutra. Therefore the idea that porn was introduced by the West is thrown out the bag. Hence my theory is that western influence resulted in the Asian society to be more receiving of sex, and the possibility of tendencies towards numerous sex partners.

Porn 101…or so it seems!

My sentiments exactly!! For those of us who aren’t so comfortable talking about sex with our parents, porn really is very educational in a way. Like I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, the internet was probably one of the ways I learned about sex. Well, Kamasutra has been in print for years. Cosmopolitan provides the females with tips and ideas on pleasing their men. Males, what do we have? Magazines the likes of Playboy and Hustler only provide some form of visual stimulation. What better way to learn about sex than from porn videos? 

Although the society is now becoming more open towards the subject of sex, I’m pretty sure I’ll mumble throughout the whole conversation. That is if I last even 2 minutes without fleeing away. 

Sex definitely is a skill. Anyone who says otherwise, let’s set a date for a debate. I don’t mean wham, bam and we’re set. People are lowering their inhibitions and crave for more excitement in the bedroom, or somewhere else. It takes a certain level of knowledge in order to please the partner. Especially nowadays when sex is not just a satisfaction of the male’s urges, rather it has become an “enjoyment” for the ladies too. Maybe enjoyment is not such a good word but you get the drift. Although sex is not the main factor in keeping a relationship going (I hear some protests already!), but it certainly is one of THE factors. 

 

Venezuelans Pose Nude

It’s back to school again after a week long of sun, sea and sand. No, I wasn’t talking about the beaches of Jamaica. It’s just an imagination conjured in my mind, having been stuck with the Buffalo weather for most part of the break. For those of you who are lucky enough to show off your perfectly “sun-kissed” body courtesy of endless visits to the tanning salon, good for you! The rest of us can just sit in front of the computer, and possibly come across news such as the one below, to add a little touch of spring to the mood. As usual, the weather’s not helping! Anyway, what’s spring break without some amount of nudity, no?

 

 

Venezuelans pose nude in public for art! I know we’re way beyond the justifications of some materials to be art or pornography. But hey, I’m don’t think we came to a conclusion. This may be an interesting read on a dull rainy day.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – More than 1,500 Venezuelans shed their clothes on a main city avenue Sunday to pose for American photographer Spencer Tunick, forming a human mosaic in front of a national symbol: a statue of independence hero Simon Bolivar.

As Tunick shouted commands through a megaphone, nude people of every shape, size and skin tone gathered on the avenue and stairs in front of the statue just before dawn.

“There are some people over there with clothes, get them out of there!” said Tunick, an artist from Brooklyn, N.Y., who has been documenting groups of nude people in public places around the world since 1992.

For the volunteers, being part of Tunick’s art meant letting go of inhibitions and enduring a two-hour series of sometimes uncomfortable positions on the pavement.

Harold Velasquez, a thin 23-year-old university student, said he was nervous before the 4:30 a.m. event – but felt free while posing.

“I put the lightest clothes I had on this morning because I knew I wouldn’t have them on for long,” a smiling Velasquez said. “There were good vibrations, a good positive energy among all the people involved. I felt liberated.”

The nude subjects posed standing, lying down and on their knees as the warm Caribbean sun emerged on the eastern horizon.

Occasional cheers and movements in the enthusiastic crowd made shooting tough at times, Tunick said.

The artist, who has been arrested multiple times while shooting in the United States, said he was happy to have darker-skinned subjects. Most Venezuelans are considered mestizo, a mix of Spanish, African and indigenous bloodlines that gives many a brown skin tone.

“I want people of colour to pose and come out and participate in my work, so I was very lucky,” the artist said.

© The Canadian Press 2006