Parental Advisory

[venta]

Does anyone know anything about The Vagina Monologues ?

I'd been told, by people who I'd regard as reliable, that they were extremely funny. Last night, I accidentally found a performance on the telly. The 2 minutes I watched seemed to consist entirely of a woman explaining how she'd "reclaimed" the word cunt, and then repeatedly saying it in different silly voices.

Which the audience seemed to find hilarious. Which I found incomprehensible. It's not like I found it offensive, it just... wasn't funny.

[One Notional Kudos Point to anyone who realises why I suddenly remembered about this :) ]

Comments

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

I have an evil plan. One day I will get dressed up and attend The Vagina Monologues alone. If any lady questions me about it then I will say "Oh, my girlfriend's also going to see it tonight, it's just that she lives five thousand miles away." Worth doing for effect alone whether it happens to be true or not. (If it happened to be true then it's not a particularly evil plan as evil plans go.)

Broadly I think I am in favour of at least the principle of TVM, whether it turns out to be worthy or unworthy, on the grounds that anything which can get people to consider the issues involved and reduce the mystification about the organ has probably got to be a good thing. Not convinced that this is a strong argument, mind you.

I look forward to the inevitable sequel, the Anus Monologues. (The Anal Anthologies, maybe?) Or would discussion of prostate glands be dragging the tone of conversation down too far for anyone's comfort?

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

But why should women be unhappy to see men there? I'd be delighted to see men at such an event on their own, it would deminstrate that they weren't just being dragged along by their girlfriends.

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

I'd have thought/hoped so too, but people aren't logical - see the comments in Josh's entry (the link I pointed at above).

By the way, I've long wondered which of the people at Oxford who I didn't really know, but recognised as a name, at the time you are. :-) If you didn't know me at Oxford at all then I don't suppose it matters at all!

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

I'd have thought/hoped so too, but people aren't logical - see the comments in Josh's entry (the link I pointed at above).
Ah, I must have missed that bit. Oh yes, I remember, the mocking friend. Well, what can I say, some women are idiots! Speaking for myself, I'd love to see men there on their own initiative. If I ever plcuked up the courage to go :)

By the way, I've long wondered which of the people at Oxford who I didn't really know, but recognised as a name, at the time you are. :-) If you didn't know me at Oxford at all then I don't suppose it matters at all!
No, I do remember you! I'm Kate Harding. I have no idea whether that'll ring any bells.

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

No, I do remember you! I'm Kate Harding. I have no idea whether that'll ring any bells.

Yes, it does! I carried around something with your autograph on for years. Admittedly it was my OURPGSoc membership card, but at least I do know who you are. :-)

*waves*

[condign.livejournal.com]

Broadly I think I am in favour of at least the principle of TVM, whether it turns out to be worthy or unworthy, on the grounds that anything which can get people to consider the issues involved and reduce the mystification about the organ has probably got to be a good thing. Not convinced that this is a strong argument, mind you.

I rather like the mystification of the organ, thank you very much. We have lost so much power from the loss of that mystique.

The Anus Anthologies, however, will never occur. As the old joke goes (if I may be allowed to 'reclaim' another word), 'Opinions are like assholes--everyone's got one.'

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

I rather like the mystification of the organ, thank you very much.

That's as may be, but you don't have one. I think that if the mystification is causing problems (in this case because it contributes to the cunt being subconsciously considered by some a shameful deformity, and by many as some kind of stigma), then the priority can be granted to those who risk being inflicted with serious mental disorders. The analogy is imperfect, but how would you expect men to feel if "beard" was an insult to the full extent "cunt" is? Could they be expected to almost always develop a healthy understanding of their own appearance?

Obviously, I Am Not A Psychiatrist Specialising In Female Sexuality. I'm not convinced that reclaiming a word is that major a part of dealing with the issues. Nevertheless, before you can have power over something you must know its names...

We have lost so much power from the loss of that mystique.

Who's "we", what power? Is this part of your desire for a kind of bemused (or intrigued) gentlemanliness?

Ah, I'm probably fighting a rear-guard action here, but...

[condign.livejournal.com]

That's as may be, but you don't have one.

Which is rather why I like the mystification of it. We've done an awful lot just in the last ten years, and quite a lot over my lifetime to really cheapen that which is sexy, and this is one more step down that road. The major reason that I've not seen the Vagina Monologues is that I'm afraid of being enraged at a number of things I'll find touching or, indeed, important, sharing a stage with a cartload of dross taking itself too seriously.

It's almost a rule these days that things which are 'challenging' or 'statement-making' have to be shocking and crass--the very name 'The Vagina Monologues' makes me want to cringe, as if I saw a copy of Delta of Venus retitled A Cock and Cunt in Paris.

Re: Ah, I'm probably fighting a rear-guard action here, but...

[frax.livejournal.com]

to really cheapen that which is sexy, and this is one more step down that road.

There is nothing *sexy* and never was anything *sexy* about female circumcision and sexual violence against women two very common themes in TVM. Therefore this is in no way "one more step down the road".

TVM is about female empowerment and if that offends your gentlemanly principles then tough because it is isn't about you its about women who have suffered victimisation and their need to reclaim what are their organs.

Calling it the Vagina Monologues instead of the Lotus Flower monologues indicates that it is nothing to do with sexiness or romance but it is making a political statement.

Frax

Re: Ah, I'm probably fighting a rear-guard action here, but...

[condign.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, these are two of the themes, but are not the sole themes of the work. And the discussion to date has rather focused on a single one of the monologues, the one about 'reclaiming' the word cunt--not exactly a high point of victimisation. Furthermore, even if that is its intention, if an unintended consequence of the manner in which it is done is to cheapen that which is sexy, I'm entitled to make that argument--art may be considered within the entirety of its social surroundings, not merely within the box the author (or a viewer) wishes to place it in.

TVM is about female empowerment and if that offends your gentlemanly principles then tough because it is isn't about you its about women who have suffered victimisation and their need to reclaim what are their organs.

To whit Jiggery-Pokery's comment about men not being welcome? But again we return to the issue of empowerment...