David:
Did I mention I read “Venus in furs”, the reputed classic of German (really Austrian) decadent writing? Maybe it was my translation, but that’ll have to do. What hack crap. Reminded me the only reason most things are classics is they’ve survived till today. The Monk was a Michael Crichton novel for the 1780s. Walpole was like Steven King. Anne Radcliffe was their Anne Rice.
For transgressions, Miracle of the rose is better. Or Naked lunch. Exquisite corpse.
But by the end of “Venus in furs”, the author had aroused an emotion, and strongly, and any artist who arouses truly creates art, so I was left wondering if my absolute despise of that fur-wearing bitch would then constitute the story as art.
It did possess a bit of tragedy. The protagonist’s fetish was to be shit on and treated like worthless scum. That is to say he would love the woman who treated him as such. And he got what he wanted. What a whore. She beat him. Ignored him for other men. Had other men beat him. He was entirely dominated, which is what he wanted (ooh‚ Alien Sex Fiend is on), but in the end he lost everything be loved.
I think it’s fair to assume healthy people possess a sustainable worldview that leads them at least to contentment. How you could live unhappy is beyond me, but, truly, happiness is a state of mind and not the state of affairs around you. “Venus in furs” is hack crap, but I was still angry at the woman’s entire lack of morals and decency.
It’s also interesting that the story raised not one eyebrow. 200 years of transgressional literature has suggested to me everything that could be suggested. The only shock and horror remaining in our world are the personal horrors you never share with anyone, or the few you share late at night with a lover, as excited about the intimacy as you are about violating your own insistent sense of secrecy.
When you betray yourself, it would be wise to ask who you are betraying: your self or your sense of self. It’s somewhat fitting that as I finish this, Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown boy” is playing.