[lit-ideas] Fans Of The Glans [was: Alkibiades and the Herm: A Greek Dialogue]

JL:

>>I'm not for circumcision. But this rude statuettes, if that they may be 
>>called, where just like totems. Only with the glans springing from the middle 
>>of the thing. This was perhaps what Alkebiades, who had a sense of beauty, 
>>thought of 'mutilating'.<<



As best I can tell, JL is an Alcibiades (I refuse to submit to JL's orthography 
just as my one-armed great grandfather refused to salute the Union flag) 
sympathizer, supporting Al's mutilation of the circumcised statues -- well now, 
that's just sad, for isn't circumscion itself a mutilation?  Of course it is.  
Ergo, Alcibiades mutilated the mutilated.  Over engineering is what we 
(circumcised) call that.  One of my brothers is uncircumcised.  He was born in 
a very small town in Arkansas.  Apparently Jewish tradition hadn't reach there 
yet.  He is the outcast of the family, of course, what with is funny looking 
penis.  We used to make him expose himself just for laughs.  But now that he's 
in his 50's we think he should set things right.  God forbid a Geary should go 
to the grave with foreskin intact.  He balks.  Having these thoughts in mind, I 
was drawn to the news item below.  Oregonians are a strange lot:

"PORTLAND, Oregon - The wishes of a 12-year-old boy should be considered in a 
dispute between his divorced parents about whether he should be circumcised, 
the Oregon Supreme Court ruled Friday.The father, James Boldt, converted to 
Judaism in 2004 and wants the boy to be circumcised as part of the faith. The 
mother, Lia Boldt, appealed to the high court, saying the operation could harm 
her son physically and psychologically.

The state Supreme Court ruled that earlier court decisions failed to determine 
whether the boy wanted the circumcision, as his father contended, or opposed 
it, as his mother alleged.

The Supreme Court sent the case back to the trial court to answer that question.

If the trial court finds the child agrees to be circumcised, the Supreme Court 
said, it should deny the mother's requests. But if the trial court finds the 
child opposes the circumcision, the court has to determine if it will affect 
the father's ability to care for the child.

The custody dispute began when the child was 4 and the circumcision issue began 
three years ago when he was 9.

The case has drawn attention from Jewish groups concerned that the Oregon court 
might restrict the practice. It also has drawn attention from Doctors Opposing 
Circumcision.

The courts have steered clear of religious or medical issues, focusing on the 
questions of custody and care of the child.

More than a million U.S. infants are circumcised each year, but circumcising 
adults or teens remains relatively rare."

http://my.earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20080125/47996cd0_3421_13345200801252098420634



Mike Geary

Memphis



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jlsperanza@xxxxxxx 
  To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 6:30 AM
  Subject: [lit-ideas] Alkibiades and the Herm: A Greek Dialogue


  Alkibiades and the History of Art

  The Uncircumcised Greeks (Was: The Maffia)

  We are discussing phallic rites, and the Maffia in Sicily (soundtrack of 
Godfather playing in the background).

  The Prof. at Reed writes:

  "Alcibiades and his followers were accused of the mutilation of the herms 
(hermae), representations of the god Hermes, that were set around Athens. 
Shortly after the Athenian fleet reached Sicily, he was recalled to face trial. 
As far as I know no statues were mutilated on Sicily."

  -- Exactly. That was done at a later stage by the Maffia. They mutilated in 
Sicily. Incidentally, Rudolf Valentino was from Sicily, but New Yorkers adored 
him. Funny.

  The hermes (or 'herms' or 'hermae') as R. Paul spells that, were pretty 
rustic, obscene and asking to be mutilated in the first place. I'm not 
circumcised, and I realize most of Lit-Ideas (male) list-members are, so don't 
get me wrong. I'm not for circumcision. But this rude statuettes, if that they 
may be called, where just like totems. Only with the glans springing from the 
middle of the thing. This was perhaps what Alkebiades, who had a sense of 
beauty, thought of 'mutilating'. On top of the totem we see the silly smily 
face of Mercurius, which could well have been mutilated as well. This would 
leave us with a clean column, which would have good uses and good taste in 
decoration. To place a pot above, or something. 

  I'm compiling this Sculptoric Companion to the Loeb ("The Glyptotheca at the 
Swimming Pool") and indeed have two entries now:

  HERM

  and

  HERMES


  which is rude, but still, I have to provide some info on these hateful things 
that passed for pieces of art. 

  Borges loved Buenos Aires, and would often note that his love showed when 
walking Paris or Vienna. "I know I miss Buenos Aires, because it's so ugly and 
yet I want to be there." When Florida Street became pedestrian he thought it 
was enough of a good thing. "But with the new pots [maceteros] they have 
finished uglifying it ("la han terminado de afear"). 

  I would think that Alkebiades was having the same thoughts. Imagine having 
like 50 phalloi overlooking your country walks. I for one would make a point of 
avoiding each. Alkebiades who had a gang, thought of doing art a good thing and 
'mutilated' them.

  NEXT LESSON: Why the phallos of noble Athenians is small in statues but those 
of the Ethiopians and Priapus isn't. What it says about the Spartan Code.

  Cheers,

  J. L. 




------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail!

Other related posts: