The Home for the Literarily Bent
Archive for June, 2010
The Contemporary Dictionary of Sexual Euphemisms
01 year ago
by Todd
in Reference Books
Front cover for The Contemporary Dictionary of Sexual Euphemisms
By Jordan Tate
Published in 2007 by St Martin’s Press
I came across this book at a sidewalk sale of one of my favorite local booksellers. Having read it, it is easy to see why it didn’t sell well at full price. The Contemporary Dictionary of Sexual Euphemisms begins on a bad note with E. J. Collins’ introduction. Collins claims that the euphemism began “from society’s inability to accept sexuality as a normal part of existence.” He further claims that the euphemism exists in modern times as a “shield and weapon” against the fragility of masculinity and bemoans that masculinity cannot define itself “independent of feminity.”
Collins misses the mark badly. He fails to acknowledge that the euphemism is a linguistic conceit. Though they can be used to obscure, they can also be used to illuminate a subject. Also, the euphemism is often employed to add humor to a subject. Unless you’re doing it wrong, sex should be fun (among other things). If all discussions about sexuality were somber and clinical, would it not be reasonable to assume that sexuality is likewise somber and clinical?
Unfortunately, the book never recovers from Collins’ introduction. Every entry in The Contemporary Dictionary of Sexual Euphemisms is presented in a disjointed, but consistent, fashion. Entries are presented in alphabetical order and typically have with three definitions – two absrurdist literalisms followed by an explanation of the euphemism’s real meaning. For example, the entry for “makin’ bacon” consists of:
- To prepare the salted and smoked meat from the back and sides of a pig.
- To cook or prepare salted and smoked meat from the back and sides of a pig by heating.
- Coitus (slang)
This dictionary style information is then followed by etymological information, a usage example, and a brief commentary about a euphemism’s origin. Some of the entries are photo-illustrated. But don’t get too excited, these illustrations are pictorial depictions of the literal absurdities being described. For example, the illustration for “hiding the salami” shows a girl on her knees sneakily putting a salami under a carpet.
Taken as a whole, the entries leave the reader puzzled as to the book’s intent. Is it intended to be a work of humor? A serious exploration of the change of language? A joke perpetrated on the reader? If Tate knows the answer, he never bothers to inform the reader. Had Tate had chosen any one of these ideas and fleshed them out, the book would not only have been more cohesive, it would have been entertaining. Instead we are left with a meandering mess that neither informs nor entertains. These major problems aside, Tate does deserve credit for including euphemism that are both humorous and vulgar.
New Feature – Perversion in the News
01 year ago
by Todd
in Perversion in the News
Perversion in the News is the latest feature here at the library. This feature will share news items, feature stories, and editorials involving offbeat sexual topics. If you are aware of any perverted news stories that I should cover, drop me a line at todd@pervertslibrary.com.
The first installment of Perversion in the News features, is a commentary by Jesse Bering that appeared on Scientific American’s discussing whether zoophilia is a fourth sexuality (after hetero, homo, and bi-sexuality). I always thought the fourth sexuality was asexuality, but that is neither here nor there. To read the commentary visit http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=animal-lovers-zoophiles-make-scient-2010-03-24.
Toybag Guide to Dungeon Emergencies and Supplies
01 year ago
Front cover for Toybag Guide to Dungeon Emergencies and Supplies
By Jay Wiseman
Published in 2004 by Greenery Press
One thing about BDSM books that often frustrates me is that they often present a pamphlet-length topic in book-length form. The result is books that are bloated with asides, awful fiction, wordy prose, and the like that are not only annoying to read, they are also unnecessarily expensive.
In some ways, it is easy to understand why publishers would contribute to this situation given based on their not wholly unreasonable belief that book buyers are more likely to shell out the extra money for an entire book than purchase what might appear to be a flimsy pamphlet. I also think that the book length format appeals to the egos of BDSM authors given that, not only does a book seem a more impressive accomplishment than a pamphlet, but also a book writer is more likely to receive perks such as invitations to speak at BDSM events. I know for a fact that “so-and-so wrote a book” carries considerable cachet in someone’s stature within the larger BDSM community. Unfortunately, whether said book is any good is given scant attention.
In my view this is all very backwards. I would much rather spend $10 on a smaller pamphlet that contains only meaningful pragmatic information than shell out $16 for four times the verbiage and one-eighth of the utility. Also, why on earth would I be excited to hear an author speak when his book is meandering and self-important?
All of which is why I enjoy Greenery Press’ Toybag Guide books so much. Not only are do they distill a topic to the parts that are important to learn, they do away with much of the awfulness that all too often plagues BDSM-related books.
Despite the fact that I was annoyed and distracted by his excessive safety admonitions in SM 101, it is hard to imagine any author who is more suited to write a BDSM safety guide than Jay Wiseman. Here, Wiseman presents most everything a person needs to consider before, during, and after play in a concise easy to read manner. Not only is this is an enjoyable read before an accident, it remains a handy reference to have on hand after a situation arises that requires attention (though not every emergency situation lends itself to “wait let me read this book for five minutes before I act).
In fact this is so enjoyable, I have only one complaint which is that one of the folios, pages 27-58, where inserted into my copy upside down. But this printing error is a minor annoyance that can easily be overlooked.
Pornotopia Issue 1
01 year ago
by Todd
in Magazines and Zines
Front cover for Pornotopia Issue 1
Edited by M.A. Sirk
Published in 2010 by Pandora Press
Full disclosure: M.A. Sirk contacted me and offered to send me a copy of his zine at no cost. While I hope that the free zine won’t affect my objectivity, I would be re-miss to not mention it.
My expectations for a zine are always a bit different than they are for a commercially printed work, and I am able to overlook errors in a zine that would drive me bonkers if they appeared in a commercially printed work.
Hailing from Australia, “Pornotopia” describes itself as “a zine about sex and pornography.” The first thing I noticed about Pornotopia is its laminated cover. This is the first zine or magazine for that matter I have seen with a laminated cover and it is a nice touch. In fact, I am surprised that more sexually oriented magazines don’t have laminated covers, particular the magazines known colloquially as “stroke mags.”
By my count, the first issue contains nine articles or features that stylistically run the gamut from porn reviews to personal sex stories to fiction to even poetry. The second article is a remembrance/review of an old amateur porn series titled, “Horny Housewife.” While I personally have never much cared for amateur porn, reading Sirk extol the virtues this particular series (seemingly largely forgotten and unappreciated by the world at large) reminded me very much of my own efforts here at the library to celebrate and record items that might be otherwise forgotten or neglected.
Another article discussed the finer points of putting together a good photospread. While this is another topic that isn’t of much personal interest, Sirk’s enthusiastic explanations will inform my impressions the next time I see one.
One of Pornotopia’s best articles was the fiction with a lactation theme. Unfortunately, the end of the story was cut off (some of the missing text was attached to a blank spot at the back of the zine, but there is still a piece missing).
Other articles include Sirk’s first trip to a nude beach (I won’t describe my own other than to say that I am still creeped out by the site of old men in Velcro sneakers), a poem about vintage porn, and an excellent article about the wonder that is drinking piss.
All in all, this is a nice effort for an inaugural issue. Hopefully there will be future issues that improve on these themes and avoid the layout error that appeared in my favorite review.
To order a copy of Pornotopia, email pandora_press@hotmail.com.
Site News
0I am proud to announce the addition of a second contributor to the Library, my slave elizabeth. Her perspective as a slave, masochist, and women will add a broader perspective to the Library and I look forward to sharing our time together working on posting new reviews. If you want to read her posts, follow them in the “slave’s corner” category.