Emerald's Blog, page 34
February 16, 2011
Recommended Reading #34: Humanity and Inspiration
"Creating Change: Solidarity, Human Rights, and the Smell of New Ideas" by Dr. Elizabeth Wood (Self-Awareness, Rights and Advocacy, Sexual Identity) 2/11/11
I find this piece simply brilliant. There isn't much I have to add to that, except to say that what I particularly adore and appreciate in this piece is the framework I interpret Elizabeth as presenting that the sexual rights movement and indeed all rights movements are ultimately about human rights—the fundamental rights of all humans that don't need to be gained or granted somehow but simply recognized, as they are universal. Really, she says it better than I know how to: "I have these rights and freedoms not because I am queer, but because I am human. And because I am human and I care about these rights it is my obligation to fight so that everyone, regardless of identity, can enjoy them."
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"Rob Thomas: Biography" (Non-sex-related, Creative Process, Writing, Self-Awareness) 2009
So this is the official website bio of Rob Thomas, and yes, I adore Rob Thomas's work and have since the release of "Push" on the radio in 1996. But I really don't feel I'm featuring this here just because of that obvious bias. Every time I have read Rob's words and perspective in this piece, I have been struck by what I see as the brilliance within it—about the creative process, about songwriting (which to me translates pretty easily to creative writing in general), about universal experience. Toward the middle, there are some paragraphs devoted entirely to discussion of his particular music, and those could be skipped over in the context of this recommendation—but I truly find what Rob says here inspirational and well worth reading whether a fan of or familiar with the music he's created or not.
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"Wael Ghonim and Egypt's New Age Revolution" on YouTube (Recommended Watch, Non-sex-related, Politics, Self-Awareness) 2/13/11
This has been pretty widespread in the general news, I suspect, but I still want to feature it on my blog particularly. What I sense in Mr. Ghonim's words here is extraordinary awakeness, authenticity, and groundedness. Particularly notable to me are his mention that revenge is not his goal (something I find indescribably heartening and deeply relate to), the statement that he kissed each of the soldiers who held him captive when they let him go, and his response to whether his captors hit him—yes, he says, but he takes care to explain why he feels they did so and that he harbors no vindication about it. What I see in Mr. Ghonim here is a profound inspiration to me.
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February 9, 2011
Recommended Reading #33: Self-Awareness
"Compersion: Using Jealousy as a Path to Unconditional Love" by Dr. Deborah Taj Anapol (Sex and Spirituality, Non-Monogamy, Self-Examination) Undated
I loved this piece centered around a specific emotion—jealousy—and a way of perceiving (and practical application of) it that has seemed rarely offered in mainstream interpretation. This expansion of perspective—seeing something in a new way that has perhaps never occurred to us—appeals to me in and of itself. I also appreciate in this piece the invocation of going deeper than what we see as our fears, even of "worst-case scenarios," to 1) see what they may be covering up, and 2) encounter a deeper understanding and place of dwelling that encompasses fear along with everything else rather than relegating it (fear) to the primary motivator and reacting to it, as we often unconsciously do.
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"Every Time You Orgasm, An Angel Gets Its Wings" by Heidi Anderson (Sex and Culture, Abuse, Sexual Pleasure, Sex and Healing) 8/23/10
I haven't yet read this piece without being brought to tears. I find what the author says, especially in the second half of the piece and in conclusion, so strikingly beautiful it's hard to express. Ironically, while I interpret her as disclaiming spirituality (which certainly she has every right to do and I do not aim whatsoever to disregard or take away from her) in the piece, to me what she offers here practically epitomizes the understanding in me of our Essence/True Nature and universal connection, in ways both related to sexuality and in general. I include it under the subject "Self-Awareness" both because of its mention of owning one's feelings if one feels uncomfortable in regard to overt sexuality, and also in the implicit connection I interpret it as expressing between one's own sexual autonomy and authenticity and the health and healing of the world. Self-awareness seems integral in such a scenario to me (and beautifully demonstrated in this piece).
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"Censorship and the Fear of Sexuality" by Dr. Marty Klein (Psychology, Public Policy, Sex and Culture, Self-Awareness) 3/1999
I see, and deeply appreciate, this article as an incisive, in-depth, so-very-needed exposition on censorship and how it relates to self-awareness and/or sexual repression—in other words, the psycho-social factors around the desire for sexual censorship as a public policy. To me, the offering to acknowledge the psychological aspects underlying such phenomena is so well-taken. It is something that seems crucial to me, and incidentally, such focus may invite us all to examine ourselves with more strength, depth, and love. As Dr. Klein states in the article, "We need to empower people to identify and deal with their fear of sexuality, and remind them of their inner resources. . . . [T]he more we can help these people acknowledge their personal pain, the easier it will be for them to listen, and to see that their comfort lies in personal solutions rather than public policy ones." This perspective underlies everything I feel and embrace as an advocate for authentic human sexuality.
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February 2, 2011
Recommended Reading #32: Feminism and Sex Work
"Prostitution 'Experts' Versus Prostitutes: Why Don't All Sex Workers Deserve a Voice?" by Monica Shores (Sex Work, Activism, Feminism) 10/9/10
The situation described in this article is the kind at which I cringe—a dualistic, dichotomous, deeply identified "debate" in which the "sides" have seemed so clearly defined and reified that there is a danger (or evidence) of forgetting to acknowledge and respect members of the "other side" as human. (Just to be clear, I am not referring partially to any particular side but to situations like this in general.) Historically, in contemporary society, discussions about and perspectives around sex work, particularly prostitution, have seemed wrought with intense, even volatile, reactions and perceptions that seem, as described in this piece, a prime example of this. Ironically, it is because of what is described in this article that what is exhibited in the third piece featured here today (below) has seemed to me not only so rare but also so tenuous—savage reactions that seem to forget our common humanity can inhibit and make seem quite difficult nuanced, receptive considerations and attention to an issue.
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"Healing My Broken Feminist Heart" by Audacia Ray (Memoir, Feminism, Sex Work) 4/6/09
I found this personal account from Audacia moving and engaging. The ideas of and even word "feminism" have seemed to cover quite a bit of ground and encompass numerous perspectives; I found it interesting to read this personal account of someone who has embraced the term steadfastly simultaneous with performing controversial work some factions have emphatically claimed is anti-feminist.
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"'Pussy Fever' Loves 'Locker 29′" by Antonia Crane and Cheryl Strayed (Sex Work, Feminism, Sex and Culture) 1/26/11
This was one of the most extraordinary things I had read in some time (thank you to Erobintica for the heads up). In itself, it strikes me as a profound antidote to that described in the first piece featured this week. See what I mentioned above in relation to said piece for a reiteration of why the kind of discussion in "Pussy Fever' Loves 'Locker 29′" may seem so challenging—such considered, nuanced discourse may be hijacked, exploited, and/or portrayed completely inaccurately in the midst of a general atmosphere as described in Shores's article. In this discussion between Antonia Crane and Cheryl Strayed, this was, I felt, alluded to beautifully by Ms. Strayed herself when she says, "Part of what's challenging is even establishing the terms of the conversation. I am so utterly uninterested in the are-you-for-or-against-it debate that's rooted in a moral code that I find inherently immoral. . . . My intent is not personal warfare with a public agenda; it's to make a personal inquiry of social consequence" and then later, when she offers a statement I find deeply striking and provocative: "You don't think porn and sex work is inherently degrading and I'll nod my head in agreement, but only with the emphasis on inherent." I found this piece truly extraordinary.
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January 30, 2011
The Gotta Have It Book Trailer
Here it is! Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel has just debuted the book trailer for the brand new anthology Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex. The trailer, embedded below, contains excerpts of the authors themselves reading from their Gotta Have It stories. Watch/listen for the tantalizing snippets and sultry voices of, in addition to Rachel herself, Andrea Dale, Shanna Germain, Jeremy Edwards, Helia Brookes, and Donna George Storey, along with yours truly and a number of others! The full list of trailer contributors is listed below it.
Trailer contributors:
Christen Clifford
"After Ten Years"
Giselle Renarde
"Meet Me In The Kitchen"
Elizabeth Daniels
"Dining In The Dark"
Marina Saint
"Eat Me"
Jeremy Edwards
"No Blame, No Shame"
Heather Lin
"Seven-Letter Word"
Kay Jaybee
"The Advantage of Working From Home"
Vampirique Dezire
"A Forced Witness"
Monocle
"Plotter"
Kirsty Logan
"Pierced"
Anya Levin
"Continuing Education"
Gotta Have It is on sale now at Amazon and these retailers!
Love,
Emerald
For some reason he reveled in the way her mouth fell slight open, beautiful eyes disbelieving as they looked into his. . . . The flush in her cheeks betrayed her excitement.
-from "Suggestion" (as read in the book trailer)
January 29, 2011
Gotta Have It Early!
Or late, or midday, or…oh, but what I mean, of course, is that the newest Rachel Kramer Bussel-edited anthology, Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, published by Cleis Press, is out now! It wasn't scheduled to be released until next month, but it is in stock currently at Amazon and other vendors—a list of whom may be found here on the book's website.
I'm very excited to read this book, positively loaded with incredible authors! The full lineup/table of contents is listed on the book's website too, and my understanding is the book trailer is coming soon. I'll post it here when I see it!
In the meantime, I'm eagerly awaiting my author copy of Gotta Have It—I can hardly wait to read this big collection of little sexy stories!
Love,
Emerald
He forgot about their audience as she met his eyes, the unabashed mischief in her blue glaze sparking his own breathless, and unfamiliar, spontaneity. . . . For the first time, Greg understood that energy—the sincere, vibrant love of every inch of potential her body held. The same impulse sizzled forward in him, fueling the urgency to pull every stitch she wore off of her with the same focus and attention she had used to put it on.
-from "Suggestion"
January 26, 2011
Recommended Reading #31: Porn, Pt. II
"The Anti-Male, Anti-Sex Falsehoods That Rule Discussions about Porn and Sexuality" by Tana Ganeva (Sex and Culture, Gender) 1/21/11
Given what seems to me the commonplace and generally-accepted-without-questioning nature of many of the perceptions of supposed "evils" of pornography, especially in relation to assumptions based on gender and sexuality, I appreciate seeing articles like this that explain perspectives beyond these societally unquestioned (and, it seems to me, fear-based) notions and why sometimes the very complaints and assumptions about pornography are reinforcing the views they profess to lament.
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"Porn Sex Ed" by Kathleen Bradean (Memoir, Sexuality Education) 9/27/10
I love this lighthearted lesson from Ms. Bradean about what she learned from watching porn in high school. (I am especially, of course, partial to #7!)
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"Film Debut" by Juliet Anderson (Memoir) Undated
Famous pornographic performer Juliet "Aunt Peg" Anderson died last year. In perusing this website dedicated to her after I read of the news, I found this short autobiographical account of her debut in pornographic films that struck me as inspiring, delightful, and uplifting. (I related to it as well.) I'm not sure why it's seemed so hard for some people to understand that this is not some impossibility in porn, but I found her description lovely—and something I would love for the general population to read.
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January 19, 2011
Recommended Reading #30: Gender Socialization
"A Manifesto for Radical Masculinity" by Sinclair Sexsmith (Gender, Sexual Orientation) 12/25/09
I appreciate the wide-ranging introduction and discussion of questions around masculinity in this piece, in part because it has always seemed to me that gender socialization (as in prescribed gender roles based on biological sex) is a blatant disservice to everyone, not just to women as some interpretations of feminism have seemed (to me) to imply in the past. The approach of this piece strikes me as considered, caring, sincere, open, and thorough.
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"Fag Bashing & Slut Shaming: It's About Policing Gender Roles" by Dr. Charlie Glickman (Sex and Culture) 9/10/10
I love this piece. To me it seems to reflect beautifully the perception in me that social prescriptions according to gender constrain individuals in arbitrary ways, disallowing full, individualized, authentic expression. For this reason I find the entire process woeful, and I have ever since I became aware that it existed. It also seems obvious to me that we all have masculine and feminine representation in us; the idea of that not being understood or of some kind of social or collective demand that any part of that not be recognized or displayed seems anathema to me.
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"Let's Rethink Masculinity" by Joan C. Williams (Non-sex-related, Gender, Social Perception) 10/6/10
This article also deals with masculinity (in the discussion of gender socialization, it makes sense to me to see an emerging focus on masculinity and since in the recent past there has seemed so much focus on women. This focus has been understandable, of course; in the larger picture of gender socialization, however, I appreciate acknowledging and examining how, again, gender-based prescriptions affect and are of detriment to all), particularly in the professional/livelihood realm. The only hesitation I hold with this piece is what seems to me a presumed association between men and masculinity. To me the two are not at all synonymous, as again, we all have the masculine and the feminine in us in ways that are far beyond the biological sex of our physical bodies. At times my reading of the piece seemed to express the two as interchangeable or inherently related. The historical collective association of certain traits as masculine or feminine seems to me importantly distinguished from actually perceiving such traits to be inherently more prominent in one sex than the other. The author may not have been proposing this; it was just an interpretation I experienced occasionally in reading the article. That being said, overall I appreciate a number of the offerings made in this piece and its invitation to recognize the socialization of masculinity as an important part of discussion on gender and understanding of gender equity.
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January 12, 2011
Recommended Reading #29: Politics
Note: The topic being "Politics" this week is not in direct connection with the recent tragedy in Arizona. Politics had been in the queue as a potential subject for a few weeks, and while it was upon reading the third installment of today's selection that I felt moved to choose it right now, this post overall is not representative of any commentary from me on that event (indeed, the other two selections were written before it occurred and are not related to it at all).
"To the Oklahoma Lawmakers: poem" by Lauren Zuniga (Recommended Watch, Reproductive Rights) 5/4/10
This video is the performance of a poem in response to the proposed Oklahoma state legislation requiring that women requesting an abortion be shown an ultrasound of the fetus by a health care provider before they may receive one. As a reproductive rights activist, I have been aware of this kind of legislation in various states and was aware specifically of the emergence of this example when it was reported on. This video strikes me as stark and intense as well as poignant and affecting.
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"The National Portrait Gallery Betrays Constitutional Principles" (Censorship, Free Speech, Religion) 12/3/10
That the National Portrait Gallery chose to remove a display due to pressure from a particular religious faction seems dismaying to me. I deeply appreciate this commentary in response from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC).
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"Dim Bulb of the Week: It's a Massive Three Way Tie!" at PostHumorous (Non-sex-related, Government and Culture, United States History) 1/12/11
I happen to have just included a post from this site in Recommended Reading a few weeks ago when the category was "Humor"…because that's what this site usually contains. Today, however, the author posted an entry in the "serious" category—and it struck me so much that I wanted to share it here. (Note: I too am usually a fan of Keith Olbermann's commentary.)
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January 8, 2011
Video from the Philadelphia Erotic Literary Salon!
With what has seemed like almost constant holiday travel and festivities starting immediately after I was in Philadelphia last month, I feel like I've hardly been online the last few weeks. I just arrived back home last night, and one of my first orders of business has been posting the video(s) of my reading from December 21 at the Philadelphia Erotic Literary Salon on YouTube—where they are now live! Since it seems I went a little over my allotted 15 minutes (sorry Susana!), and YouTube only allows videos to be up to 15 minutes in length, I had to divide it into two segments.
Each is approximately eight minutes long, and I have embedded them here for any interested viewers. :) Once again, I was reading my story "Power over Power," published by Cleis Press in Rachel Kramer Bussel's anthology Please, Sir: Erotic Stories of Female Submission.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Thanks again to Erobintica for running the video camera while I was at the mic!
Love,
Emerald
"I'll taste every moment and live it out loud, I know this is the time, this is the time to be more than a name or a face in the crowd…"
-David Cook "The Time of My Life"
January 5, 2011
Recommended Reading #28: Writing
"No sex, please, we're literary!" by Laura Miller (Sex and Culture, Erotic writing) 11/30/10
I had a feeling when I saw its title that I would appreciate this article, and I indeed fell in love with it immediately. To me this piece seemed to point out yet again the tendency of collective society to separate, perspective-wise, sex from the rest of life, as well as identify potential underlying motivations for this in a literary context.
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"Get Your Sexy On" by Kathleen Bradean (Erotic Writing) 11/29/10
I just love this piece about paying attention to the experience of one's senses and sensuality to focus and reconnect with inspiration in writing erotica. I found especially intriguing the suggestion to not watch any actual sex scenes (when seeking inspiration) but rather watch only the seduction and then focus on the breathless or even frustrated feeling experienced as a result. It struck me as a precise, astute recommendation.
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"Talkin' About an E-Revolution: The Death of Publishing, Great American Novelists, and 'My Way' Fresh Salsa" by Donna George Storey (Writing, Self-Awareness, Sex and Culture, Literary Culture) 9/2010
I find this article gorgeous, perceptive, and insightful. Of course, I have virtually invariably enjoyed Donna George Storey's monthly column at the Erotica Readers and Writers Association, but this one resonated with me particularly in what I found to be its astuteness, consciousness, and eloquence on the subject of collective literary perception and artistic endeavor. (A trademark of Donna's column is a recipe at the end, and this one, published last September, offers a fresh early-fall-produce-laden salsa!)
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