Comments on: Video: Artifacts Depicting Sex Sparks Cultural and Religious Debate [NSFW]

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:53:32 +0000

Well, from a biological perspective, evolutionary biologist look at primate testicles to decide if an ape is monogamous, polygamous or “open”. The alpha male Gorilla, with his harem of females that are his, has the smallest testicles (no sperm competition). Chimpanzees, who compete for females in estrous and therefor experience sperm competition, have the largest testicles. The male Homo sapiens is right in the middle. Evolutionarily, he experienced sperm competition and was not entirely monogamous. Nicholas Wade (Before the dawn) writes that when humans settled in communities, there was a need to reduce male male competition for females and allow males to bond for warfare/defense. At that point, monogamy was a solution to reducing homicide (over access to mates). Jared Diamond (The third chimpanzee and Why is sex fun?)writes that modern hunter gatherers explain that they go to war against neighboring tribes for the women. I recommend both these authors for a biological perspective on this topic. As a female and a biologist…it makes sense to me.

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By: Deepak Singh Rawat

Deepak Singh Rawat — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:31:42 +0000

@Candice: I think it is all about the mindset. Even today different societies/countries/religions have different views on marriage or monogamy. Some allow polygamy some not. It all about the way you are brought up. Some cultures are fine with nudity but others are totally against any form of it. Therefore, I feel that if there were no social rules about marriage, monogamy etc. we would have just enjoyed sex and maybe then we wouldn’t have paid so much importance to it.
But, I do feel that our ancestors were much more open to the idea of sex than we are.

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By: Steve L

Steve L — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:28:00 +0000

Thank you for another interesting and compelling article Christine.

I do think American society has repression issues with sex and nudity. I’ll never forget being in a European train station and for the first time and seeing topless and nude models on THE COVERS of magazines! What blew me away even more was, while I was blatantly staring at these ‘zines, a 14 year old boy browsing the rack shuffled by and didn’t even give the nudes a second look. It was as if they weren’t even there! Needless to say I was blown away by his reaction (or lack thereof) as I was a bundle of raging hormones at that age. Hell, I still am.

When nudity is treated as a normal part of life, it becomes just that: normal. Not a big deal. Not something to spend money on that’s for sure. I think the booming porn industry is proof that our society represses nudity. It encourages people to experience nudity in a way that closes them self off from others, rather than sharing nudity in a healthy way (such as skinny dipping with friends and family, or going to a sauna) and becoming a part of a healthy social interaction that is such a far cry from anything found in titillating media. And that’s not to mention social repression of sexual expression!
[that sounded kind of catchy!]

Perhaps the main reason our society is repressed is that we are unconsciously terrified of both our vulnerability and sexuality in a world full of uncertainties.

A video linked to the one above discusses banning topless sun bathing. http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=96164&videoChannel=2603
In it, a politician says that he believes children are offended by the nudity, and that women degrade themselves by going topless. “They might be trying to pick somebody up.” I couldn’t help but think of the Goethe quote:
“A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.”

Ciao.

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By: Candice

Candice — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:32:22 +0000

Damn, I can’t wait until I get to Greece. Anyway, as for the other side of the argument, we don’t typically display phalluses and sex scenes on our fancy dinnerware or artistic pieces of sculpture. I can’t see what other uses these would have in ancient society other than practical ones. Although I suppose they’re nicer alternatives to Playboy.

Topics like these always make me question the nature of sex. Are we born with a natural instinct to just enjoy sex and do it whenever possible? If we grew up without the ideals of marriage, virginity, and monogamy, would we just mate little bunnies and feel absolutely fine about doing so?

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