ok, so Part II of my post on the inspiration for my newly published novel, "Scar Flowers"--the music video for the Nine Inch Nails song "Closer."
Part of what disturbed and inspired me is that the song takes dark, hidden things you're not supposed to admit to and shoves them in your face. Instead of ignoring them or pretending they don't exist. Part of me wondered: is the song just self-indulgent, sexist shock rock?
Here's why i think not: if someone says "I wanna fuck you like an animal," that implies that they know that sex is (or can be) about much more: if the speaker has to specify animalistic sex, that means there are other kinds too. And when you see the video, Trent Reznor, who is after all the star of the song and the person supposedly in power (male, rock star, yada yada), but he is portrayed blindfolded and handcuffed, or with a gag in his mouth, or even as a part of a macabre banquet--he is the one who is objectified by his pronouncement of "I wanna fuck you like an animal."
Now THAT is enlightening, honest, painful, and amazing. another revealing thing about the video is that the woman in the video never is in the same frame with Reznor; they are quite definitely separated. So again the lust aspect of the lyrics are not about male dominance or empowerment; not only does he not get the girl, he's the one being shown as more submissive. Yes, the woman is a traditional SM submissive, shown naked with a shaved head, her waist artifically tiny from years of corset training. But she is shown lounging like a queen while he's chomping a ball gag or twisting in his bonds; the agony and agonizing are his, not hers.
So... at heart that's what my book is about. The fears about vulnerability in an adult relationship, the power plays, the desire and attendant guilt and shame that we deal with in our culture. I wanted to explore how someone with outward worldly power and control could end up twisting in the bonds of desire, and what that agony was all about.
Take a peek if you want to get a taste...
http://www.lulu.com/content/4072766
Part of what disturbed and inspired me is that the song takes dark, hidden things you're not supposed to admit to and shoves them in your face. Instead of ignoring them or pretending they don't exist. Part of me wondered: is the song just self-indulgent, sexist shock rock?
Here's why i think not: if someone says "I wanna fuck you like an animal," that implies that they know that sex is (or can be) about much more: if the speaker has to specify animalistic sex, that means there are other kinds too. And when you see the video, Trent Reznor, who is after all the star of the song and the person supposedly in power (male, rock star, yada yada), but he is portrayed blindfolded and handcuffed, or with a gag in his mouth, or even as a part of a macabre banquet--he is the one who is objectified by his pronouncement of "I wanna fuck you like an animal."
Now THAT is enlightening, honest, painful, and amazing. another revealing thing about the video is that the woman in the video never is in the same frame with Reznor; they are quite definitely separated. So again the lust aspect of the lyrics are not about male dominance or empowerment; not only does he not get the girl, he's the one being shown as more submissive. Yes, the woman is a traditional SM submissive, shown naked with a shaved head, her waist artifically tiny from years of corset training. But she is shown lounging like a queen while he's chomping a ball gag or twisting in his bonds; the agony and agonizing are his, not hers.
So... at heart that's what my book is about. The fears about vulnerability in an adult relationship, the power plays, the desire and attendant guilt and shame that we deal with in our culture. I wanted to explore how someone with outward worldly power and control could end up twisting in the bonds of desire, and what that agony was all about.
Take a peek if you want to get a taste...
http://www.lulu.com/content/4072766
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