11–20 of 52 posts
This was a fun and beguiling little read. I noticed more ideological leaks forming in the article the further I read. Of course Foucault is always the great give away. The trite little attacks on men at the end seal the deal.
This was a fun and beguiling little read. I noticed more ideological leaks forming in the article the further I read. Of course Foucault is always the great give away. The trite little attacks on men at the end seal the deal.
What attacks on men?
But here’s another little snipe:
> ...some idea that women produce naturally (they bear children) and that men produce culturally (they create society). Stated outright, this is an obvious lie—pretty much everywhere you go you can find women doing most of the work of producing society too.
It’s a small thing, that makes me feel petulant to make a scene about, once it’s isolated; but there are a few of them, along with Roenxi’s point, that add up to inform the view of the article as a whole.
Why is this on HN?
Why is this on HN?
Let's get rid of ties! I have always hated them and thought they were moronic.
Only if we can replace ties with at least 7 pieces of flair.
If you’re obsessed with how clothes represent genitals and sexuality, you’re going to find all clothes represent genitals and sexuality to some degree. Why that collar around the neck? Why that hoodie concealing the precise shape of the torso? Why the bright white of those Jordan Airs?
I wear a tie occasionally, with a three piece suit, because if I don’t, I can’t get access to the nice bits of the racecourses I visit across the UK (when such things were of course allowed).
Wearing a tie today is not about penises, it’s not about power, it’s about conformity. It’s about not standing out, merging into the crowd, becoming a little more anonymous. Walk around the City of London on a busy workday (except in 2020), and the men merge into one, hardly distinguishable in their uniforms.
The tie looks like a penis the way a trouser leg does. It embodies power the way a hoodie does. Women wear them in some contexts (restaurant waitresses, front of house staff in theatres, etc.), and not to show off their non-existent penis.
[edit:] As an aside it also serves a practical purpose of hiding the button line of a shirt, and if you miss your mouth when eating your lunch it is easily replaceable. Despite the detractor’s wails it is not an entirely useless piece of cloth if you’re eating soup in a formal setting [/edit]
People mostly wear them because it’s expected of them and to conform, and this article while having all the hallmarks of an intelligent and thoughtful piece is just a love letter to the author’s internal anxieties. If you share those anxieties, perhaps talk to a therapist.
> If hiding something is a way of declaring it a form of power, then hiding the male genitals is a way of declaring masculinity itself a form of power. This really was the high of the article for me. Exactly what combination would be needed for the author to declare that male clothing is neutral on masculine power? Genitals exposed -> Aggressive declaration of masculine power. Genitals hidden -> Passive aggressive de…
The sorta serious bulk of article is about men who aspire to be powerful and little bit about women who aspire the same, so yeah, different periods go aboit it differently.
With this kind of analysis I can make the wearing of a t-shirt, jeans and trainers all about the penis too. If you’re obsessed with how clothes represent genitals and sexuality, you’re going to find all clothes represent genitals and sexuality to some degree. Why that collar around the neck? Why that hoodie concealing the precise shape of the torso? Why the bright white of those Jordan Airs? I wear a tie occasionally…
With this kind of analysis I can make the wearing of a t-shirt, jeans and trainers all about the penis too. If you’re obsessed with how clothes represent genitals and sexuality, you’re going to find all clothes represent genitals and sexuality to some degree. Why that collar around the neck? Why that hoodie concealing the precise shape of the torso? Why the bright white of those Jordan Airs? I wear a tie occasionally…
You just nailed it.