Penises galore

[imomus]

The other day I was looking at penises in my favourite bookstore, ProQM. No, no, wait, I was looking at books. But the most interesting ones contained penises galore. I spent quite a while with Painful But Fabulous: The Life and Art of Genesis P-Orridge. In fact I may have to buy it, so it can sit on my shelf next to Wreckers of Civilisation. Although I love '20 Jazz Funk Greats', I find Genesis more interesting to read about -- and look at -- than to listen to. I met him once at an opening at the October Gallery in London. He was sweet and polite, just like french shock rocker (and architect) Costes was when I interviewed him after a show in which he'd writhed naked, pissed on the audience and pelted us with spinach-shit, or Ron Athey was when I met him at the Threadwaxing Space on Broadway. Genesis used to do so many performances in which he unzipped and writhed that it's hardly surprising that I misread this Amazon synopsis of the new biography:



'In this omnibus collection of the career of the seminal alternative artist and musician Genesis P-Orridge, the legendary performer opens his files to show the world never-before-seen texts, photos, artwork and magic...'

Oh, the seminal artist opens his files. Got you. As he advances into a dignified middle age, Genesis begins to look more and more like a woman (and, in my opinion, better and better). So one really doesn't know what the naked Genesis would look like at all these days. Oh, hang on, one does if one goes to his website:



The other book at ProQM to catch my imagination -- well, to leave nothing to my imagination, actually -- was the Terry Richardson supplement to the new edition of Purple Fashion.



Terry has such a psychopathic need to show his penis at every opportunity that it's become the cute mascott of the fashion world, and when you see a famous fashion model kneeling to suck it jokily in Terry's new book it's like watching someone petting a kitten or cooing over a baby panda. Aw, sweet, Terry's penis!

There are lots of reasons to be in favour of nakedness, especially male nakedness. It deconstructs the mystique of male authority, makes sex seem less alien and threatening, brings us closer to nature, speaks in favour of openness and transparency, can be a sexy experience, can be a humbling experience, whatever. I like it when people, for instance, have at least one LiveJournal user photo depicting them naked (as at least one of my LJ friends does). But I can also see the argument that hiding the body makes nakedness more special, and that perhaps true lovers of nakedness don't share it or shake it in your face. I used to have a naked picture of myself on my website, but I covered my nakedness with more nakedness -- the stone flesh of Michaelangelo's David, to be precise -- because people started posting the photo to bulletin board discussions I was arguing on, and winning. 'You may be right,' they seemed to say, 'but look, you're naked!'

Nevertheless, I have nothing but admiration for the Costes, Genesis P-Orridges and Terry Richardsons of this world. They're doing the public nakedness thing so I don't have to.

Comments

[auto-appendix.livejournal.com]

I just sent your LJ url to a friend who works for the Salvation Army to show him the lovely picture of Genesis. It seems their firewall has blocked your site. You are officially in league with the forces of evil.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Tarnation!

[auto-appendix.livejournal.com]

oooh, moody new picture. is it your dungeons and dragons press shot?

[auto-appendix.livejournal.com]

or has your satanic self been revealed by the forces of christ?

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Just another wardrobe malfunction in the culture war.

[paletree.livejournal.com]

please post a larger picture of this icon.

not for me, of course, but for a friend.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

That's as large as I'm willy or able to make it at the momus, old cock.

[auto-appendix.livejournal.com]

I know you had harsh words about him in the past, but just heard that John Peel's died. That's one channel of cultural communication that won't be replaced. The BBC'll get some tosser in and we won't have a single national radio show that plays such a range of music.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Blimey, that's shocking! I'm actually very shocked and saddened if this is true. I'm going to find out...

[auto-appendix.livejournal.com]

Another name for the palm deathtop. Sadly. I feel an era has irrevocably passed.

Nice picture

[(Anonymous)]

Like David Beckham on the Burma Railway!

[starofpersia.livejournal.com]

Lovely picture of Genesis- I really do think he made the right choice by transitioning to female in middle age- he looks gorgeous. Maybe I will do the same in reverse someday. I was rather infatuated with him in high school and forced myself to listen to the music though I am inclined to agree that the mythology surrounding hir is far more interesting.

I definitely have penis envy, and I suppose I overcompensate with cleavage, but it's just not the same. Penis is a state of mind. A male friend told me about a game called "big dick malone" where men stand in a circle and pull out their dicks, and whoever has the biggest is crowned "big dick malone". "You may be a girl," he said, "but I bet you could win at big dick malone."

My current plan is to wear a long rubber appendage under a miniskirt after I move back to San Francisco so just the head peeps out endearingly. I wonder if I could get models to suck it? probably not....

[rroseselavyoui.livejournal.com]

I went to GPO's birthday party in LA some years ago and all he could talk about was his hair (which was neatly bobbed) and how he had to wait twenty years to finally get the right hairstyle and that he and his entire family see so and so at Bumble and Bumble.
I was slightly disappointed, I was hoping for some antics, but I guess even cultural geniuses have to let their hair down some time.

[j7bnvaaaetrd.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should incorporate public nakedness in your show?

[yanatonage.livejournal.com]

What's funny is that Lady Jaye isn't actually doing anything...They have all these manifestos about how they are both evolving into a "pandrogynous" third gender, but Genesis is the only one getting all the operations....the least she could do is wear a strap-on in public, or one of those Clockwork Orange style crotch enhancements.

Momus, you only posted that picture to prove that your cock is bigger than that of Michelangelo's David.

[autokrater.livejournal.com]

terry richardson's website has so much penis on it!..i think it's great.naked women are not exciting or taboo any longer..especially in the U.S, but the penis.people see some cock and they get all offended...guys especially. i don't think there is anything wrong with it at all...it's just a funny looking bodypart.and it does take away from that male authority mystique,like you said.i mean, men are all macho and such..but few men will just pose with a limp penis...cause if it's limp then they feel waaaaay less macho and in charge.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Hey, I like your blog, Koalas! Lots of prettiness and invention going on there!

[autokrater.livejournal.com]

thank you ever so much!
i am glad you like it and i enjoy yours as well!
always good information,links and interesting essays!!

[emobus.livejournal.com]

I hope you will make a companion post about vaginas. They require more exposure to be visually interesting, which may be their single downside.

[uberdionysus.livejournal.com]

I never thought I'd read about Genesis and Richardson in the same post. I love both but never connected them until now.

I don't know Costes, I'll check him out.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

(as at least one of my LJ friends does)

...and at least one other! Only a partial portrait, but it's my best side.

[queersolitude.livejournal.com]

is it still fair game to refer to genesis as 'he'... ? or perhaps more appropriately, 'hir'?

anybody know which pronouns genesis prefers?