I AM A SEX ADDICT
The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts held a private viewing of clips from Caveh Zahedi's new film, I Am A Sex Addict,' at the Red Devil Lounge last night, which included an interview by Mollena Williams.
Apart from the obvious wit and whimsy in which Caveh portrays his very personal account of his sex addiction, the conversation spawned an earnest discussion on its nature and social significance insofar as identifying variant sexual behaviors. One point that stuck with me as he attempts to 'humanize the condition of sexual addiction', that is to say limit the sense of polarization between what we consider 'good' versus 'bad' sexuality and its impact on how we view the whole individual, is the complexity of sex and the problem of sexual violence, particularly directed towards women. The film cannot escape the issue of objectification of women and/or subjugation, given that the subject of the film is male who is dealing with his sexual obssession with women. "We are all in this together," he points out to an audience member who poses the notion that his approach may be a 'throw back of the responsibility to the female who is, after all, the recipient of the abuse; that his depiction may not only provide an explanation but an excuse for the impact of this aberrant outward behavior.'
His retort I felt was salient, inasmuch as he claims an attempt to provide information and thus fosters a sense of understanding that helps us navigate through a complex issue. We ARE in this together-- he's right. The simplistic view of 'bad' sexuality=bad man, has spawned moralistic judgments that cripple our ability to perceive people for their variegated parts instead of a singular, homogenous schema in determining character. He cites Clinton, for instance. How can he still be viewed as a good man, with sound judgment if he fell prey to his impermissible sexual appetite? This kind of instantaneous projection of good versus evil based on sexuality thus create a rupture in the way we may view individuals, who, barring their sexual 'aberrance', may have been deemed as 'good.' It is precisely this quick polarity in our view that Caveh seems to be addressing. That, among other things, I'm sure.
The screening of this and his previous work will be at the Yerba Buena this weekend.
Apart from the obvious wit and whimsy in which Caveh portrays his very personal account of his sex addiction, the conversation spawned an earnest discussion on its nature and social significance insofar as identifying variant sexual behaviors. One point that stuck with me as he attempts to 'humanize the condition of sexual addiction', that is to say limit the sense of polarization between what we consider 'good' versus 'bad' sexuality and its impact on how we view the whole individual, is the complexity of sex and the problem of sexual violence, particularly directed towards women. The film cannot escape the issue of objectification of women and/or subjugation, given that the subject of the film is male who is dealing with his sexual obssession with women. "We are all in this together," he points out to an audience member who poses the notion that his approach may be a 'throw back of the responsibility to the female who is, after all, the recipient of the abuse; that his depiction may not only provide an explanation but an excuse for the impact of this aberrant outward behavior.'
His retort I felt was salient, inasmuch as he claims an attempt to provide information and thus fosters a sense of understanding that helps us navigate through a complex issue. We ARE in this together-- he's right. The simplistic view of 'bad' sexuality=bad man, has spawned moralistic judgments that cripple our ability to perceive people for their variegated parts instead of a singular, homogenous schema in determining character. He cites Clinton, for instance. How can he still be viewed as a good man, with sound judgment if he fell prey to his impermissible sexual appetite? This kind of instantaneous projection of good versus evil based on sexuality thus create a rupture in the way we may view individuals, who, barring their sexual 'aberrance', may have been deemed as 'good.' It is precisely this quick polarity in our view that Caveh seems to be addressing. That, among other things, I'm sure.
The screening of this and his previous work will be at the Yerba Buena this weekend.
posted by rocelyn at 8:41 AM
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