ISBN 0.7914.1240.7
Michel Maffesoli
SUNY, 1993.
Paperback, 167 pages
The Circulation of Sexuality
As can be expected from a professor at the Sorbonne (the Rene Descartes University), this is not an easily read, highly abstract and very scholarly book.
However, even though the author's easy use of terms such as 'debauchery' shows him not to be truly "friendly" towards orgiastic sexuality, he does assert that a circulation of sexuality is equally important to the social body as is the circulation of goods, services and language. As the title indicates, Maffesoli's focus is mainly on Greece (and Rome), but he does take a few sidesteps into Russia and China; leaving out - unfortunately - an analysis of Indian ritual sexuality that would have greatly added to the work.
In general, nevertheless, a study such as this one is simply too unique to miss and should be read by everyone interested in plural / public sexuality and its expressions in cultures of the past. These are the very cultures always hailed in our schools - but usually depicted in history books with all the interesting things left out.
Review: RCC
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