Sexture and Similar Cultures

• Shame, Sex, and Anthropology Thread--New Responses by Vick Kelly, 10/29/97
  
  

Mel Hill's response states so clearly my own interpretation. I like the "sexture" designation. It is perfectly clear to me that both sexuality and spirituality are biological phenomena which are culturally shaped and, therefore, whose expression is culturally determined. The pain which occurs in the expression of both of these, in actions, will occur, not so much as intrinsic biological, pathophysiological, or psychodynamic pain, but as the pain of affect modified by culture.

If we continue this line of reasoning, the currently less inflammatory activities of daily life (ADLs),eating, drinking, sleeping, wlking, running, dressing, eating, defecating, urinating, sweating, spitting, sneezing, snorting, extruding mucous from the nose, and farting, all are strongly culturally determined. In my lifetime I have witnessed our own culture change its norms regarding each of these. For just one simple example. When I was a child, seeing a man running down the street sent terror into me, for he was obviously fleeing. Now he is seeking eternal youth through exercise. Likewise, to see a man in the office in a tank-top and gym shorts, (from my Catholic High School culturally normative perspective) was a terrible breach of behavior, now he is just getting ready to go or to come from exercise.

Isn't this true also of sex and prayer?

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