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Rating: THE DICK. A Tribute to Nikolaj V. Gogol'
On November 7th of the year 19.., in the province of S., a rather peculiar event occurred involving the illustrious Mr. K. The man, at the time in the prime of his life, was about to have his breakfast when a penis jumped out of the cookie jar. That's right, a large severed phallus that firmly made its way toward the exit. The esteemed man's wife, mistaking it for a mouse, threw a cloth bag to her husband and urgently begged him to trap the creature inside it. The penis was already on the landing and was heading toward the door, shouting cries of triumph, yet K. managed to stop it. He held it close for a few seconds, then, disgustedly, pushed it away and took a step back. The penis found that gesture even more offensive than the attempt to capture it and threateningly said, "What’s wrong? Are you repulsed? You're just like my former master! Now he cries and complains because he's just a eunuch! When I was with him, he was ashamed of me; I heard him talk about me calling me ‘scandalous,’ ‘obscene,’ ‘corruptive’! Now that I've removed myself so as not to disturb his ‘obscene’ delicate little eyes, he despairs like a madman!-.” - I understand, - replied K. - but try to put yourself in our shoes. We men have taboos and religions and decency and...morality, yes...morality!-.” -"Morality do you say? Last night, just before I left, I shared one last story with my master. Listen to me...-.”
Once upon a time, there was a little girl of Lebanese origin but born and raised in the United States of America. The daughter of divorced parents, she lived with her mother until the woman began to notice the ambiguous nature of the relationship between the thirteen-year-old and her partner. Jasira was thus sent to her father, gruff and deeply attached to his cultural roots. It was the years of the Gulf War, one can only imagine how difficult it must have been for a Middle Eastern girl to interact with an American school, with bigots and racists during the phase of human existence complex par excellence: adolescence. Like every teenager, Jasira begins to discover sexuality and its implications. She becomes terrified of her father’s catastrophic forebodings about sex, enchanted by the pornographic magazines of the neighbor, fascinated by the advances of a fellow student of color. Mind you: this is not yet another modernized version of Lolita, she feels from the very start that there is something bitter, even criminal, about experiencing sex at her age. And when the neighbor deflowers her with his fingers, her first reaction is to erase the evidence by throwing away the underwear. Yet the ‘crime’ will manage to resurface...
- I've seen this movie too! - K. interrupted him. - I have to say that from the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "American Beauty," one could expect a return to the themes of adolescent sexuality, the American provincial microcosm, racial discrimination, the puritanism that crushes any manifestation of sexuality not contained within the reassuring framework of the pubs-.- The words died in his throat. The penis began to twitch as if seized by strange convulsions, a prominent vein ran from the base to the glans that grew increasingly livid. - What nonsense are you spouting? - it screamed - what makes you think I care about these idiocies? What other pearl of great criticism do you have in store for me? That the acting reaches levels of high credibility especially for the debutante Summer Bishil? Or how the director excellently represents the vain efforts of American culture to root out issues connected to sexuality, deriving a rare portrait of human guilt and frailty? ahahahahahahahah, you make me laugh! - K. was utterly bewildered. He tried to imagine what a neighbor might have thought faced with such a scene, yet it seemed equally absurd to invite Mr. Dick to discuss the matter in the living room of his house. He gathered courage and replied - But then why be interested in this story? I know your nature, but you see, I find it hard to think of watching this film just for...how to say...erotic purposes? - - Who the hell do you think I am? A maniac? I come from noble underwear, I do! - it responded - I told you this story for a precise reason. None of you will get rid of me. In America, in Europe, in Asia, it will always be me and my brothers to leave you whenever we please, and forget anatomy. It is entirely useless to hope to purge every single moment of your useless existence from sex, useless!...
..This poor Lebanese girl was approaching sex with zeal and curiosity, but her father ordered her to stop, because "it's wrong." On the other hand, we find a poor frustrated soul, a soldier probably raised in the cult of machismo, a thoroughly American thing. These are just two of the numerous obstacles Jasira must fight against to discover her sexuality. Men and women dissatisfied with their existence, forced to cling to the patriotic cause to feel part of something big, clinging to the point of renouncing logic and biology: they ostracize ethnic minorities and prefer to implode in front of a porn magazine. Why all this? Radios and televisions do nothing but talk about sex to the point of making the topic conventional, anything that does not fall within the dictated standards becomes wrong, a perversion to be experienced in a solitary and secluded corner. The characters of this work, like the entire West, hide under a veil thicker than a burqa until Jasira comes along, accomplice and witness to their vices. My master acted just like that: he spent his best years clenching me with a nervous hand, afraid of being caught, he began employing me at regular intervals during adulthood, significantly reduced my appearances in recent years but the constant was always that one. "Do you masturbate?" But who, me? "Did you cheat on me with someone else?" But darling, how could you think that? "What are those little blue pills?" Antihistamines, obviously.-
- It's one of man's many contradictions - K. tried to explain - it seems like a drastic choice to leave suddenly. - The dick resumed - At a certain point in this story, Melina appears, a pregnant woman, very close to the perspective of the viewer: she follows the story from afar and, when she deems it appropriate, decides to intervene to save Jasira from a game for adults only. Another spoiler-sport? No. Melina initiates the thirteen-year-old into a vision of sex that, far from being cold and aseptic, seeks to inspire her to a sexual and sentimental conduct consistent and based solely on her personal needs, no one can force her to do what she does not want. This is exactly the point: sex, or rather, I am not an instrument of demonstration but a creature. It's true, I exist solely in function of desire but that does not make me less noble than the brain or the eyes.-. While saying these things, it began to move toward the exit. K. asked what it intended to do: no matter how he might share and understand its independence drives, outside, in the street, there was a world that could react in unexpected ways. Moreover, he pleaded for mercy on his master and suggested he might do something crazy. - I will think about it - the dick replied - but first I think it’s appropriate to have a chat with the person concerned. If he wants me back, he must adhere to certain conditions. I don't want to be humiliated anymore, maltreated, or used only for stupid self-gratification reasons. I unlock the doors of pleasure, I satisfy desire, and I want to be loved for it. - - Just like Jasira! - K. said - Remember how her story ends? -
The penis, with a satisfied look, nodded a farewell and left.
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