Wednesday, July 13, 2005
'Alternative views of sexuality': One really doesn't have to fake a moderate stance when criticizing most everything muttered by right-wing nut U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. The guy is truly gross. ... Hey, Boston: It was that well-known Irish-Catholic sexual freedom that led to the priest sexual-abuse cases of the '50s, '60s and '70s! ... Sexual freedom in Boston? In the '50s and '60s? Boston? Maybe the '70s. ...
Putting on my pop anthropologic hat, Hub Blog shall try to determine the exact date when sexual freedom arrived in Catholic Boston, at least among non-priest Boston Catholics. Any suggestions and contributions would be appreciated. This may take more than one post. Now I know it wasn't by 1977, the year Billy Joel released 'Only the Good Die Young,' with his astute observation that Catholic girls were starting much too late. Notice the mocking tone of the lyrics, as if Catholic girls were still sexually repressed. Therefore, we can be reasonably sure sexual freedom had NOT arrived in Boston, at least full force, by 1977, judging partly by the defensive reaction of Boston Catholics to Joel's song. But that doesn't exclude 1978 and 1979. ... Of course we can also reasonably bookend the argument by noting that Madonna came out with her 'Like a Virgin' song, an unintended pop counterblast against Bill Joel's 'Only the Good Die Young,' in 1985. Through Madonna, Catholics were all but saying: Hey, we're not starting late anymore!
Update -- We may be getting closer. A very astute reader just emailed to note that popular local band Human Sexual Response (of 'Jackio O' fame) played from "approximately" 1977 through 1982. From a pop standpoint, this is very significant, for two reasons: A.) The word 'sexual' was openly used in the name of a Boston band B.) There's a frigging horse on the album cover. Why a horse? I don't want to know. ...
'The revolt of September 11th was about 'F--k you!': And one really doesn't have to fake a moderate stance when criticizing most everything muttered by left-wing nut Oliver Stone. The guy is also gross. ... I know Stone's remarks are now nearly four years old. But Santorum's original remarks were also years old before he reaffirmed them yesterday. Give Oliver equal reaffirmation opportunity, and I'm sure he won't disappoint.
Putting on my pop anthropologic hat, Hub Blog shall try to determine the exact date when sexual freedom arrived in Catholic Boston, at least among non-priest Boston Catholics. Any suggestions and contributions would be appreciated. This may take more than one post. Now I know it wasn't by 1977, the year Billy Joel released 'Only the Good Die Young,' with his astute observation that Catholic girls were starting much too late. Notice the mocking tone of the lyrics, as if Catholic girls were still sexually repressed. Therefore, we can be reasonably sure sexual freedom had NOT arrived in Boston, at least full force, by 1977, judging partly by the defensive reaction of Boston Catholics to Joel's song. But that doesn't exclude 1978 and 1979. ... Of course we can also reasonably bookend the argument by noting that Madonna came out with her 'Like a Virgin' song, an unintended pop counterblast against Bill Joel's 'Only the Good Die Young,' in 1985. Through Madonna, Catholics were all but saying: Hey, we're not starting late anymore!
Update -- We may be getting closer. A very astute reader just emailed to note that popular local band Human Sexual Response (of 'Jackio O' fame) played from "approximately" 1977 through 1982. From a pop standpoint, this is very significant, for two reasons: A.) The word 'sexual' was openly used in the name of a Boston band B.) There's a frigging horse on the album cover. Why a horse? I don't want to know. ...
'The revolt of September 11th was about 'F--k you!': And one really doesn't have to fake a moderate stance when criticizing most everything muttered by left-wing nut Oliver Stone. The guy is also gross. ... I know Stone's remarks are now nearly four years old. But Santorum's original remarks were also years old before he reaffirmed them yesterday. Give Oliver equal reaffirmation opportunity, and I'm sure he won't disappoint.
