>
> It seems to me that this theory could be tested. Most
> people in our society are authoritarian in attitude.
> If the theory is correct it ought to follow that a
> large majority of people would be aroused by BDSM sex.
> That is to say BDSM shouldn't even be kinky or abnormal
> in the context of a class society, repressed perhaps,
> but most people should find it stimulating. ***************************************************************
Agreed. Dominance and submission is a power trip which weaves its way into the psychological character structure of individuals *to one degree or another* within the social relations of class societies. Bourgeois individualism is based on a negative notion of freedom : "my freedom is your unfreedom", which translates practically into a generalized acceptance of certain oppressive norms employer/employee and other top down political dynamics e.g. sexism. Role playing fantasies help the actors control this power dynamic for their own ends.
If freedom is thought in another way, in a way where my giving my consent to authority actually *enhances* my power as opposed to my unfreedom, my slavery (wage or otherwise), then we've turned the tables on oppressive social relationships and made a beginning to overthrowing our own authoritarian character structures. I give my consent to listen to my Spanish teacher because she will enable me to become more powerful i.e. learn a second language." It's not that authority dies: it's like authority which can enahance our power is embraced and those which involve our giving away our power, to become more enslaved, including seemingly benign notions of loyalty to bureaucratized political structures. I'm currently convinced that the acceptance of this kind of narrow individualism, which is lauded by both liberals and conservatives within capitalist social relations, is one of the larger impediments to advancing the class consciousness necessary to organize the power to make a social revolution. It leads to notions of resignation, cynicism and active reactionary political positions at worst and mere leftist reform of class relations at best.
Regards, Mike B)
Watch the communist manifestoon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1oGIffyVVk
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