Exhibition of Pompeii’s sex scenes aims to decode erotica
theguardian.com
theguardian.com
That description sounds overly simplistic to me. The mode of life and condition of things was very different. I assume the role and power of women in Roman society would be substantially different than it is today. It is not unreasonable to think it might be for completely different reasons. For example, in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today. If I'm not mistaken there's temples in Asia where there are sexual scenes depicted in sculpture form, and it is entirely plausible that people would not think of that as 'erotica' whereas the same modern population around those temples today would be very likely to have a completely different viewpoint if those sculptures were made today.
> For example, in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today.
Where? Not everywhere. You should look at all the differences in different places today before you generalize the Past as one monolithic place.
I'm not sure where I was "romanticizing the past" in my comment. Could you clarify exactly? Are you referring to the sentence I wrote "in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today"? But that is a factual observation right.
> Where? Not everywhere.
I'm not sure what you're trying to ask. It is very difficult to communicate with this kind of tone. I'm sure you can follow what I meant by "in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today." because we can see that in many parts of the world where old photos show the population being topless, now the majority of the population in those same parts are no longer accepting of that.
> before you generalize the Past as one monolithic place.
Reading my comment, I stand by my position that I never did that. I'm genuinely confused what you're trying to say.
That people were more civilized or more “noble” or more free in the Past.
Could you cite where I said or even remotely implied that broad a statement?
Most of culture is dictated by religion, which certainly have changed over the centuries, and Christianity as a whole has "conquered" and made many cultures somewhat homogeneous, especially on the sexual and sensual side.
Not every culture is the same. Maybe your culture perceives that as taboo and therefore erotica. Perhaps a hunter gatherer society would not even think people having sex in front of them as taboo or erotic. Who knows? We're stuck so deep in our culture that we can't perceive it any other way. Our brains get wired that way due to our culture and upbringing and there is a loss of plasticity after that. The point I'm making is that it is overly simplistic to make assumptions of what is and is not erotic to an ancient culture separated by 2000 years.
Isn’t this the place with the graffiti that was very similar to what we find in a bathroom stall today? All very horny very relatable stuff
”I screwed the barmaid”
”Weep, you girls. My penis has given you up. Now it penetrates men's behinds. Goodbye, wondrous femininity!”
Its a resort town with horny people and brothels, I really don't think its that deep. Someone just wants to study ancient porn and write erotic fanfiction.
https://kashgar.com.au/blogs/history/the-bawdy-graffiti-of-p...
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/reading-the-writing-o...
Simply unlikely there is much insight to glean, doing this “decode” would only serve for a very sheltered and sexually repressed current population or future population.
Its mostly likely it is just erotic and porn to entice visitors. If that news is news, then thats what the exhibition is for.
I'm not sure why you're on a tangent that is unrelated to what I was talking about. I was referring to the claim that what a culture 2000 years ago considered to be erotica may be completely different to what you consider to be erotica today. Do you disagree that there could be any differences? I've already pointed out that your upbringing and culture is what determines what you think is erotica. For you, the back of a woman's neck is not erotica, for a Japanese person it may be. Do you follow?
Historical analysis and consideration of past culinary preparations is still very useful as an endeavor.