These two texts to me serve a purpose that is lighthearted, though they may warm people to discussing genitals more openly, their intention was for entertainment.
They defenitely invite different readers, and Diredot's illicits purely male fantasies in my opinion.
Ya, I guess the authors share the same opinion that alot of curiosity is being left unsatisfied.
Stylistically, one you can definitely see is a monologue. Otherwise, they are both pretty simple and funny.
Diredot's again is all about a male ego fantasy of pleasing women and endowment.
These would definitely not be acceptable in many other times and cultures. But probably are better off being accepted. In Africa, people don't talk about sex at all and come on nobody is stupid. People there still have it probably more than we do, but in heated passion ignore things like contraception. Furthermore, some tribes believe that sleeping with virgins and can cure the diseases they get or cut the clitorises off teenage girls. I guess we also circumsize and some studies have shown it is a pointless practice. I'm on a rant here but yes...People should be free to talk more about sex than has historically been the case.
Ya, Diredot's is kind of limited to men. I could see a lot of women who would not get a kick out of that, and would love to have such a ring. Both these stories again are limited obviously to more modern times.
-jeffrey
Blog Activity: Vagina Monologues
Perspective and Sub-Text
Diderot’s Indiscreet Jewels and Ensler’s Vagina Monologues
The purpose of this activity is to compare two texts that address the same theme, and yet which were written several centuries apart and by authors of different gender. As you read these excerpts, I would like you to do the following:
(1) Compare and Contrast the two texts. Here are some questions to get you started, but you are by no means limited to these issues: Do they serve the same purpose (meaning, are they written as entertainment, Satire to correct social ills, informative news, etc.)? Do they invite the same type of reader? Do the authors share the same opinion about the subject matter? Stylistically, how do the two compare (look at the vocabulary, metaphors, grammar, voice, etc)? How does the gender of the author affect the style and content of the text? Do you feel each of these texts would be acceptable and useful in other centuries and cultures? Note the qualities that make them either “universal” or “limited.”
The Indiscreet Jewels by Denis Diderot (18th Century French Enlightenment male philosopher; written as a NOVEL)
Cucufa said, “I wish women to tell me of their amorous adventures past and present, and no more.” “But it is impossible,” said the genie, “to expect women to confess their adventures. That has never been and never shall be.” Then the genie said, “You see this ring? Put it on your finger, my son. Every woman toward whom you turn the stone will recount her intrigues in a loud, clear, and intelligible voice. But do not imagine that they speak through their mouths.” “From whence,” cried Mongogul, “shall they speak then?” “From the most honest part of them, and the best instructed in the things you desire to know, From their jewels.” “From their jewels!” repeated the sultan, bursting into laughter. “This is something new. Talking jewels! How preposterous!”…
First Test of the Ring: An emir consulted his mistress, Alcina, about the newspaper scandal of her reputed affairs with his mere squire. Alcina swore to him that the slander was the gossip of wretches who would have kept silent had they any reason to speak; furthermore, nothing had been done, and he was free to believe what he wanted. The sultan turned his ring toward her. A loud burst of laughter seized Alcina, and was suddenly syncopated by the workings of the ring. Immediately a murmuring noise was heard from beneath her petticoats: “Well, now I have a title. I am truly glad of it. There is nothing like having a station. Of course, if she had listened to my first advice, she could have found me something better than an emir. But still, an emir is better than nothing.” Silence fell and the jewel continued: “a husband must be an important guest, judging from the precautions taken to receive him. So many preparations! Two more weeks of this regimen would have been the end of me…in my opinion, the emir did not require such a fuss, although I understand my mistress’s prudence. She was preparing for the worst, and I was readied for the emir and his squire alike.” The sultan then turned his ring, the emir already having disappeared at the first words of his wife’s jewel, and Alcina, unabashed, feigned a fainting spell, then sat down to play cards as if her jewel had said nothing, or had said the nicest thing in the world.
Diderot’s Indiscreet Jewels and Ensler’s Vagina Monologues
The purpose of this activity is to compare two texts that address the same theme, and yet which were written several centuries apart and by authors of different gender. As you read these excerpts, I would like you to do the following:
(1) Compare and Contrast the two texts. Here are some questions to get you started, but you are by no means limited to these issues: Do they serve the same purpose (meaning, are they written as entertainment, Satire to correct social ills, informative news, etc.)? Do they invite the same type of reader? Do the authors share the same opinion about the subject matter? Stylistically, how do the two compare (look at the vocabulary, metaphors, grammar, voice, etc)? How does the gender of the author affect the style and content of the text? Do you feel each of these texts would be acceptable and useful in other centuries and cultures? Note the qualities that make them either “universal” or “limited.”
The Indiscreet Jewels by Denis Diderot (18th Century French Enlightenment male philosopher; written as a NOVEL)
Cucufa said, “I wish women to tell me of their amorous adventures past and present, and no more.” “But it is impossible,” said the genie, “to expect women to confess their adventures. That has never been and never shall be.” Then the genie said, “You see this ring? Put it on your finger, my son. Every woman toward whom you turn the stone will recount her intrigues in a loud, clear, and intelligible voice. But do not imagine that they speak through their mouths.” “From whence,” cried Mongogul, “shall they speak then?” “From the most honest part of them, and the best instructed in the things you desire to know, From their jewels.” “From their jewels!” repeated the sultan, bursting into laughter. “This is something new. Talking jewels! How preposterous!”…
First Test of the Ring: An emir consulted his mistress, Alcina, about the newspaper scandal of her reputed affairs with his mere squire. Alcina swore to him that the slander was the gossip of wretches who would have kept silent had they any reason to speak; furthermore, nothing had been done, and he was free to believe what he wanted. The sultan turned his ring toward her. A loud burst of laughter seized Alcina, and was suddenly syncopated by the workings of the ring. Immediately a murmuring noise was heard from beneath her petticoats: “Well, now I have a title. I am truly glad of it. There is nothing like having a station. Of course, if she had listened to my first advice, she could have found me something better than an emir. But still, an emir is better than nothing.” Silence fell and the jewel continued: “a husband must be an important guest, judging from the precautions taken to receive him. So many preparations! Two more weeks of this regimen would have been the end of me…in my opinion, the emir did not require such a fuss, although I understand my mistress’s prudence. She was preparing for the worst, and I was readied for the emir and his squire alike.” The sultan then turned his ring, the emir already having disappeared at the first words of his wife’s jewel, and Alcina, unabashed, feigned a fainting spell, then sat down to play cards as if her jewel had said nothing, or had said the nicest thing in the world.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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2 comments:
side note: it's always interesting to read a male's perspective on topics such as this one!!
i am surprised though that you think both writings are limited to modern times ?? he obviously wrote it back in the 18th C and was very conservative about it , not including a womans real point of view!!
Jeffrey, I completely agree with you on the part that Diderot expresses male point of view, limited to knowing only about women's "adventures". However, I think that his style and language use is universal and, in fact, would be accepted in different times. Obviously, it is not limited only to the 18th century, or to the male population. The audience for this piece can be both male and female, either in the 21st, 20th, 19th, or 18th century. Whereas Vagina Monologues clearly target mostly the female population of our times.
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