Resurgence of Dominance in Human Relations



In the last half-century, as women all over the world fought and died for freedom from dominant males, male dominance fell into disrepute. The disrepute is well-deserved, and men became ashamed of the past abusive behavior of our kind.

Men have lorded it over women since we become human. Unfortunately we descend from the chimp line, not the bonobo. I needn't catalogue male sins and disgrace; you know them already. Abusive male behavior is till the norm in much of the world.

There are grounds for encouragement. Women have gained near-equality in socleties governed by the Rule of Law (mostly i the Wesdt and Turkey) and those still mired in religion are moving toward equality, though much too slowly.

Franz Fanon, a Mozambique psychiatrist, rightly points out that when an abused population glimpses the opportunity for freedom, rage builds and excesses occur. In this country, as women asserted their right to equality and dignity, some went too far; and some men forgot that to be dominant can be loving and gentle.

We are in a period now of readjustment. Dominance traits in men and women assume their natural place in society. Never again, one hopes, will the institutionalized and personal brutality that dominance once foisted be allowed. Consent is the key.

This blog celebrates -- and pokes gentle fun at -- some aspects of the kind of male dominance I have enjoyed, and that I make no apology for.

The images here are all of men, because of my particular interest. Similar blogs could be written from a dominant female point of view. Indeed, Male Submission Art, one of the great works to come out of the blogosphere, is written by a proudly submissive male, and is a brave work of art.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

DOMINANT LOVERS

Each of  the men depicted here,  or men
featured like them,
Like them with friends possessed
have been with me and Abe; many have lived with us  long  or short.  I have loved them all, loved you all, all but two; and I liked those two too to my delight.

I would have these images bring you, remind you, of  past and present events, sweet, bitter-sweet, of the range of emotion that we, lucky, tragic we, can experience, for the brief time before the last light falls.  Tell me your story if you will.











You protest that this isn't love?  Lots will agree with me that it is; lots will disagree.





Surely you will see this as loving . . . .





The title of this pic is "David under the boardwalk."  Perhaps you'll know what it means.












I don't know what this is, but I like it . . . .



Who is in charge here?  Does it matter?









The puppy dog is in charge, and Abe and I love it.


Taking turns . . . .


Is this consensual?  Is the older man taking advantage of the younger?  Is the younger in control?  If you like it, and have relevant experience, let me hear from you.

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And just for fun . . . .


Reynaldo Gianecchini