Language is a Blow Up Doll
How Humor has Replaced Hot Hot Heat.

Kofi Fosu Forson

Eros in Antiquity was a book that chronicled drawings about sex from the age of antiquity. As much as these drawings didn't turn me on it peeked my curiosity to see sexual acts between couples or groups of people depicted in such a raw style.

Interestingly and personally it provided for me how people viewed the sex act void of any true emotion. This was expressed in the exposed erect penis entering the female vagina. Idea of erect penis was constant as it exaggerated role of male as ravishing female.

Playboy magazine paved the way for the more gratuitous magazines like Hustler. In Playboy I saw layouts of fantasy sequences. In retrospect I recognize these scenes as fantasies of my own in the present time but back then I didn't understand the relevance of its adult situation in terms of what to do given the scenario with a woman.

The playmates were not so much fantasy girls as it was important to see them naked with their legs parted. Hustler magazine drew me in with its concentration on the exposed labia. Penthouse magazine created allure of playmates being actual girlfriends especially with its publication of letters from the general public.

Adult film actresses in this era pushed the power of feminism. They possessed self authority and not committed to sex acts as today's fuck film stars.

Hyapathia Lee and Vanessa del Rio to name two channeled their sexuality as women of cathartic sexual prowess. They were women not dolls.

What I found interesting about the post A.I.D.S. sexual world was the combination of literature fashion and sex. Kathy Acker as early as the 1980's paved the way for punk literature which depicted an apocalyptic world using strong sexual language. Nan Goldin and Cindy Sherman did the same for me.
In fashion we had Design Porn which include facets of The Barely Legal and BDSM.

It was at this time I became aware of Helmut Newton, Man Ray's fashion photography and fetish photography featuring names like Dave Naz, Steve Godde and Richard Kern.

Fetish photography I found particularly hot. I suppose it was combination of allure tragic beauty at times innocence and more often than not suggestive sexual heat. Fetish photography is not vulgar but stylish and feeds on a particular focus of desire, underwear, rubber, boots. Richard Kern's photography stemming from his legendary New York Girl's book now photographs young women. A master of this is Terry Richardson.

Internet Porn made porno more accessible. After writing about gender and sexual politics I decided against internet porn. Somehow a lot of people in society are attracted to internet porn. Polls reflect this. I find that a new generation of middle Americans are expressing themselves sexually and otherwise based on what they see online and translate whether into their lives or creative lives. Not sure how it's marketed in art but sexuality and how it's interpreted in New York's Williamsburg and Bushwick is hinted not exalted. Whereas in Manhattan it's cutthroat.

Still not certain if art and sexuality reflects the hot hot heat of Newton and Man Ray. Terry Richardson despite being governed by sleaze is amazing. Richard Kern's semi pseudo barely legal photography is controversial. No matter what you think Kern is a great American artist.

Otherwise outside of photography in art and fashion, not sure how language has been preserved as far as sex and art in BDSM, design porn and literature.

I see that perversion, humor and sarcasm are prevalent in art and sex these days.

What is language today I don't know.

What is hot I don't know.

Evolution of The Art Couple

Art as Cuisine / How to eat and still make Art

Kofi Fosu Forson

Evolution for art couples existing in somewhat of a symbiotic relationship or something relevant to art coupling for me began with Pablo Picasso and Dora Maar.

In politics through out history resident political CEO as in president was always backed by a strong independent female representation. Most apparent was JFK and Jacqueline Onassis.

This was also evident in art and literature. Pre eminence of Picasso attracted woman like Dora Maar. She an artist in her own right brought about idea of politics and gender.

At time when literati exuded power most of these dominant personalities and art types gathered in Parisian cafes which in turn glamorized their potential and intellect.

Gradually American artists musicians and writers sought solace among these celebrities. Apparent Godfather of art coupling was Henry Miller along with Anais Nin. Gossip and sexual politics surrounded them. These two themes more often than not build charisma in relationship of most art couples.

50's pop culture paved way for power couples as Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe. Others subjected themselves to allure of rock and roll. But this decade was one which popularized what was coming together of art Svengali and muse.

Best example was Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia Okeefe. Whereas Dora was featured in Picasso's Cubist paintings, Stielglitz brought about Georgia's nakedness in his portraits of her. Picasso and Dora had political power at the time. Stieglitz was more pronounced in world of art. Georgia gained notoriety as Alfred's muse. Something similar to Camille Claudel.

Once again JFK and Jacqueline Onassis were in history best example of power couple. As political couple they certainly had more of a forum for their gossip, glamour and politics.

60's rock and roll culture paved way for "the groupie." Many rock and roll stars were quick to romance many of these groupies.

Elvis Presley and Priscilla and Johnny Cash and June Carter were couples who reached an essence of popularity and stardom beyond what most could imagine.

The term sex, drugs and rock and roll stemmed from orgiastic and free love movement. It brought about idea of musicians and their groupies of choice and musicians in partnership with other musicians in love, sex and romance.

John and Yoko defiantly stand alone.

Andy Warhol's Pop Art seventies fueled by disco and drugs brought about The Super Model. These larger than life models were sought after by legendary musicians like Mick Jagger and Bryan Ferry. Most of these models were shuffled between one musician and next.

Warhol permeated pop culture with this belief all through the 80's. As influence of Wall Street on art, money and sex brought about want need to date models, couples like Basquiat and Suzanne Mallouk emanated from Neo Expressionism as artists be it high or low graffiti inspired, early rap or New Wave, film or dance all found each other.

Barely Legal and Heroin Chic as well as grunge ruled the 1990's.

In our modern day artists think first about survival and shelter. As most of known artists have left downtown area of New York, those making a living here think first about rent.

So called sexual movement still fuses coupling and relationships between artists. Art couples tend to lack allure and pageantry of those before.

What we are now are human beings first.

We exist as artists. We survive not as philosophers or intellectuals.

Art is food. But we need to eat to make art.

FUNCTIONALITY of Brain

Shape, Form, Musculature

Kofi Fosu Forson

Brain is muscle. Mind broadens itself based on how well-oiled the brain is.

Most people function linearly within life's various ups and downs. One need not be subjected to emotional break downs and diagnosis to experience how difficult life can be. Difference is for those who have been mired in intervensions from health professionals the life experience takes them psychologically through trials and tribulations which prevents them from living a life based on that linear path from life to death.

People befallen by emotional torture live within shape. They are bound in that shape. This could be rectangular, triangular or circle. There's no path beyond what they know. Much of their experience is enclosed in that quagmire.

What needs happen is an intervension. At times it occurs from the vision of person looking into the situation. Sometimes those experiencing trouble more or less crisis in the circle reach outside.

It is problem which needs an equation such is the trial and tribulations of life. Many are stubborn they are defeated. Ego prevents them from facing life situations head on. Most refrain from counseling evident in physical health and mental health issues as well.

Corporate decisions are based on conference. Brain trusts resolve most of a company's issues. Family settings require an ultimate vocal presence as in the I Id Father perhaps similar to a company's presidents veto.

Parental opinions in the modern day are overridden by a feel for entitlement in those young and arrogant. Nuclear families more or less have imploded caved into the notion of princedom ruled by Harry Potters of the world.

90's Prozac Nation gave way to a variety of movements such as The Emo movement or those made derelict based on drugs and music technology and porno.

Functionality and manifestation of the brain as muscle has been left to those in power politically or those who empower themselves politically as in the OCCUPY WALL STREET movement.

Activism is still current in today's society. There those with conscience whether animal rights, the GREEN movement or the majority of those who champion the cause of tenant rights over ruthless landlords.

The populace overwhelmed by life itself governed by politics of a various nature somehow able to express an inner voice. This stemmed from the availability of the internet over the years.

Bloggers gained notoriety even been called upon to guest on talk shows. However the brilliance of what was a chance to hit back hard at the establishment has been replaced by social websites none of which add strength to the inner voice. These sights more or less give a faux existence.

Having been away from any sense of academia for decade or so it's quite unclear what form education takes in universities and colleges around the world. In an interview with Kyle P. Silvers a student at a college in Green Bay, Wisconson I understood how many of his classmates are overwhelmed by politics more so here in America much less what is happening in other countries.

Circumstances surrounding pop culture and the sense of reality television and virtual reality is order in the day. Signifiers lack authenticity. They range from attempts at toughness as staring at a person directly taking a long drag from a cigarette and blowing out the smoke. This is referred to as "smoking you out."

Machismo is found among blue collar men or those who are described as "meat heads." Siginifiers in the street is only understood by those who know the street. These are men of ethnicity or mature adults who represent the idea of honor and respect.

For a while the streets in New York were full of young well to do white men or even boys who imitate scenes from gangster movies. Idea of masculine white men in New York as seen in legends as Scorsese's Deniro or Lumet's Pacino. Rock and Roll legends as Lou Reed and David Johansen. has been replaced by effeminate to almost asexual young white men.

Its almost comical to see their attempts at what is "street wise." Most of this is seen in those who posture or pose and others young black men who speak what they feel is unique and separate from young white men.

Brain as muscle or the the idea of "genius" is more to be found among young brilliant white men who open up websites or start companies or mothers of young black men who discipline their children with hopes of becoming future OBAMAS.

Intellectual Male Posturing

Evolution of Man in Modern Society

Kofi Fosu Forson

Standing among friends and colleagues in an area meant for smokers outside a bar with drops of rain falling I mentioned the name NORMAN MAILER.

Norman Mailer has always meant to me a level of cult among 50's American literary culture. I think of Marilyn Monroe and the book Executioner's Song later the novel Tough Guys Don't Dance.

The most remarkable thing about his persona for me was his Jewishness steeped in savvy and extreme wit. He reminded me of Picasso at once a rock solid presence but somehow had eyes that appreciated beauty.

Mailer along with Picasso were two men who exemplified machismo and vulnerability in their respective worlds of art and literature.

Among the Hollywoodized evolution of the masculine male even the truest of gangster types as Edward G Robinson and later James Gagney had a level of brilliant beauty in their posture. They were more than just men they were idols.

Cagney's performance in Guys and Dolls is an example. Where an ultimate macho like Marlon Brando displays a level of brilliance and beauty. In a way the male macho has always been suspected of being a closet effeminate.

Rock Hudson coming out was an understanding of this. Even Brando in The Wild Ones given the subject matter of a motor cycle gang gives off that homo erotic gentle beauty in the style of Brando's character. Tough and arrogant but beautiful.

Nicolas Ray's handling of James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause puts forth the definition of the tough guy macho as wounded and beautiful.

The Black African relevance of this is the Mandigo character. Black masculinity is viewed separate from the white symbol. The black example is rooted in the black male as warrior.

Holloywood lessened that sentiment with buffoonery in those minstrel cartoons. Sidney Poitier would emerge as a solid Hollywood black actor who went on to win an Oscar.

Blaxploitation films depicted a different black macho. The idea of the pimp and drug dealer was more evident.

Shaft a film by Gordon Parks singularly the most brilliant black literary figure of our time promoted the sex appeal of the black male.

Basquiat in the 80's originated the black Neo Expressionist. Bob Thompson before him wasn't quite the rockstar. Jean Michel Basquiat was interesting because he emanated from graffiti culture and yet his association with Warhol cultivated a unique persona.

Hip Hop and RAP Culture was an extension of that 80's art and music culture. Gangsterism followed what then found its relevance in music like Neo Soul.

Since then the black male ideal outside of sports music and politics is unidentifiable.

Historically very few men have exhibited a persona that was macho and not a little reflective and vulnerable. 70's Hollywood men were interesting as they were the most brute in Hollywood history.

The John Waynes of the world. That is why the Rock Hudson revelation was such a shock.

In a song by Steely Dan Donald Fagen sings "I have never met Napoleon. I would like to find the time. Because he looks so fine upon that hill".

PUNK as a go between 70's masculinity and the NEO Expressionism that followed inspired an effeminate nature.

80's male was a combination of both. The likes of Chris Walken and John Malkovich were elegant men who displayed that sense of educated male and bruteness as witnessed in Walken's roles from Deer Hunter to King of New York, a somewhat elegant beauty but masculine.

90's gave way to newfound rock and roll, what was known as grunge. In it you had personas like Trent Reznor and Al Jourgenson display a sense of ultimate self made sexual authority but at the same time express a sense of homo eroticism.

The Metrosexual followed soon thereafter, basically the male expressing femininity to attract women. Much of this led to the propensity of men to fall into the mode of drugs and depression highlighted in what became a combination of heroin overdoses, sadomasochism and suicides.

Kurt Cobain's death defined this generation.

Beginning of the 2000 decade saw movements like Emo culture fused with a generation of post 9/11 children inspired by technology, politics and internet porn as well as digitalized form of music.

As we see it now society is permeated with a disconcerted group of men intellectually depraved removed from the notion of what is man and masculine.

Currently New York a city known for its sense of power and the self made man is divided by the blue collar macho and the effeminate white male.

Men are less driven by thought and are prone to an animalistic sense of the id seen in young men who were Hipsters turned Travis Bickle wannabes and are now young students.

Now New York is more or less a college town.

Men who own seniority are hard working torn between supporting a family and pursuit of independence be it retirement or art.

I sense the idea of power and submission runs rampant in the redefining of sex displayed among Queer Culture, return of sadomasochism and how prison culture and mentality permeates minds of men both young and mature.

POSSESSION/ The Virtual Trap

Kofi Fosu Forson

Possession was a novel by A. S. Byatt.

Candidly the refrain from love as a form of possession has always been a sense of undue power over some one.

Much of this is established in sexually political exclusivity in what makes an individual lover. Society establishes an ideology as far as what is expected of both male and female, basically the commercialization of love.

Puritanically speaking nuclear families function basically in uniformity making the family unit circular.

This notion was broken by 60's spiritualism which drove the individual to outer cities in search of love, sex and art or independence perhaps the source of what became "The Rebel," a free spirited demon made celluloid in the movie Easy Rider.

Hitchhikers are known for their renegade sexual behavior. Their sense of caution and safety is thrown to the wind. Sexually they are exhibitionists. Danger attracts them. Pathology as it is involved borders rape or violence.

A man may make eye contact with a woman. Means of attraction takes a second or half second. Intimately signifiers present here are elements of lust and hunger. Much like rapist the male libido is at a high willing to fornicate at will.

Possession is an act be it physical, intellectual or sexual.

Literarily speaking Nabokov's Lolita and Masoch's Venus in Furs achieved all of this with a book.

Text can be pleasurable based on its language.

A reader then draws from its theme, prose and style. The literary dance between the writer and reader expresses an attraction particular to any two intimate personalities found among dancers or two strangers in conversation at party.

Possession in the modern day is virtual. Human connectivity has been replaced by adventures on line. Participation between persons in the communal sense is now found on threads on facebook.

Link therefore is not so much the recognition of skin or comfort in the eyes. One's persona activates a sensation that attracts people to each other.

Photographs, profile pictures, posts and status statements are means of possession, trapping each other into a faux psychological and conscientious world.

Guru David Shade speaks of how when people are making love the entranced and enlightened act as possessiveness is something shared with the world in nature and its people, animals and every living breathing thing.

The lovemaking act is a celebration of life, two or more people channeling spirits, energy, lust, libido.

Orgiastically speaking tantra was commercially introduced to communities around the world. Couples were taught how to achieve enlightenment through sex. It was at a point when gender politics and emergence of the internet and its sexual spam and porno websites crept into our culture.

Virtual voyeurism is the new means of inter connectivity where people on the web even neighbors in households are possessed by each other curious as to personal and private activities beyond the guarded walls.

Possession is now less animal void of flesh. A woman still wants security emotional and physical shelter. She attracts her own kind her human kind.

Intellectually people dont mate. They pretend, cavort among each other as artists but very few represent what is art.

Love is fleeting. I seek it in the moment. Others find it meaninglessly.

People are less of sex. The act has lost its potential for many.

Survival is not sexual or intellectual. It is pragmatic.

In the end virtual reality is possession.

Not money. Not fame.

Cult of Man/ Exiting the Vaginal Cavity

Making Myth of an Autobiographical Life

Kofi Fosu Forson

Cult of man is myth with which he exists the vaginal cavity. This fate is understood. It can be seen in early photographs of a child. How he presents himself. His sense of style body language and facial expression. Does he look in the camera's eye with confidence. Perhaps he supposes leadership characteristics, beauty of a poet, sadness of a mule.

Cult epitomizes essence of life and death the struggle between. The individual is once at war with himself. The person and individual he supposes as human is at a disadvantage whether by illness, lack of faith or confidence. Thus then begins the struggle of finding who and what this person is.

As Joyce Carol Oates puts it "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"

Circumstances from which the individual seems defeated is almost always societal; sexual or religion based, sometimes both. Role in the family paves the way as whether scapegoat or defiantly heroic. At times the idea of the black sheep becoming legend is almost fateful.

The term black sheep is only befitting if the individual recognizes it as such. Most of the time it's based on the shuffling of egos within the family, mother / father ideology and what roles children play.

They meaning the children are given agenda as first child, middle or last. First borns are those who bear the brunt of much damage within the family. Somehow their lives revolve metaphorically around the family as symbols of failure or success.

At an early age the first born displays signs of what's to be expected, perhaps its his successes as an artist, musician or in the sciences.

Alice Miller's Drama of The Gifted Child explores the genius and how he grows within the family. In so many ways a gifted child is given the freedom to be himself. This can be found in a parent buying the son an instrument. What is brilliant in today's society is how the purchase of a computer gives every child a chance.

Education is exemplary of who the child is as a student.

In Fernanda Eberstadt's Isaac and his Devils, Isaac, a genius student refuses to go out of town to study with other geniuses.

This is foretelling of who the current and modern so called genius is as most young talented children hate competition. In their minds they stand above the rest. This notion of entitlement and greed has pervaded the lives of young men today.

A class environment allows for the young talent to express himself among his peers. If he's a true star he will be noticed for his brilliance given what he's good at. The idea of being tested is crucial. To be removed from society living in a room with a personal computer doesn't present the individual with dimensions. He lives a faux life creating a persona on facebook and other social websites.

As a child I enjoyed a little bit of fame as illustrator doing drawings for students or getting paid a little as an exchange for doing arts and crafts homework for other students. I excelled also as soccer player in highschool where at soccer camp I was confronted by the star athlete after defeating him the year before he swore he was Rocky and I "Mr. T". and how he was going to beat me. I beat him a second time. This was an example of my talent in competition with others.

Among a social circle the young talent explores his myth.

Who is he? Does he possess a persona? What if anything makes him attractive? Why do people like him if at all? Is he envied? Does he have enemies?

I was given several nicknames as a young student. People knew me based on these nicknames. I also wore a scarf to go along with the school uniform of tie and blazer. One professor called me G.Q. I was voted the most likely to write and illustrate a book.

There are trying periods as the individual begins to grow. For starters he is awkward in one way or another. In my case it was girls. I was torn between growing up in Ghana with Ghanaian girls, growing fond of white girls here in grade school and facing the question of what black girls thought of me. One example found me teased and taunted for not knowing how to talk to a black girl.

Early in college I fell for a black girl. After ten years of a long distance relationship I took her virginity. She died a year or so ago as my only black lover.

What then determines my cult if then myth?

I was a star as child. Famous in school for my original persona, idle , alone among the crowd, stylish and as an African who felt comfortable among a white crowd.

A depressive and manic psychosis was my greatest challenge. Within it I developed scenarios of acute sexuality, mother/son issues, lover's triangle stigma, affinity for attracting lesbians and rape victims, contrast of young and mature women.

Obsessiveness over Sam Shepard's myth and plays encouraged my own role as playwright and director. Realm of my theatrical plays explored my depression, mania and sexuality.

I found myself among the Barely Legal generation of the 90's socializing and befriending young men and women. One great affair that decade was an extra marital affair with a highly sought after editor making love to her seemingly in the company of her husband.

My sexual conquests were few but those recorded were legendary, a collection of art muses and models followed by a self induced celibacy.

Neighborhood of Washington Heights proved to be greatest test as I lived among hoodlums, drug dealers and thieves. Four years in cohabitation with a PTSD Vietnam Veteran was well earned. This was the best example of defining my myth and cult, able to test my vernacular among drug addicts, gamblers, street people as well as dialoguing with philosophers in the art world, most notably my legendary relationship with Transvoyeur's Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney.

Life in the East Village has proved a battle with an alcoholic roommate and another a recluse with a crack whore girlfriend. Meanwhile channeling virtual ghosts through the access of facebook. This proved the most unusual battle as I dealt with a young neighbor who interpreted my phantasmagorical love affair and has since been a nuisance attempting means of witchery and demonology.

Hipsters of this generation have viewed me as threat and I have battled with them in the streets. Queer culture has permeated society and much of my adventures in the streets was resisting the usual come on from men. It drew a last straw when a man challenged me to a fight. He didn't persist but I woke up the next day never wanting any one to disrespect me. I have since defined myself as fighter more than lover although I am both.

To all of this I do say I am cult and myth. The "shadow" as Emer Martin calls me.

I possess an ego. It doesn't define me. Life possesses me. I embrace it.

I know fear. I do my best to conquer it. I know love. I have potential to be great lover.

I deserve a biography of this life. I refuse to write an autobiography.

The Beauty Glass / Intellectual Mirroring cum Love cum Death

Kofi Fosu Forson

I fell in love. I fell in love with a ghost.

On facebook the social network I befriended a young woman on a snowy day in Milano Italy. She was listening to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew while talking to me via the live chat.

She was alone. Apparently she was always alone. Coy and particular in what she shared I brought out of her a persona she hadn't actualized in herself. Patiently I helped her reveal inner demons coaxed her through moments of sadness.

All the while I imagined this beautiful woman sitting by the window as snow fell taking me through moments of fantasy images from the album cover of Bitches Brew floating through my mind.

This moment was telling wooing a woman who lived continents away. I had a great knack for possessing women with language. A means of intimacy which inspired a former classmate to call me the "word pimp."

The woman in question much like people on these social networks were lost somehow in need of an escape. Life on the internet gave them a means of touching the hearts and minds of those far far away. This was no different. I had been tempted to join facebook. In doing so I got a chance to affect the madness and beauty of many of these women around the world.

It became a common thing for this woman to "poke" me a service on facebook where people are able to "poke" another as a way to say "hi". The more she poked me sometimes more then twice a day we built a sense of attraction a sense of love.

Within the virtual threads of facebook with little means of verbal correspondence between us we fell in love. The constant poking became inffectious. It built desire and libido in me. There were times when I would lay in bed thinking about her and my body was overcome by her virtual spirit. I would rotate on the bed in total phantasmagorial allure.

I was smart to write the word "phantasm" on a thread we shared. She promptly wrote back "fantasm". We both knew what was happening. Our mutual ghosts had possessed each other.

This became the death of us as I summoned her ghost when I felt lonely. She came. I would take my clothes off aroused waiting and expecting her to torment me. It was torturous. At times I was angry angered by the fact she and I would never meet ever face to face. I had to forever live with her ghost torturing me.

I was advised by a mutual friend on facebook for us to kill each other's ghost. I spent moments murdering her ghost went as far as to delete her from my facebook account. We came to an understanding as we resumed our affair which turned into a respectable mutual love for each other.

We never truly had prolonged discourses besides the poking. We shared meaningful love notes realized we had an eternal love affair.

In this the virtual world our love is everlasting. It is understood. It is recognized.

We may never meet in person. Somehow we shouldn't.

I know if we met it would be remarkable and brilliant.

I am her love. I am her lover. She has men. I have women.

And we have never met. But we are in love.

Eternally.