Eroticism differs from animal sexuality in that human sexuality is limited by taboos and the domain of eroticism is that of the transgression of these taboos. Desire in eroticism is the desire that triumphs over the taboo. It presupposes man in conflict with himself.

Georges Bataille (1977). “Death and Sensuality: A Study of Eroticism and the Taboo”, Arno Press

Eroticism cannot be entirely revealed without poetry.

Georges Bataille (1989). “The Tears of Eros”, p.177, City Lights Books

The chaos of the mind cannot constitute a reply to the providence of the universe. All it can be is an awakening in the night, where all that can be heard is anguished poetry let loose.

Georges Bataille “Literature and Evil” Penguin Classics 1957, essay collection

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I am quite taken by the work of Georges Bataille.  Having an acquaintance with a number of philosophical systems, attempts to anchor an understanding of humankind, and of everything else, in some aspect of our experience, Bataille captures my interest by pointing to the experience of “eros” the erotic.  Do we not all know by the intuition of experience what every mammal, indeed every life-form down to the amoeba knows?  Reproduction, the hand-off from the discrete individual, the “ego” that is me and not you, to form new life, — is a matter that can be described with the vocabulary of biology, with the language of sociology, by that of the novel, etc.   The point advanced by Georges Bataille, the erotic is a shared experience when the ego vanishes and each “belongs” to the other without boundary or conditions.  How to analyze this instinct for reproduction and tease out possible philosophical consequences…  This was Bataille’s life’s work.

The quotes selected seem especially important to me.

• Homo sapiens, the language enabled mammal is a creature shaped by, and one shaping culture.  Culture is that penumbra of meaning by which our common life is shaped, directed, channeled.  We have inherited the storehouse of innumerable generations.  What does it mean to be a member of this species with respect to the taboos, the approved rituals of reproduction?  Why does taboo make the erotic fascinating, the urge to transgress?  Homo Sapiens = the conflicted animal.
• Poetry, ah poetry?  How could we live without poetry, the bending of language to say what is unsayable, at least not sayable in a direct fashion.
• The universe by all available evidence functions according to cause and effect.  Theoretically if I understood the cause(s), I could predict future states… This has the appearance of a simple extension of logic, does it not?  But my own inner experience, the ego experienced is “all over the place,” a hodgepodge.  I am moved to express both delight and anguish — by a photograph, or painting, or a poem, or the arrangement of a living space, or the landscaping of a backyard, or by preparation of a fine meal…  “anguished poetry let loose.”

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We need a tune do we not?  Always!  There’s no life without music/poetry.

I Melt With You

By Modern English

Moving forward using all my breath
Making love to you was never second best
I saw the world crashing all around your face
Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace

I’ll stop the world and melt with you
You’ve seen the difference and it’s getting better all the time
There’s nothing you and I won’t do
I’ll stop the world and melt with you

(You should know better)
Dream of better lives the kind which never hates
(You should see why)
Trapped in the state of imaginary grace
(You should know better)
I made a pilgrimage to save this humans race
(You should see why)
Never comprehending the race has long gone bye

(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you
(Let’s stop the world) You’ve seen the difference and it’s getting better all the time
(Let’s stop the world) There’s nothing you and I won’t do
(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you

The future’s open wide

The future’s open wide

(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you
(Let’s stop the world) I’ve seen some changes but it’s getting better all the time
(Let’s stop the world) There’s nothing you and I won’t do
(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you

The future’s open wide

Hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm

I’ll stop the world and melt with you
(Let’s stop the world) You’ve seen the difference and it’s getting better all the time
(Let’s stop the world) There’s nothing you and I won’t do
(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you

(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you
(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you
(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you
(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you