Conceptualizing Transgression by Irene Li

Transgression

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:19:36 UTC

The big one

Taboo

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:20:16 UTC

"Perpetual spirals of power and pleasure"

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:22:06 UTC

If the imagery is to be taken literally, transgression is positive, not negative. The transgressor is not simply negating the existing limit, but rather actively seeking the abstract pleasure entailing eroticism.

Foucault

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:22:21 UTC

French >:(

Bataille

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:22:41 UTC

French >:(

Finite and the infinite

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:32:21 UTC

Transgression concerns the concept of the limit, both in a social and juridical sense, as well as existentially and especially internally.

Juridical

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:38:23 UTC

Licit vs illicit

Social

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:38:32 UTC

Lifting of prohibition

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:38:41 UTC

What becomes of the transgressive nature of old literature once laws have changed? Take for example homosexuality's legalization and its effect on past works.

Mass culture

rl998 — 2025-09-22 15:39:09 UTC

Diverse depictions of say homosexuality are vital for human culture, but not inherently transgressive. These are meant more to normalize than "become limitless".

Eroticism

rl998 — 2025-09-25 01:59:56 UTC

Eroticism is necessarily tied to transgression, as they both involve the violation of rules.

Abstract Nature of Transgression

rl998 — 2025-09-25 02:59:56 UTC

"The object of desire is the universe"

"The concrete totality of the real"

Erotic Ego Death

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:00:42 UTC

Complete loss of oneself through erotic intensity, left adrift in the "universe"

Neither biological nor cultural

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:03:43 UTC

Eroticism necessarily is related to the transgressing of cultural prohibitions, i.e., taboos.

Sexual identity is not inherently transgressive

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:21:48 UTC

Transgression most accurately is an experience undergone without any direct concern with the sexual identities of any participants.

The Sacred

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:29:02 UTC

The concepts of taboo and the sacred are inseparable. Whilst taboo holds meanings for both the unclean and the pure, sacred mostly associates with the latter.

By transgressing, one is touching the "pure" and untouchable, necessarily trespassing the sacred.

Sex and Power

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:34:36 UTC

"We must not think that by saying yes to sex, one says no to power"

Eroticism is NOT just sex

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:35:59 UTC

Most sex isn't transgressive. Transgression is necessarily rare.

Taboo is not just external

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:39:12 UTC

Taboo is primarily an internal experience. Facing only the external does not get to the core concept of transgressing one's own internal limits.

Post-Nietzschean, "godless" world

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:40:56 UTC

What is the limit in a world where God is dead? Without the roof of limitlessness, one can only be faced with human finitude.

Taboos acknowledge desire

rl998 — 2025-09-25 03:42:50 UTC