(A)sexual

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🎙️ EPISODE 499: 06.29.22 We finish the Wednesday Pride Month series on a letter (A) that is sometimes tacked onto the end of the big one (right before the mythical and mysterious and "let's just cover all the bases in case we forgot something!" +): LGBTQIA. At some point we need to realize that, while this isn't a joke, it's all a little bit funny. And in light of the real life hell world scenarios this failure of a country seems to be cooking up daily as we slip into some gross conservative dystopia, I think we'd all be a little better off focusing on things that don't stem from such singular motivations. Because it's sort of this completely circular question: if you don't experience sexual desire then why do you care so badly about that being recognized as a "sexuality" to begin with?

It's telling that the most profound moments of blowback this movement encounters is from the other letters of the acronym. The most notable talking in this doc, Dan Savage, is especially flippant when it comes to the "A" of the alphabet soup (as he calls it).

Where does all this end, is the question I keep landing on. It's the basic problem with identity politics in general. They're still politics and as with politics of every stripe that don't stem from the needs of the collective, they seem inherently flawed. It's saying, look at me; I am valid. Instead of: look at us; we are not only valid but necessary. Trust me, the powers that be are rubbing their greedy paws and laughing, thinking about the time wasted on all of this, any of this. Anything to keep the masses from thinking about, let alone actually acting on fixing, if not completely dismantling the class system which is responsible for far more pain, anguish and literal death than not feeling like you belong in a specific parade ever has.

OKAY. That's that. Hard segue here, but this is the last non-paywall post and episode for the show. I think I forgot to mention it on the recording, but I had wanted to watch The Handmaiden for the final LGBT Month review, but the director's cut is like three hours long and I also want to do a deeper dive on Park Chan-wook eventually too, so I scrapped it.

I appreciate anyone and everyone who has taken the time to check out this website and my reviews. Subscribe to the new YouTube; there will be shorter clips there sporadically and I might periodically engage on Twitter or Letterboxd to promote the show (haven't decided this yet!). It's been fun and I hope to see you on the other side for the small monthly fee of 99¢. Namaste.

CHRONOLOGICALLY
⫷ EPISODE 498B - (YOU ARE HERE) - EPISODE 498C ⫸

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(A)sexual is an American documentary film about people facing a sex obsessed culture, a mountain of stereotypes and misconceptions, and a lack of social or scientific research, asexuals - people who experience no sexual attraction - struggle to claim their identity. It was released on June 18, 2011.