The Fish ice sculpture prior to the warm day and melting...
According to Wikipedia, "A phallus is a penis, especially when erect,[1] an object that resembles a penis, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically — or, more precisely, iconically — resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic (as in "phallic symbol"). Such symbols often represent fertility and cultural implications that are associated with the male sexual organ, as well as the male orgasm." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus
The penis has long been an object of adoration and worship (I've certainly adored and worshiped a few in my day...lol). In ancient times, and for centuries, it was revered and adorned many a statue, carving and religious object. And it has certainly found it's way into modern art, design and architecture over the years. Sometimes it is subtle and seems almost accidental, and others it's quite blatant and in your face. Our culture continue to have a fascination with the penis (and all things sexual); but at the same time, there is an underlying fear and denial of our sexual nature that, I believe to be reminiscent of the puritanical sentiment from which our culture was birthed.
Apparently, here in Greenfield, they don't take too kindly to giant phalluses being displayed on Main Street...even if they are not intentional. When my friend Alex showed me this video of them taking down of the fish/accidental phallus ice sculpture on Monday, I assumed that they were preparing for the snow by taking them all down. And , then I thought that it seemed odd that they were taking them down so soon, as I recalled them being up longer in past years. And then, on Tuesday, walking to my meditation group, I realized that was the ONLY one they had taken down, and it struck me that the fish had been targeted and removed because it must've been found to be offensive and/or threatening in some way to someone who felt the need ask the town to knock it down.
(Thank you to Alex DeMelo for this video)
Which leads to the question: did the town feel that they needed to remove the fish because it was looking too much like a giant penis sitting there in front of our beloved Coop?
Congratulation Amie for such a wonderful and opportune article. I had no doubt that they were knocking it down because the fish made someone uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteI don't see a fish there at all! lol But too bad they were so uptight about it. On the North Sea beach, in the fishing village of Dangast in Germany, there is a giant black marble sculpture of a penis (no question it IS a penis) from the sand. It's a matter of pride of the whole community and is featured on postcards. I did pose for a photo with it, but I don't know what happened to that! Aw shucks.
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