Quotes With Meaning
Calling sex by its name thereafter [the 17th c.] became more difficult and more costly. As if in order to gain mastery of it in reality, it had first been necessary to subjugate it at the level of language, control its free circulation in speech, expunge it from the things that were said, and extinguish the words that rendered it too visibly present.
Calling sex by its name thereafter [the 17th c.] became more difficult and more costly. As if in order to gain mastery of it in reality, it had first been necessary to subjugate it at the level of language, control its free circulation in speech, expunge it from the things that were said, and extinguish the words that rendered it too visibly present.
The quote discusses how, after the 17th century, openly talking about sex became more challenging and carried social consequences. Foucault suggests that in order to truly understand and control sexuality, society first had to restrict its expression through language. By limiting how sex could be discussed, it was as if people were attempting to dominate the very nature of sexuality itself. This reflects a broader theme in human existence: when we suppress open dialogue about important aspects of life, we create a disconnect from our true selves. The struggle to talk freely about sex highlights the ongoing tension between personal freedom and societal norms. Ultimately, the takeaway is the need for honest conversations about sexuality to foster genuine understanding and growth in our lives.