The Fredian Eye

For critics, sexual liberation is a mark of social decline; however, a quick glance at the Golden Ages of Egypt, Greece, India, China and Europe would suggest just the opposite. Rather than being associated with civilisations falling apart, sexual liberation is associated with great progresses in philosophy, social enlightenment, technology, economic prosperity, mathematics, architecture and art.

The association is really quite understandable. Definitely there is a significant psychological difference between a culture seeking to share pleasure with others and a culture seeking to deny it in others. One basically seeks to enjoy, share and expand, while the other seeks to restrict and possess. Nevertheless, a culture of sexual conservatism has always followed a culture of sexual liberation and change usually occurs for a reason.

In the Freudian Eye, I wanted to consider both the power of sexual desire, as well as the motivations that see cultures trying to restrain it. Both are important because both have defined the cycles of civilisation. In this way, I wanted to think about some of the motivators that have led to humanity’s greatest achievements, and also its greatest failures. I also wanted to think about the eternal conflict between liberty and restriction, love and war. I wanted to think about the myths of the mermaid that motivated men to build great ships, but then enticed them to their doom on the rocks. Likewise, I wanted to think of the myths of the woman who was persuaded by the snake to bite from the apple of knowledge, and then became aware of her own sin. I wanted to think about why the myths of sirens are usually women and the upholders of morality are usually men.