Pleasure and Power in Secrets and Confession, Essay Example

The modern theory of sexuality, as highlighted in the work of Foucault The History of Sexuality, rests on the two distinct traditions, the one historically evident from the practices in China, Japan, India etc., which considered the sexual acts as an art, and the Western one, resting on the issues of confession, secrecy and the sinful nature of sex in itself. Foucault argues that the Western society has historically become the “singularly confessing society” (Foucault 59), by which he determines the impact of Christian ideas of sin and Puritan postulates of secrecy of the sexual life. This is so indeed, since the act of confession has become the central tool for rationalizing sexuality and finding the scientific explanation as well as rationalization to it (Foucault 65-66).

Sexuality has become the hidden form of the human self, the concealed self that is revealed only through confession. However, the act of confession is also specific in cases of sexuality: “it takes effect, not in the one who receives it, but in the one from whom it is wrested” (Foucault 62). Hence, it is possible to state that the pleasure and power relations are also gradually unfolded through the act of confession for the speaker, the one who examines his or her own sexuality by means of confession. The effect of such scientific attitude to sexuality has brought about the change in attitude to sexuality in the broader scale, making it not a taboo, concealed and mysterious concept, but a subject of intense attention and discussion that entails much more notice and reinforcement. The place of pleasure in the Western concept of sexuality takes a distinguished form, according to the account of Foucault:

The most important elements of an erotic art linked to our knowledge about sexuality are not to be sought in the ideal, promised to us by medicine, of a healthy sexuality…and certainly not in the lyricism of orgasm…but in the multiplication and intensification of pleasures connected to the production of the truth about sex” (Foucault 71).

This citation clearly shows that the Western society has found a distinct pleasure in the confession that takes the form of personal reflections on the issues of sexuality and sex; the acts of confession are seen as the path to the truth about the human nature. The Western society has adopted a simulation of the sexual art of the Orient, and has derived the ‘pleasure of analysis’ from it by means of a confession, to oneself or to others (Foucault 72). The illustration of the case with analysis in the form of confession in the pursuit of the truth may be found in the “Secret Sex” episode of Sex and the City – the general format of the movie series may become a vivid area of analysis in terms of confession as the central activity associated with sexuality and the search for perfection in sexual relationships. However, “Secret Sex” has much to offer on the issues of confession and examination of the aspects of pleasure to find the traces of sin mentioned by Foucault.

The episode has several issues that fit into the discussion of the pleasure and power relationships in secrets and their confession referring to human sexuality. The first issue comes to the fore in the process of Carrie’s relationships with Mr. Big unfolding. The pieces of advice given by Carrie’s friends about elimination of sex at the first date fail to make any sense for her because of the sensuality and desire she feels towards Mr. Big. Here the first question for the discussion appears – no matter how intensely the confession about sex at the first date was discussed, Carrie acts in the way that suits her most, unfolding her natural wishes and desires. However, she realizes that it is bad (if not a sin, then it is the nearly firm guarantee that the man will never appear back in her life) (Secret Sex). This consideration reveals the scientific approach to sexuality – in case the confession is already received, men may be not interested in further relationships because of having found the ‘truth’ of the woman.

Another issue comes to the fore when the secrecy of Carrie’s relationships with Mr. Big is realized by her. The whole realm of stereotypes in sexuality is discussed by her with her friends, which represents ‘pleasure of the analysis’ noted by Foucault, and gives her the opportunity to resist the secrecy and try to change the state of affairs feeling offended. Her article in which she speaks about the nature of secret sex is the attempt to bring the issue to the public consideration in the already mentioned pursuit of ‘truth’ – it is the revelation of pleasure in analysis of the human sexual life mentioned by Foucault and described as the reinforced wish to make sexuality public and not kept within one’s secret personal life (Secret Sex).

One more case appropriate for the present discussion is the case of Miranda’s revelation about the secret sexual life and ambitions of her new boyfriend, the sports medicine doctor. Once she finds some video archives of his, she understands what his internal sexuality looks like, and the discovery is not one of the pleasant ones for her. Once she tries to find the matter out, the doctor disappears because of his inability for a confession. He represents a typical example of a person educated in Puritan terms about sexuality. Treating his internal sexuality as a sinful, dirty thing, he refuses from analysis and acceptance of his hidden self (Secret Sex).

Drawing a conclusion, one may note that the relationships of pleasure and power are evident in all sexual traditions of the world. However, the Western society has found the pleasure in confession, and the power it gives to them and to listeners of the confession. Nonetheless, one should mark the fact that the confession tradition has not provided additional secrecy to sexuality, but has reinforced it and provided more possibilities for publicity and analysis.

Works Cited

Fields, Michael (Director). Sex and the City. Episode 6 (Season 1) – “Secret Sex”. Home Box Office, 1998.

Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1: An Introduction. New York: Pantheon Books, 1978.