Sex, Symbols and Communication
Someone once said that symbolism is an instrument of knowledge and the most ancient and fundamental method of expression. In other words, it is the oldest and simplest form of communication. Speaking from a philosophical perspective, it could be debated that sex is the oldest and simplest form of communication. Which brings to mind, an age old question. What came first, the chicken or the egg? For this particular issue pertaining to the first form of communication, allow me to rephrase that question. What came first, sex or symbols?
One witnesses correlations between sex, symbols and communication every time they turn on the TV or open a magazine. The goose that laid the golden egg for the present day mass media advertising industry was an offspring from sex symbols and communication. History informs us that the public display of early sexually connotated content was censored by most of the well respected media outlets. Ironically, an early 20th century sex symbol that is analogous with a 21st century communication symbol brought about our present day social sexual standards.
According to Wikipedia, MAE West is a network access point located in the state of California and handles as much as 40 percent of the nation's Internet traffic. The MAE (short for Metropolitan Area Ethernet) is the second busiest intersection in Cyberculture.
The Mae West of burlesque and Hollywood fame during the 1920's, 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's brought the first sexually connotated subject material to the general public. Eighty years ago , she was arrested on charges of public obscenity for displaying SEX on a Broadway marquee.
Did Mae West's sexual content offend the general public back in the day? Would her persona offend people now? You decide whether her material is offensive. The following is one of Mae West's most memorable year end holiday season quotes.
"My left leg is Christmas and my right leg is New Year's. Why don't you visit me between the holidays?" ~ Mae West
As you can see, both of the above two Mae West are symbols. Mae West, the communications symbol is a critical leg in the infrastructure of the Web. She helps to provide a continuous flow of information and knowledge throughout Cyberculture. Mae West, the sex symbol was instrumental in delivering the continuous flow of sexual content for today's mass media advertising industry.
Wikipedia states that Mae West's Film, She Done Him Wrong (1933), had fans going wild over the sexy starlet because she was something that was unheard of and dramatically different from anything presented before.
Answer me this. Is it safe to say that Mae West, the network access point and communications symbol received a similar response from the general public for the same reasons?
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