Posted by Sentient on October 11, 2001 at 03:04:02:
the fetish, whatever its origin and whatever peculiar derivative need sustains it, demonstrates irrefutably an emotional content that seizes the individual. Some clinicians will say this is the mark of sexual immaturity, which is only a definition of a willed normalcy regarding all sexuality, i.e. that it is experienced monogamously, honestly, and totally with the opposite member in a context of love and affection for the "other". Further, according to this reasoning, all "normal" sexual interactions are said to be only those which involve actual sexual penetration of the member into the abyss, with the accompanying secondary content known as foreplay. Even though other specific, non-traditional acts may be present, such as the use of sex toys, the playing out of fantasies, etc. these are regarded as secondary to the primary satisfaction of sexually "being-with" the other "personality" in question. The attempt is to hide from consideration the fundamental narcissism of sexual encounters and rather to portray them as a kind of altruistic encounter, or at least one balanced by narcissism and what might by called "other-motivated" behaviors and intentions. Fetishism represents narcissism, and it is this which is sought to be eliminated from most clinical, psychological theories of human behavior, in the example of the fetish of human sexuality, hence some opposition to Freud's contributions. This is because the fetish represents the very possibility that a human individual attains some kind of sexual gratification, perhaps commensurate with actual sexual encounter,purely through autoerotic means, in the total absence in the fantasy of the "other" being the arousing stimulus. Rather, what is the stimulus for the fetishist is an idea, some part of the body or role that the other fulfills. Hence for the foot-fetishist she becomes "only these feet". Hence, when I am introduced to Stacy I am really being introduced to "Stacy's feet"...the extremity of this fantasy episode and the ultimate seriousness with which he/she sustains it are deeply and psychologically perverse for the adult fetishist. That its peculiarity remains a secret, that it remains his private fantasy episode, that it means so much to him and ONLY him--is essentially its sole relevance.