Erotic longings are powerful emotional desires related to sexual pleasure and satisfaction. They can be intense and motivating, but they also carry a range of cultural, social, and political implications that shape how individuals understand themselves and their place in the world. In this essay, I will explore the relationship between erotic longings and political nostalgia in creating idealized historical imaginaries. Specifically, I will examine how these forces intersect to construct narratives about past eras that serve contemporary ideological agendas.
Political nostalgia refers to the desire for a return to an idealized version of the past, often associated with a particular political or cultural movement. It is typically expressed through romanticizing certain aspects of history while ignoring others.
Some people may feel nostalgic for the "traditional family" of the post-World War II era, while downplaying its gendered power dynamics and racism. Similarly, some may look back fondly on the socialist utopias of the Soviet Union, despite their oppressive authoritarian regimes. Erotic longings are closely linked to nostalgia because they often involve fantasies about a specific time period or location where sex was perceived as more satisfying or fulfilling than it is now. This intersection of sexuality and politics has significant implications for how we imagine our own lives and the broader society.
Let us consider the concept of 'erotic capital'. Coined by British sociologist Catherine Hakim, it describes the social, economic, and symbolic resources that individuals possess to attract potential partners. These can include physical attributes like beauty, intelligence, or status, but also personal qualities such as confidence, emotional stability, or financial security. In modern Western societies, the value of erotic capital is highly contingent upon class, race, gender, and other social factors. Some groups have access to more desirable forms of erotic capital than others, creating inequalities within intimate relationships. This makes erotic longings particularly charged politically, as they reflect deeper social structures of inequality.
Consider the way that white supremacists have used the idea of a 'pure' Aryan race to justify their ideology. They believe that whites are superior to non-whites in terms of both physical appearance and behavior, including sexual prowess. This creates an idealized historical imaginary of pre-war Germany, where white women were supposedly objectified and oppressed by Jewish men. By contrast, Japanese erotic cinema frequently portrays foreigners (especially Americans) as hypersexualized and aggressive, reinforcing negative stereotypes about Asian culture. Similarly, some right-wing politicians have argued that traditional masculinity is under threat from feminism and LGBTQ+ rights movements. As a result, they seek to recreate a past era when men dominated women and homosexuality was repressed.
Leftist activists often use nostalgia for a utopian communal society to justify their political agendas.
Some argue that pre-colonial Native American tribes had higher levels of gender equality because they shared property and resources equally. Others point to ancient matriarchies like those in Greece or Egypt, which revered female deities and goddesses. In both cases, these histories are selectively constructed to fit contemporary political goals rather than accurately representing reality.
Erotic longings and political nostalgia intersect to create idealized historical imaginaries that serve specific agendas. These narratives can be manipulated and exploited for various purposes, obscuring the complex realities of history and perpetuating social inequality. Understanding this intersection is crucial for recognizing how power structures shape our desires and relationships.
How do erotic longings intersect with political nostalgia in constructing idealized historical imaginaries?
Erotic longings can be described as strong and persistent desires for romantic, sexual, or other intimate connections with another individual or group of individuals (Sparks, 2016). Political nostalgia refers to an emotional attachment to past political systems or ideologies that are no longer prevalent in contemporary society (Burke & van der Eijk, 2017).