Erotic metaphors are used frequently in political discourse to convey meaning without being explicit about it. They have been used since ancient times to describe power dynamics between people in various contexts, from politics to social movements. Erotic metaphors can encode hierarchies, submission, and relationality.
One way erotic metaphors can be used is to describe how one person dominates another.
"The leader has control over his followers," is an erotic metaphor that implies power imbalance. It suggests that the leader holds more power than the followers do, which creates a hierarchy. This kind of metaphor can also suggest that the followers submit to their leader's will, much like someone who submits to their partner during intimate moments. It can create a sense of collectivity, as if everyone involved is part of something bigger than themselves.
Another way erotic metaphors can be used is to compare relationships between groups.
"We need to come together as a community" uses language that evokes images of closeness and intimacy. It suggests that there should be a close bond between members of the group, much like when two people become close and form an emotional connection. This type of metaphor can also suggest that there may be some power struggle within the group, where certain individuals or factions hold more influence than others.
Erotic metaphors can be used to describe how individuals relate with each other. "Our relationship is on fire" conveys passion and intensity. The use of this metaphor suggests that the couple or partnership is deeply connected to each other, almost like they are inseparable. In political discourse, this could imply unity among a group or movement, suggesting that all members are united in purpose and action.
Erotic metaphors convey meaning without being explicit about it, but they can encode assumptions about hierarchy, submission, and relationality. They suggest power dynamics, submission to authority figures, and a sense of belonging to something larger than oneself.
How do erotic metaphors embedded in political discourse encode assumptions about hierarchy, submission, and collective relationality?
Erotic metaphors are often used to convey a sense of power dynamics between individuals or groups, suggesting that one party has authority over another. These metaphors can also suggest ideas about subordination, with one group being "dominated" by another, and about collective relationality, where multiple parties may be interconnected or related through their interactions with each other.