Primitivism and the things we still do that are primitive in a modern world...

So I've been thinking a lot lately about what drives certain human behaviors that seem a little outdated; violence, abuse, war, mosh-pitting, even some sexual acts (some would say the act of sex is entirely outdated...)
Mostly I've been thinking about these things because I: 1) work at a domestic violence shelter 2) debate with my roommates all the time about which lifestyle would make me happier; a completely primitive one or one with comforts and luxuries 3) study midwifery (birth and sex are both pretty primitive, some of the few primitive acts nearly all adults will encounter,) 4) just went to a Flogging Molly show and experienced the primitive nature of humans getting out aggressive behavior in a "friendly" way; i.e. by turning the whole place into a drunken mosh-pit 5) have been reading radical literature by a feminist who suggests that all heterosexual sex is actually violence towards women, since penetration is, in her mind, an "owning of the woman."

So I've come to several conclusions;
1) violence is always and will always be lurking somewhere in our mammalian brain. We are, and always will be, primates. We can channel our violent, aggressive tendencies into "friendly violence," such as mosh-pits, sex, teasing and roughhousing, or we can choose to use violence in a more destructive way; (war, domestic abuse, gangs and so forth.)

2) Primitivism appeals to me precisely because of my mammalian, violent tendencies...I take pleasure in killing for food and fun at the same time. I must admit, to me there is nothing more satisfying then spending a day at the lake, hooking fish to later fillet while they are still squirming. I know how disgusting and violent this sounds...because it is disgusting and violent, and yet, it makes me happy in such a fundamental way I doubt I'll ever give this hobby up. Eating the fish later, feeling their nourishment sink into my blood, cells, etc, completes the primitive pleasure. I also want to take up bow hunting eventually.

3) Sex is also fundamentally violent; but again, it is a good, healthy violence. Tissue and muscle is stretched to make room for penetration...this can be painful, but at the same time, it is good. There are a lot of paradoxes with human sexuality; she might be receiving HIV or an unwanted pregnancy along with her orgasm...still, the sex itself is a good thing; healthy, productive violence, meant to further life and love. Oftentimes lovers hurt each other emotionally while providing needed companionship; this is another paradox of being an ape with a brain.

4) Birth is also violent; it is not violence that is done to someone, rather that person's own body is 'violent" to them; but again, it is a productive violence. Even pregnancy, the hostile takeover of a woman's body by what is essentially a very large parasite, can be seen as violence. Again, this is good violence, but it wreaks havoc on a woman's body and is, indeed, violent. Again, many paradoxes exist in the good/evil balance that makes up childbirth.

So read the book The Naked Ape for more thinking along this line...it is awesome, you'll love it!

Love,
Sycamore Fitch
p.s. my new favorite bumper sticker reads "Make Love, Support Midwives..."