Syncretism. It’s when two opposing forces and principles try to fuse so that a working model emerges; usually, complete fusion is impossible and what results is a different structure taken from the two disparate components.
There are many factors that go into structuring a culture’s society. Much like many post-colonial literatures from nations that were once under British rule, the sexual traditions of each culture is varied and unique. Imagine the influence of modern Western religious belief of monotheism combined with the ancient Greeks’ belief of many gods. An attempt to reconcile the two philosophies—even if it’s only half-successful—would give birth to an entirely different entity. Religion is only one aspect of a culture. Throw in the nation’s traditional garb, ethnic food, moral values, history of conquest, institutions, and you have a smorgasbord of possible sexual outcomes.
Sex, apart from other basic necessities like food and water, is what every culture has in common. Yet, each culture’s sexual practices—whether courting rituals, preference for foreplay, or the extensive use of sex toys during intercourse—don’t appear out of thin air on a whim. As much as humans are driven by the need to create—whether babies or ideas—anthropologists will tell you there are other forces at work.
Sex in Each Culture is a column designed to delve into the sexual history of a chosen culture. Some of what we discover may be old wives’ tales that turned out to be true; other facts may lead to wonderful epiphanies and just might enlighten the ordinary reader in a titillating way. Either way, the deeper we go, the more rewarding it’ll be.
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Colombia: Catching Up With its Past
By:
Chez Shadman
Colombia’s sexual history existed far before the country even received its name. In fact, the religion and machismo that seem to permeate through Colombian culture today are a far cry from the pre-Colombian era during which the region’s indigenous people practiced a more open and free form of sexuality—one that would make even the most sexually progressive countries today cower in shame. But before one even tries to understand the sexual customs of modern-day Colombia, it is necessary to understand the different cultures of the past that have combined to form the rich culture of modern-day Colombia—that is, Spanish, African and Indian cultures.
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Fiji: Island of Sensual Delights
By:
Jasmine Brown
Fiji, or the Republic of Fiji Islands, is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It has a long history of many languages, conquerors, governments and religions. Fiji is truly a land of change, beauty and tradition. Fijian culture has a host of influences; English, Indian and Polynesian being just some of them. There also exist deeply rooted traditions which make this land unique, despite a willingness to adapt. Considered by many an exotic paradise, Fiji is also home to a rather impressive military force and a strong presence in the United Nations.
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Ireland: Syncretic Union of Pagan and Religious Ideals
By:
Jasmine Brown
Ireland is a country with an extremely strong religious history and a traditional view of sexuality. Despite that, romance, sexual pleasure and respect are all cornerstones of Irish views on sexuality. In a changing world, Ireland embraces the traditional family model while welcoming more sexual freedom into the culture. Ireland is the third largest island in Europe. It consists of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom and is largely Protestant, and the Irish Free State which won it's independence from Britain mainly in order to continue practicing Catholicism.
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Venezuela: Sexy By Way of Beautiful
By:
Chez Shadman
Imagine a world full of beautiful people having the most mind-blowing sex known to man. Now envision this world somewhere along the Caribbean coast, where white sandy beaches meet scantily clad beauties shaking it to salsa beats. Is this world too good to be reality? Or is this reality the country of Venezuela?If you opted for answer choice one, you need to visit Venezuela. If you opted for option two, you know you need to visit Venezuela!
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