Customer Reviews

The Art of Arousal

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr. Ruth Westheimer has provided laughs, giggles, and an occasional bit of insight into sex therapy on her old television and radio appearances and here, in this now affordable paperback version of her 1993 book THE ART OF AROUSAL: A CELEBRATION OF EROTIC ART THROUGHOUT HISTORY she extends her slanted knowledge to include art. Though there is an unidentified ghost writer and researcher (?Andrew Shelton) involved, the spotlight is on Dr. Ruth as she makes witty comments (sheathed in a condom of profundity!) about art of the erotic nature from early civilization to the (then) present. The writing is superficial at best, but is entertaining - like walking behind an older groupie at a museum tour, hearing them titter at all the naughty pictures.

The reason to buy this version (2000 paperback reissue) is for the illustrations themselves, images that do not require historical explanation in order to enjoy them. The art spans ancient Greek, African, Asian, and Native American sculpture, well known masterpieces from Michelangelo through Caravaggio, Fragonard, da Vinci, Titian, Canova, to Hokusai and Masami Teraoka's homages to the master, to the drawings and painting of Egon Schiele, Picasso, Joyce Kozloff, and Robert Colescott. Instead of presenting the images in chronological order, Westheimer divides her chapters into Elements of Eroticism, The Pleasures of Looking, Flirtation and Seduction, Kisses and other Foreplay, The Embrace, Solitary and Group Pleasures, and Blissful Exhaustion - a decision of order that suggests Dr. Ruth's thought processes.

But no matter the editorial stance, the book is full of very well reproduced images of sculpture, vessels, drawings, etchings, and paintings. And that is reason enough to add this confection to your art library! Grady Harp, December 07

This is an excellent cross-selection of international erotic artwork. Although pieces from Western civilization are more heavily-weighted, there are still plenty of sculptures/paintings from Asia, South America, and Africa. The time range runs the gamut from thousands of years ago to modern art. The pieces are chosen well, and the colour reproduction is admirable.

Do not expect a meticulously-researched book, though. I don't have a terrific knowledge of general art history, but I do know a bit more about ancient Greek art than the average person. Although the vital statistics are available for each of the pieces shown in the book, the write-ups are occasionally filled with pure conjecture. For example, some of the Greek red-figure artwork is described rather wishfully. One piece, showing an orgy scene, is described as a scene involving men and hetairai (high-class courtesans) at a symposium. In actuality, these women are probably lowly prostitutes, as evidenced by the coarseness of their features and heavyset bodies. Hetairai are depicted as being more refined and beautiful than these particular women.

Another red-figure piece is featured, showing a man and a young woman having sex outdoors. Dr. Westheimer writes, "If he is a considerate lover ... he will turn her around and bring her to orgasm with cunnilingus." Although cunnilingus may have been practiced, it is not represented in ancient Greek art or mentioned in Greek literature. In fact, the Greeks didn't even have a word for it. Since ancient Greece was a very sexist society, and generally speaking, women did not have any rights, I think it's highly unlikely the woman in the red-figure cup ever did receive any sort of oral nookie.

Although I believe Dr. Westheimer makes incorrect assumptions about some of the artwork, her artistic interpretations aren't the purpose of the book. The purpose is to offer light entertainment and to provide artistically-motivated lessons in seduction, a goal she achieves quite well.

Dr. Ruth brings us a charming collection, artistic celebrations of sex in all its forms. The book paces itself the same was as a sexual encounter, from first sight and flirtation, through the peak of the experience (alone or with others), on to "blissful exhasution." Westheimer and her collaborators have chosen artworks that praise each phase of the mating game, using images drawn from every era and area of the world.

Westheimer's format invites easy browsing. Most often, each page presents one piece of art and a few paragraphs of her happy and gentle commentary. The reproductions of the art of reproduction are beautifully printed on heavy, bright paper. Most of the pictures are large enough for easy reading, with blowups of details where a fine point might otherwise be missed. The art historians working with Dr. Ruth have chosen works from famous names, including Leonardo, Picasso, Degas, Rembrandt, and other lumninaries of the Western canon, but didn't stop there. Other works are drawn from the art of India, Japan, Africa, and South America, as well as contemprary works by many artists.

All of the works depict happy, consensual activity - you won't find any of the dark edges that put so many people off sexual imagery. Bold, bawdy, or blissful, there's something here for every mood. The only problem with this collection is that, despite its 150 or so images, you'll come away wanting more.

-- wiredweird

The selction of pictures and the quality of printing on very good heavy paper is a pleasure. I guess for newcomers who need to acqaint themselves with the art of arousal it's quite good. For connoisseurs of that art it's not really up to expectations. But if you collect this kind of genre and if you buy a used edition (mine was esentiaslly new) at a reduced price, it could well be worth the addition.

Dr. Ruth takes us through dozens of museums, and using her own knowledge, searching for the history of human arousal. As to be expected, this book contains close-up sexual genitalia, male and female. It is interesting that female genitalia was too exciting in many cases to show directly, while the males were shamelessly displayed in their full naked magnificence. Renaissance artist Leonardo thought that male and female genitalia were hideous and the sexual act repugnant, but fortunately most artists did not agree. There are about 120 erotic paintings, sculphures,and drawings from diverse cultures and eras, including Western art, Japan, Africa, Inida and Arabia. Her choices were instructive, erotic and beautiful, and entertaining. Fortunately there has always been a strong interest in all societies for sexual arousal, or we wouldn't be here today. I liked it - a nice book for the adult coffee table.

... anything that features the brilliant work of Hopi Carver and Artist Fred Koruh is worth owning.

Of course I saw this book in a bookstore. I bought it. I read it. I believe it. I don't care if Dr. Ruth is a real doctor. I have to believe that Egon Schiele actually saw everything he painted or drew, even if it was only in his dreams. Am I reading this right?