An ironical fact about most pop-culture phenomena is that it is based upon "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue." "Suicide Girls" is all of the above, and more, which may be why it has been such a smash in the marketplace of pixilated pin-up porn.
I immediately think of "pale Hecate" in "Macbeth" when I peek through the virtual keyhole at these granddaughters of punk -- but I'm a Renaissance man, and this warps my worldview. And what an eyeful one gets as these latter day temple prostitutes ply their trade in modern cyberspace by "redefining femininity, one hot naked chick at a time." That's a great line, but is it actually true?
Many reviewers insist that Bettie Page was the original Suicide Girl. I agree. Joan Jett also comes to mind. And Madonna was another pioneer, but her initial, radioactive bad-girl persona (of MTV fame) is now a dim memory. Nevertheless, our fascination with the classic image of the "femme fatale" endures. And we wonder what draws us toward this deadly spider? Is it the macabre blend of Eros and Thanatos, all rolled into one compact bundle of feminine charm? Or do we secretly desire a luscious aspect of the Terrible Mother -- with pierced flesh and tattoos -- doing what amounts to a lap dance on our computer screen?
If we look back in time, the Triple Goddess once embodied the three phases of feminine existence, i.e., Virgin-Nymph-Crone. Any woman worth her salt can still play each and every part -- thus most modern men remain as hoodwinked by the Triple Goddess (it's in our heads) as ever. Her tentacles are inescapable -- even if we hide behind science or religion. For in our Neoplatonic/Judeo-Christian world of unconscious necrophilia the Blue Angel is waiting to draw our ego down into the degradation we seek -- wallowing in the arms of the "Scarlet Woman."
Happy Halloween!
O' the Maenads of the Bacchae, the Harpies, the lamias, the witches of the Walpurgis Night, men have always had a weakness for these naughty femmes -- even though we know that we will eventually be shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.
Nevertheless, here's some fatherly advice for the Suicide Girls -- who might enjoy an affectionate spank on their comely bottoms. Youth is fleeting. Enjoy it while you can. And the privileges of beauty are enormous. So make hay while you may. But nothing lasts, so there's little need for suicide. Most of us hardly have time to weep as we peer into the abyss.
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Top reviews from other countries
Julie
Tribute To All Suicide Girls And Suicide Blondes Everywhere Are They Still Suicide Girls Now?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2023
J. M. Wright
Not so good after 3-4 weeks
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2008
