The Penis Knocked Out by Peter Brandt

The Penis Knocked Out

By Peter Brandt

Male dominance permeates western culture – and
as men, we are both trained and forced to act
out the drama of masculinity. Be a man, or more
accurately:be a real man, is echoed throughout
culture like a constant reminder of how we shall
behave socially, physically and emotionally. Masculinity
is something we learn, something we acquire
and something we achieve. It’s a demanding
process, often involving painful and humiliating
ordeals.

Men are trained early on to look upon their own
penis as phallus – a solid monstercock that has
the rights to penetrate every corner of society.
The phallic cock as king represents power and triumph
– a representation also seen in pornography,
where the big hard dick is seen in its full potential
as an object to identify with – to be envied – or desired.

The symbolic phallus is represented abundantly in
the western culture, as opposed to the non-erect
penis which is virtually absent – and when finally
seen it’s evoked with anxiety and laughter. The penis
is being eliminated in history. The penis is being
knocked out – since these representations point to
other, more complex aspects of being a man.

The idealisation of masculinity is the foundation
of society, a culture that applauds war heroes and
powerful political figures. This form of idealised
masculinity gives ‘permission’ to all kinds of violent
behaviour – from sexism to war. The roles of
men are culturally constructed; men are acting,
performing masculinity and masquerading as men
in the desire of acknowledgement and power – my
aim being to subvert the phallic law from a man’s point
of view.