Toilet Paper, Part II
There in deed will be more -- an infinite number of posts on toilet paper.
Though my obsession with tp supplies may suggest my succumbing to capitalist commodity fetishism or something, I think it can also be seen as subversive (Dude, I'm subversive!). That is, a good capitalist would purchase in bulk, laying in supplies, secure in his/her knowledge of bountiful resources -- so secure in fact that he/she would take for granted unlimited availability of this very useful item. Indeed, it would seem that 24-pack is valued not so much for its usefulness but for the IDEA of abundance and unlimited security it supplies. You never even have to think about not having toilet paper.
Conversely, keeping around only a minimal supply -- as I have done -- forces one to think more about the concrete use of toilet paper, indeed to value its intimate connection to our daily functioning and our bodies. Having only a slim supply reminds you that hygeine is not to be taken for granted, not a "natural" or inevitable or "normal" condition, but one historically enabled by our technologies and means of production.
So in sum, my little toilet paper games demonstrate my deep intuitive commitment to an ideal of economic justice.
Though my obsession with tp supplies may suggest my succumbing to capitalist commodity fetishism or something, I think it can also be seen as subversive (Dude, I'm subversive!). That is, a good capitalist would purchase in bulk, laying in supplies, secure in his/her knowledge of bountiful resources -- so secure in fact that he/she would take for granted unlimited availability of this very useful item. Indeed, it would seem that 24-pack is valued not so much for its usefulness but for the IDEA of abundance and unlimited security it supplies. You never even have to think about not having toilet paper.
Conversely, keeping around only a minimal supply -- as I have done -- forces one to think more about the concrete use of toilet paper, indeed to value its intimate connection to our daily functioning and our bodies. Having only a slim supply reminds you that hygeine is not to be taken for granted, not a "natural" or inevitable or "normal" condition, but one historically enabled by our technologies and means of production.
So in sum, my little toilet paper games demonstrate my deep intuitive commitment to an ideal of economic justice.
posted by Mark Meritt at 10:35 AM
3 Comments:
That's quite an interesting perspective. TP is a creature comfort we often take for granted. Having it in short supply may certainly make one appreciate the modern convenience of having 2 or 3 ply sheets with which to wipe our butts - but now let's take it to the extreme - what about having NO toilet paper - not because you ran out, but as a conscious choice. It brings to mind the scene in "My Dinner With Andre" in which Wallace Shawn's character is talking about how he loves the comfort and convenience of his electric blanket, while Andre extols the virtues of foregoing the electric blanket because in essence - it forces you to compensate and appreciate other things more directly tied to the natural - if you're cold, why don't you snuggle up more with the person next to you, he suggests. So to me, taken to the extreme - this is a similar point - certainly, I don't believe toilet paper is a natural thing - neither is soap nor shampoo nor shaving cream, etc., etc. - So, to go without - we'd stink a lot more, but definitely be more in touch with the world as God intended.
Oh god, you meant it...there *are* going to be 27 installments on this topic!
You misspelled hygiene.
Your loving wife.
I have tried to convince people that they now make baby-wipe like things for adults, that are completely disposable, and perhaps works better than toilet paper. I have no idea if it does work...the idea of a wet butt flusters me. Perhaps it is similar to the Indonesian idea--do you air dry? This is sort of off-topic, but when I went to Europe with my sister, we noticed that there is no standardized version of toilets like we have in the United States--that there were a myriad of styles/inventive elements, including the interesting bidet type toilet. I don't remember too much differences among toilet paper.
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