Month: April 2015

“Pageant”

“Pageant” directed by Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern-Fingerhut, 2008

“I got that rush–and a whole lot more that I wasn’t expecting–watching Pageant, a 2008 documentary from Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern-Fingerhut that chronicles the 2005 plight of five men on a mission to be crowned the 34th winner of Miss Gay America. Far more than just a peek inside one of the more intriguing (and overlooked) pageants around, the film provides a window inside the lives of some very intriguing individuals.

Pageant works on so many levels, it might surprise you. It’s funny, endearing, emotional and entertaining–and this comes from someone who’s (at best) indifferent to drag, which has never done anything for me. The film draws you in not only with the fanfare and tense competition (the filmmakers couldn’t have asked for a better lead-up to the announcement of the winner), but also with its powerful human interest element.” – Cameron McGaughy,  DVD Talk

The Fascinus

 

The Fascinus

In ancient Rome, the fascinus was the embodiment of the divine phallus, with the effigy or amulet in the shape of a penis known as a fascinum. From the Latin word ‘fascinum’ and the related verb ‘fascinare’ comes the English word ‘fascinate’, meaning to enchant or bewitch using the power of the fascinus. It was believed in ancient Rome that a hostile look or evil eye would bring a curse or misfortune; envy was thought to bring ill fortune to the person envied.

The humorous fascinus was believed to work as a ‘medicus invidiae’ or ‘doctor of envy’ by making people laugh and thus preventing any jealous or malicious glances towards the person who held or wore the amulet. The phallus amulet is often winged or enlarged in appearance. Representations of ithe amulet’s effect on the evil eye’s potency can be seen in ancient Roman artworks. A first=century terracotta sculpture shows two phalluses with arms and legs working together to saw an eyeball in half.