Here's a sentence from Angela Carter's story, 'The Bloody Chamber'. (A young bride has just discovered her older and mysterious new husband's collection of 19th century pornography).
'...I had not bargained for this, the girl with tears hanging on her cheeks like stuck pearls, her cunt a split fig below the great globes of her buttocks, on which the knotted tails of the cat were about to descend, while a man in a black mask fingered with his free hand his prick, that curved upwards like the scimitar he held.'
I'd actually forgotten the S/M elements in that description. What stuck in my mind - and the reason I looked it out to quote here - was: ' ... her cunt a split fig ...'
I think that's just about perfect.
On the more general issue, I think choice of synonym depends, as Monocle pointed out, entirely on context. I'm personally with the women who favour the word 'cunt' - as Carter does here - but I think it has to be used when the speaker or narrative reaches an appropriate state of arousal and/or obscenity. Using 'cunt' signals a throwing off of restraint - an abandon on the woman's part. For me, a 'pussy' is neat and tidy and well-controlled. Everything is folded away in its proper place. It's demure. A 'cunt', on the other hand, is open and wet, swollen and raging. Perhaps the entire trajectory of a certain kind of porno story is the process by which a pussy transmutes itself into a cunt.
It's certainly a strong word, anyway. I'm pleased to see so many women writers using it now. It's high time it was reclaimed for the erotic.
[The story I quoted from is in Angela Carter's collection, 'The Bloody Chamber', first published in 1979. My edition is by Vintage Books, 2006. There are strongly erotic undercurrents (and a few overcurrents) in all the stories but I wouldn't describe the book as stroke fiction. It's all rather literary. The sentence I quoted isn't really representative of the whole. ]
- polynices
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Help! Vagina, Pussy, Cunt... what to call it....
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Internet Sensation
Wow, '
First of all... welcome to the forums, Polynices.
Second, thank you for the qoute and your thoughts.
I found it all really interesting.
*gets dreamy* Ah I wish I would be a person to write in such a way, too bad my lack of knowledge for the english language gets in the way.
Not to mention the fact that it never would come to me naturally.
*stretches out on the sofa*
The story is about to be finished unless I get stuck again.
Thanks to this thread and putting the work to rest for a while I managed to get it rolling again.
Thanks all who answered.
First of all... welcome to the forums, Polynices.
Second, thank you for the qoute and your thoughts.
I found it all really interesting.
*gets dreamy* Ah I wish I would be a person to write in such a way, too bad my lack of knowledge for the english language gets in the way.
Not to mention the fact that it never would come to me naturally.
*stretches out on the sofa*
The story is about to be finished unless I get stuck again.
Thanks to this thread and putting the work to rest for a while I managed to get it rolling again.
Thanks all who answered.
Active Ink Slinger
I don't understand the reticence of people to use cunt. I have always referred to mine as just that, unless around sensitive ears. I object to those who have hijacked this word and turned it into filth or an objectionable term. My cunt is my cunt, and that's that.
In the 'Who can turn me on in 100 words' thread, Catnip mentioned that the Swedish word for 'cunt' is 'fitta'. I'm wondering if 'fitta' has any other meaning.
The origins of the English word 'cunt' are notoriously obscure. I've been told that the Dutch (i.e. Nederlands) word is 'kut'. 'Kut', of course, suggests a 'cut' or 'slit', as well as a cunt. - The metaphorical connection is obvious.
Does 'fitta' mean something like that perhaps, Catnip?
- polynices
The origins of the English word 'cunt' are notoriously obscure. I've been told that the Dutch (i.e. Nederlands) word is 'kut'. 'Kut', of course, suggests a 'cut' or 'slit', as well as a cunt. - The metaphorical connection is obvious.
Does 'fitta' mean something like that perhaps, Catnip?
- polynices
Active Ink Slinger
stop pussy(no pun intended) footing about & just call it what it is, A CUNT!! END OF.
Active Ink Slinger
Mine is my muff, my pussy and every once in awhile, my snatch. What can I say? I was raised blue collar.
Although 'panty hamster' gave me the giggle fits. Hubby thought it a new classic.
Although 'panty hamster' gave me the giggle fits. Hubby thought it a new classic.
"A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere." - Groucho Marx
Active Ink Slinger
Don't think FANNY has been mentioned yet.
Not so popular anymore as the Americans think it's your bum. I wonder how that mix up came about?
Not so popular anymore as the Americans think it's your bum. I wonder how that mix up came about?
Internet Sensation
Quote by Catnip
I was thinking... of things to call it "wet meadow."
(it's the lost meaning of the word "Fitta" translated to english = cunt. I was reading one of my old swedish poems and thought about it.)
There you go Polynices
( reading that entry now I find it really confusing *laughs at self*)
Advanced Wordsmith
groove.... anyone say groove?
Active Ink Slinger
there is another rather unplesent name i've not heard used outside of scotland which is fud.
e.g. whit you upte ya fud?
e.g. whit you upte ya fud?
Rookie Scribe
We tend to agree with Polynices. 'Cunt' can still have shock value, even in erotic literature, if it is withheld until the arousal of the participants in the story - and at the same time of the reader - simply demands it. It becomes the verbal equivalent of the physical moment when the drive to orgasm starts to become impossible to withstand.
Active Ink Slinger
eh?
Active Ink Slinger
I quite like the term "lady garden" - always makes me chuckle!
Or failing that - muff, snatch, pussy or even twat.
Or failing that - muff, snatch, pussy or even twat.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by ali2teaseuPenis Holster?
You need a hobby, Rocco.
never heard that one Internet Sensation
Quote by Ling-Li
That's classic Roc, I plan on using that from now on...
"Organ grinder"
Or in my case out-of-work organ grinder... lol
Ling
/hugs
Now lets see...
*opens up her imaginary tool box*
What can we use to fix the problem...
*snaps fingers and turns into a military doctor*
Chainsaw?
Catnip, you may also try love tunnel or hot hole. I usually try to use a term that is not too repetative and gives the impression I want. I don't always succeed. To me, cunt gives a cruder or rougher impression that pussy. For example: Joe rammed his cock deep into her cunt. Or, Joe slid his cock gently into her tender pussy or love tunnel. Just run your sentence over in your head and go with what feels good to you. Remember, you must write to please yourself. There will always be readers who will praise your work or complain about it. Please yourself first. And finally, please proof read and use spell check. Good luck!
Internet Sensation
Quote by Luckymann
Catnip, you may also try love tunnel or hot hole. I usually try to use a term that is not too repetative and gives the impression I want. I don't always succeed. To me, cunt gives a cruder or rougher impression that pussy. For example: Joe rammed his cock deep into her cunt. Or, Joe slid his cock gently into her tender pussy or love tunnel. Just run your sentence over in your head and go with what feels good to you. Remember, you must write to please yourself. There will always be readers who will praise your work or complain about it. Please yourself first. And finally, please proof read and use spell check. Good luck!
But the male thingy still has it's rough word...
To me... Cunt is, for a woman, what a cock is, for a man.
Pussy is... a cat. Or a Cat food brand.
(oh yes, there's row after row with cans of "Pussy," in our Swedish stores.
