Sex and Politics: Wilhelm Reich, World Revolution, and Makavejev's WR

Sexual Dysfunction(s) in Iran: Imaginary Encounters with Otto Gross and Wilhelm Reich

“…They would have teased out different types of sexual suppression, perhaps making a distinction between pre‐modern methods which tend to suppress sexuality through denial, modernist methods which suppress through classification and regulation, and post‐modern methods that seek the voluntary collaboration of subjects in their own sexual repression. Reich in particular would have shown how emotional longing is an important component of fascism (MacBean, ) and he would – as he did – pose the following: “Wouldn't it be closer to the mark to ask what was going on in the masses that they could not and would not recognize the function of fascism?” (Reich, 1933/, p. 55). He would identify the promotion of emotionalism and the regime's ability to suppress sexuality, as key to its continued survival: “For the very reason that National Socialism is an elementary movement, it cannot be gotten at with ‘arguments'.…”

“…Reich would therefore find the intolerable burden placed upon Amir by parental, educational and societal pressures directly culpable in the development of his sexual alienation (ibid). His approach would demonstrate how “ suppression of sexuality by society preceded and produced the individual's internalized repression of sexuality” (MacBean, , p. 3).…”