The circus scene from the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas exemplifies how individuals behave in a hedonistic environment and how such places are constructed to keep people engaged and prevent their escape. The main heroes of the movie, Duke and Dr. Gonzo, clearly lack an understanding of what exactly is going on around them (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). The novel The Life of a Sensuous Woman depicts Floating Worlds as centers of decadence during Japan’s Edo period, with money and physical pleasures being the focus (Puchner 8). The Floating World, Las Vegas, and Bourbon Street in New Orleans share the function of being an escape for people who can fulfill their darkest desires in the safety of a scene where such desires are encouraged. However, it should be noted that Japanese culture praises adherence to etiquette at all times, with strict rules established for different situations. What purpose does the etiquette of the women of the floating world serve?
The central character of The Life of a Sensuous Woman is a woman living in a profoundly patriarchal society that views her as an object of desire. Some of her sexual encounters, such as those with the daimyo lord, are described as almost lethal for her lovers. Beautiful women are compared to âan ax that cuts down a manâs lifeâ (Puchner et al. 658). This phrase embodies the treatment of women in society who are often viewed as objects of sexual desire yet are blamed for arousing that desire in men and stealing their life force. Some male characters resemble men in contemporary society who blame women for being victims of sexual harassment. Examples of such men include former President Donald Trump, Eric Trump, and Floyd Mayweather. The described sexual drive of Japanese men, which has become destructive to their bodies and personalities, is also reminiscent of Armie Hammer, his infidelities, and his cannibalistic fetish.
Works Cited
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Directed by Terry Gilliam. Universal Pictures, 1998.
Puchner, Martin, et al., editors. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Volume D. W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.