LOCKS AND KISSES

//1//
//THE BEST KNOWN FUNCTION OF HAIR IS PROTECTION// //YET THERE IS MORE// //A LOCK OF HAIR WHEN CUT OFF IS AN OBJECT TO WHICH THE ACTIVITY OF CUTTING HAS PRECEDED// //IT CAN BE VEHICLE OF SEVERAL MEANINGS// //CORRELATIONS CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BETWEEN E.G. HAIR AND SOCIAL STATUS (PIGTAIL-PERIOD); HAIR AND BUSINESS CYCLES (REVIVAL : LONG HAIR; DECLINE : SHORT HAIR); HAIR AND FASHION (HAIR COLOUR, FRIZZLED AND STRAIGHT HAIR); HAIR AND SEXUALITY (BEARD, HAIRCUT TO FASCINATE E.G. THINNING OUT OF EYEBROWS); HAIR AND POWER (SAMSON)// //ETCETERA ETCETERA// //IN SHORT: HAIR IS A PRODUCT OF SOCIAL IDENTITY (SHORT AMERICAN HAIRCUT, PUNK OR GREASE TEDDY BOY HAIR, NIETZSCHE AS THE PHILOSOPHER WITH THE BIGGEST MOUSTACHE)//

//A BELOVED'S LOCK OF HAIR CAN HAVE THE POSITIVE VALUE OF A RELIC OR REMEMBRAN-CE// //ONE PRESERVES A SMALL PIECE OF THE LOVED BODY// //THIS CULT CAN LEAD TO EXCESSES : HOW MANY MILES WOULD A FANATIC WALK FOR A LOCK OF HAIR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BELONGED TO JIM MORRISON HIMSELF OR A DEVOTE CHRISTIAN FOR HIS PATRON SAINT'S GENUINE RELIC?//

//ON THE OTHER HAND THE LOCK OF HAIR THAT BELONGED TO A PERSON ONE HATES CAN HAVE NEGATIVE MAGIC POWER, WETHER IMAGINED OR NOT// //ONE TRIES TO EXERT POWER ON THE PERSON IN QUESTION (IN THE VOODOO CULT OR BLACK MAGIC THEY TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE ILL OR DEAD)// //CUTTING HAIR WITHOUT THE OWNER'S CONSENT HAS A DISHONOURING EFFECT (CF. THE STORY OF JEANNE D'ARC IN FRANCE; OR THE RANCOROUS ACTIONS IN BELGIUM AFTER WORLD WAR II: WOMEN HAVING A LOVE AFFAIR WITH A GERMAN SOLDIER, WERE SHAVEN BALD)// //IN SUCH, NOT ONLY ONE'S BEAUTY MAY BE MAIMED BUT ALSO ONE'S SOCIAL IDENTITY AND ONE'S IMAGE OF THE HUMAN BODY MAY BE AFFECTED//

//2//
//KISSING IS AN ACTIVITY THAT MIGHT RESULT INTO AN OBJECT: A PRINT// //BUT HERE THE ACTIVITY ITSELF RATHER THAN THE RESULT MAY HAVE SYMBOLIC MEANINGS : KISSING AS GREETING OR PARTING GESTURE (ON THE CHEEK); AS EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP OR FORMAL RESPECT (ON THE HAND); AS A KIND OF PATERNAL DOMINANCE (ON THE FOREHEAD); AS A GESTURE OF CLOSE AFFECTION (ON THE MOUTH); AS AN EXORCIZING MAGIC OR SUGGESTIVE HEALING ACT (ON A WOUND); AS SYMBOL OF TREACHERY (JUDASKISS)//

//THE PRINT OF A KISS IS LIKE THE PRINT OF A STAMP// //ALWAYS THE SAME ONE, BUT YET DIFFERENT FOR A KISSPRINT GOT THE SPECIFIC QUALITY TO BE UNIQUE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL JUST LIKE A FINGERPRINT//

//3// //LOCKS OF HAIR AND KISSES BOTH INCLUDE AN ACTIVE (ACTIVITY) AND A PASSIVE MOMENT (OBJECT) OF AN INDIVIDUAL EXPOSING HIS OR HER SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL IDENTITY AS WELL//

//THEY CAN BE COMPARED TO IDENTITY CARDS BUT THEY REFLECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUENESS IN MORE COMPLETE AND GENUINE WAY THAN THEIR PAPER SUBSTITUTES// //THE ESTHETICAL AND ARTISTIC ASPECTS OF LOCKS AND KISSES HAVE NOT BEEN CONSIDERED IN THIS BRIEF EXPOSITION// //THE LAST WORD ABOUT THIS SUBJECT BELONGS TO THE PUBLIC OR READER//


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