#symbol reader

[his-dark-materials-trilogy]

The Golden Compass graphic novel

Written by Philip Pullman, adapted by Stéphane Melchior (translated by Annie Eaton), art by Clément Oubrerie

[the-wanderer]

The Alethiometer | The Symbol Reader

Truth Teller

[his-dark-materials-trilogy]

[his-dark-materials-trilogy]

[his-dark-materials-trilogy]

[symbolreader]

The phallus, as distinct from a mere erect penis, is an unattainable object embodying desire itself, the fantasy of perfect satisfaction. In its state of perpetual alacrity, it also presents a kind of demand: the imperative to pursue and enjoy. But this quest can have no end–the phallus is a mirage camouflaging a fundamental lack, for in reality there exists no ultimate enjoyment to quell once and for all the longing for further enjoyment. The only option that remains is to derive some fleeting pleasure from the illusion itself. An unwinnable quest for satisfaction is at the heart of Michael DeForge’s “Actual Trouble,” so it’s fitting that a priapic lover takes center stage, superhuman resilience elevating his erection to the mythic “phallus” status. The comic is dense with more subtle phallic imagery too–a pencil, a piece of chalk, a throbbing hand, a lit joint, and even a shuddering auroral curtain seem to jut into the panel at eager 45-degree angles. Like the physiological state they evoke, the potency of these objects is more promise than fulfillment. When a character does manage to wield a phallic symbol, it behaves unpredictably, paired with text betraying the farce the image had concealed: the exams conquered by the pencil are “antiquated and arbitrary;” as Jason, the narrator, holds up the authoritative chalk he realizes with disappointment that his stable teaching job has replaced a stable love life. Read the full analysis here.