A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

BINGE WATCHING the TOTAL FANTASY of EMILY IN PARIS : BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES

I got hooked on Emily in Paris last year, and just binge watched the second season.  If anything the show is going a bit slow for me; I'm ready for the third season and don't want to wait.  Am I a fan? Well...

My first impression was that the writers were highly dependent on stereotypes of the French, especially the comparatively accepting attitude about sexuality outside of marriage compared to most Americans. That's why I'm posting this here at MISTRESS MANIFESTO BLOGSPOT.  There are just so very many Parisian Courtesans to cover, and though few modern women in this world live lives comparative to the Belle Epoch Courtesans, you can use the search feature in this blog to discover just how important France is to our subject. You can muse along with me. There isn't just lots of sex outside marriage and other seemingly committed relationships in this show, there is a blurring of the boundaries about what's personal and also what is unacceptable sexual harassment on the job.

Emily is a modern American girl, from Chicago, who also seems to have an unlimited budget for Paris fashion, some of it by my way of thinking quite unprofessional for the office. Also she seems to be happy most of the time and is constantly chronicling her adventures using her social media and personal cell phone to take photos proving it.  With that I figure she has little sense of privacy.

But OK, it's a fantasy that a girl who just graduated college working for an American marketing firm, could get this paid experiential or whatever it is she's doing at the firm, live in a small apartment - that she shares with the richest girl in China who is estranged from her family and busking - and afford all those clothes. Maybe they're gifts from some of the client companies?  She is cuteness unlimited, bopping around, and really making the most of her French experience. She manages to get on the nerves of her woman boss - a woman of a mysterious age but let's say she's 40-something and still hot. The work crew includes an openly gay black man who also wears loud colors like Emily does and also seems to otherwise be a stereotype of gay creatives. The office crew seem to go somewhere between agreeing with clients and influencing them to market, promote, and advertise their products and hone their reputations.  Meanwhile there are some conflicts because of Emily's American values. She never means to, being exuberant and helpful and sweet by nature, but she can ruffle feathers not knowing what the boundaries are, and she still seems to be surprised at how open about sexuality the French are.

Except that, when it comes to sex, Emily is an adventurer who doesn't know what to make of a client sending her sexy underwear as a suggestion or what to do since she just had the best sex of her life with a good woman friend's special man. So much forgiveness though! Can Emily chose between the friendship and what she wants and needs for herself?  And has this become the conflict of the show - to be a Parisian or remain an American when it comes to values?  Last season she had sex with a teenager not knowing he was so young. His mother found out and approved. It happens.

Her American boss has come to visit the office and is quickly appalled by the idea that an employee would have an affair with a client. Where does Emily stand on this? Does she accept it as a team player at the company or because she is a peon in the scheme of things?

I've had coworkers who were involved with the married boss. They were unmarried women who were not in relationships.  If everyone in the office didn't know it, they suspected it. And friends have fallen for someone at their job, jobs they intended to keep, and it was messy when it didn't work out. 

On the lighter side, I laughed out loud at some of the antics of this second season. I anticipate that at some point in the show Emily is going to be called back to America and she is not going to want to go. Don't we all want her to find true love?  Is refusing to have sex outside the relationship the test?  Would the chef she had great sex with ever consider opening a place in Chicago?

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MONICA LEWINSKY and AMERICAN CRIME STORY : SHE SAYS SHE'S GOING to NEED MORE THERAPY

DAILY MAIL MONICA LEWINSKY and AMERICAN CRIME STORY 

Monica has earned a place here at MISTRESS MANIFESTO BLOGSOT and was an Honorary Mistress of the Month in March 2012 with the first post entitled Get Off The Back Of MONICA LEWINSKY Why Not Blame President Bill Clinton?

I love the American Crime Story television series, and it was inevitable that they would get around to Monica. Although I doubt that she had any desire to be thrust into the public discussion when she had her rendezvous with the President, she has done her best to get over the scandal and move ahead. 

If you use the search feature embedded in this Google Blogger, you can bring up various posts through time on Monica!

Missy

UP WITH ADULTERY ? AN ITALIAN WOMAN's MANIFESTO !

THE CUT : UP WITH ADULTERY - AN ITALIAN WOMAN's MANIFESTO by Maureen O'Conner.

This is an interview with author Guia Soncini who wrote the book 'I Mariti delle Altre."

Excerpt: Guia Soncini speaking

'When I was growing up, my mother also had friends who were the other woman. They had apartments that they waited for their men in.  You know the Mitterand thing from France, where he had a daughter from a sort of parallel marriage?  These women had that arrangement, and many famous Italians have, too.  In my book, I wrote about the director Vittorio De Sica, whose son wrote the father's adultery in his memoir; Marcello Mastroianni, who never divorced his wife despite having a daughter with Catherine Deneuve and a 22 year relationship with Anna Maria Tato; and Eugenio Scalfari, who founded and edited the newspaper I wrote for, La Repubblica, wrote about his double ménage in his autobiography; It's not cheating so much as polygamy that the law doesn't recognize.  At a certain point in the book, I ask, "Why do we think the cheater is the winner and the woman is the victim,?' ...

*Missy here - Editing notes are mine.

DIVINITY

 

THE LITERARY COURTESAN POET TULLIA D'ARAGONA - A BIOGAPHY OF ITALIAN WOMEN WRITERS

CHICAGO EDU : ITALIAN WOMEN WRITERS : TULIA D'ARAGONA    This biography follows Tullia's travels and residence in various cities of Italy and assorted companions.

In the following passage it is suggested that she may have given birth to a daughter:  On 10 March 1535, Penelope d'Aragona was born. Scholars disagree whether Penelope is Tullia's sister or daughter.  Although twenty to twenty-five years is a significant age difference between siblings it is not an entirely implausible gap.

This next passage suggests that she married and had a son:  On 8 January 1643, in Siena, d'Aragona married Silvestro Guicciardi or Ferrara, although nothing more is known of this relationship, except for a malicious comment by Agnolo Firenzuola that d'Aragona let her husband die of hunger.  The marriage was useful to d'Aragona, for later she used it to exempt herself from living in the neighborhood designated for prostitutes and from wearing apparel designed to differentiate them from, noblewomen.  From d' Aragona's will, preserved in the State Archives in Rome, we learn that she eventually had a son, named Celio, although given that he was young and iin the care of Pietro Chiocca in 1556, we do not know if Guicciardi was indeed his father.

NUNS, WIVES, and COURTESANS in the ITALIAN RENAISSANCE PERIOD - PROFESSE - MOGLIE - CORTIGIANA

ANNAS RENAISSANCE ITALIAN : EXCELLENT WRITING ON ITALIAN WOMEN 

I was so impressed with this brief but intelligent piece about women in Renaissance Italy that includes Tullia D'Aragona.  And very good pictures too.

Excerpt: The primary female role in the domestic sphere was expanded by notable women who, by virtue of Renaissance education and new society=al expectations, became art patrons, writers, orators, and simply women of intellect.  Wives assumed a background role in the sustenance of political stability for a spouse.  Women who entered the convent participated in Renaissance cultural novelties; some nuns, professe, received a full humanistic education.  Courtesans, cortigiana, enjoyed a glamourous lifestyle augmented by an education that enabled intellectual interactions in a secular rather than a religious domain.  Whether in marriage, in the convent, in court or in a position of service, each group of women were integral in shaping cultural and societal changes through the Italian Renaissance period.

FOUNTAIN BY THE VATICAN BASILICA

A SMATTERING OF BOOKS - TULLIA D'ARAGONA

I noticed that fairly recent books are about or include Tullia D'Aragona. I was unable to obtain these books from my library but I wanted to mention them.  Here they are...

Note that the painting used for this book cover was done in 1540 and the artist was Moretto Da Brescia.  It's of Tullia d'Aragona as the Biblical Salome.

GEORGEBRAZILLER : REVIEW OF BOOK  The book features 55 poems she wrote to men and their responsive letters back to her - also poetical. Book author is the well regarded Elizabeth Pallitto.

DID TALLIA USE HER POETRY TO SEDUCE? Quite Possibly!

This book is edited by Julia L. Hairston and is also well regarded.  Here is what one reviewer said: 'Hairston has constructed a full personal, cultural, and literary biography for d'Aragona, using newly discovered letters, archival material of other kinds, and contemporary theory about gender in women's writing.  Footnotes establish the intricacy of Tullia's intellectual networks and her courting of intellectuals in rhyme.'

This one by Monika Antes is in Italian and clearly identifies Tullia's mother as a Courtesan. Putting a description through a translator it says: 'Her literary salons in Rome was attended by literati, intellectuals, and prominent figures of contemporary society.  In 1535, she wrote her most famous work, the philosophical dialogue on the infinity of love, in which she distanced herself from classical thinkers by elaborating an original concept of Eros.'

HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL

 

I'D HAVE YOU ANY TIME : GEORGE HARRISON

LA FEST DELGI INNSMORATI - THE FEAST OF LOVERS : VALENTINES IN ITALY

 LA FESTA DEGLI INNAMORATI - THE FEAST OF LOVERS

This may surprise you, but Italian Valentine's Day is only for couples - sweethearts, lovers, partners. So if you have an Italian who you thought you were friends with, but now you're getting a card or flowers, maybe he's thinking of you a different way.

Other than that, it's much like in the United States, a day for gifting your partner with romantic cards, poetry, flowers, chocolates - especially chocolate covered cherries, going out to dinner.  And to imbibe in wine with dinner. It's a popular date for marriage proposals. 

The Italians take credit for establishing the holiday to start. February 14th, however, turns out to be a celebration of the ancient, pagan Romans. The Queen of the Roman pantheon of Gods and Goddesses was Juno and she was celebrated as a patroness of women and of marriage.

About 800 years before the best candidate for Saint Valentine was born, this spring festival was also about fertility. February 15th was the feast of Lupercalia in Rome. The idea was not just to bring fertility to humans but also to crops and animals.

What did the pagan Romans do for their festivities? One story is that young men and women would draw names from an urn and whomever they picked by this method became their special friend for a year, a year in which they might decide to marry. Or perhaps that's a bit censored: Maybe they actually enjoyed each other for a year and before the year was up they had to marry.

SMITHSONIAN : 10 Customs of Valentine's Day

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE

AGAPE is the love of humanity and of selfless giving, sometimes rooted in spirituality.

EROS is a  romantic love that includes some physical pleasure.

LUDUS is a flirty and playful love which may remain that way or move towards EROS.

MANIA is a Obsession or Possessive love that may be rooted in survival instinct but can overwhelm you or the person you feel it for.

PHILIA is affection you feel for friends or family members - sans romantic inclinations.

PHILAUTIA is a healthy self love in which you respect your own needs.

PRAGMA is the love you develop over time such as in some arranged marriages.

STORGE is the love you feel for your parents or, sentimentally, with old friends or lovers.

Thank You Ancient Greeks!

ORANGE IS FOR PASSION - WHITE IS FOR RELIGION

Reading about flower language in Italy, 

Orange Lillys are for Passion and White Lillys are for Religion.

Perhaps this bouquet is symbolic of Tullia's parents.

 

16TH CENTURY ITALIAN MUSIC

Tullia might have enjoyed concerts like this! 

Perhaps you can listen to this while you read about her!

TULLIA D'ARAGONA : A RENAISSANCE COURTESAN POET WITH A CATHOLIC CARDINAL AS A FATHER

 TULLIA D'ARAGONA

Image from Pinterest

"La Tullia"

La Tullia was an Italian Renaissance courtesan and honored poet whose birth date and death date are a bit obscure as are other facts about her heritage. I've seen her birth listed as 1501 -1505 and 1510 and her death listed as 1556 and 1570. She was born and died in the city of Rome, though she is known to have traveled and lived in other cities in Italy. This is important because we'd like to know how old she was when she became a Courtesan, though eighteen seems to be the age decided upon. Certainly some women became Courtesans younger than this just as some women married earlier, for it was a time when life expectancy was not what it is today and children leapt into adulthood without the delays we expect today.

Also obscure - her parentage and if her mother was a Courtesan giving birth to an illegitimate daughter or was illegitimate herself. Her mother, considered to be one of the most beautiful women of her time, is mentioned as Giulia (Julia) Pendaglia, possibly a maiden name, as well as Giula Campana, possibly a married name. Her father is mentioned as two possible D'Aragona men; one with no claim to fame, Constanzo Palmierie D'Aragona, who was from Naples and who her mother may have married, possibly to tuck away scandal, or the more noteworthy Cardinal Luigi D'Aragona, who himself was said to be an illegitimate grandson of Ferdinando D'Aragona - once a King of Naples. However her mother is also mentioned as married to another man. Perhaps she married many times. Or perhaps she took the surnames of her best benefactors?

Luigi had a successful career in the church but he was not a Cardinal immediately nor without sin. He was born in 1474 and died in 1519, and so he would not have been around in La Tullia's life for long. He also married a couple years before he entered into the the institution of the Church. His wife was descended from a Pope! But it is said that he was accused of having a sister and her children murdered because he was enraged that she had married and had children beneath the family's status as well. Would such a man not hide his involvement with a Courtesan, considered beneath him in status? I doubt we can be sure centuries later what the truth was.

Like other Courtesans who were accomplished women, she was known for her beauty, manners, charm, and unsaid, her sexuality, La Tullia lived at a time when there was a special place in Italian society for women who lived the life of the Courtesan. She was an intellectual, could hold her own with the intelligencia and the literary, and was a poet. In this way I'm 
reminded of the Geisha of Japan who refined themselves and become artists, dancers, entertainers, and perfect companions and sought to chosen by a benefactor. La Tullia held Salons and her writing and poetry included the philosophical discussions she had with men about love.

The Courtesan lifestyle allowed some women to follow their talents in the arts and to study and to acquire financial support from benefactors rather than be a traditional wife depending on a husband and restricted in the expression of their personal interests. However the Courtesan also experienced a woman's life- pregnancy, miscarriages, childbirth, raising children, and children who died. Some experienced being traded in for other Courtesans, abandonment, or the death of their benefactor. It was common then for Courtesan's daughters to also become Courtesans, for the mother to teach the daughter the ways of that world. It was also a time when it wasn't unusual for priests and other men of authority and power within the Roman Catholic church to take lovers and have children by them. Vows such as poverty or celibacy as we think of them seem not to have existed.

Why is the Cardinal Luigi D' Aragona considered to be La Tullia's father? It is because he provided money for her to become accomplished, suggesting he had a personal interest in her and her mother? A child protégée who could entertain her mother's guests by reciting poetry when she only six years old, she was given an education in the classics that was usually only for rich boys.

She is known to have married once and she may have had a child, a daughter, and definitely had a son but the father(s)?.  This is not to diminish her accomplishments as a writer and philosopher of love.

This month we'll look a bit into Tullia's life as we celebrate Valentine's the Italian way.

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References for this months posts include a variety of articles, files, and books, some which we will link to including Italian Women Writers - Biography, Tullia d' Aragona..