Rod Fleming | Rod Fleming's World

14/02/2024

Inanna and Jesus: a tale of syncretisation

Originally posted 2018-09-20 06:25:57.

In an oral culture — one that is not written down — mythology evolves as it is passed from storyteller to storyteller. The Jesus myth was created in exactly this way, pasted together from earlier sources. This process is called ‘syncretisation.’

There is no fixed record of an oral tradition, by definition. In an oral culture or tradition, myths grow and develop to reflect the lived experiences and cultures of the people telling them. It was only when writing was invented that these traditions could be codified and by that time, they had been evolving for thousands of years. This means that there are many versions of the same myth, as different peoples carried it forward.

So we cannot say that, because detail differences exist between two similar myths, they are different or have different origins.

Continue reading “Inanna and Jesus: a tale of syncretisation”

14/02/2024

Lesbians and Temporary Wives

Originally posted 2023-02-27 19:32:46.

Temporary wives been known for centuries in southeast Asia. In the past, this might have been arranged directly with the girl’s mother. The girl would bring all of her father’s business connections with her and would be the primary contact for the foreigner’s trade with the locals, negotiating on her ‘husband’s’ behalf, keeping accounts, arranging payments and receipts and acting as secretary. Some temporary wives became permanent ones.

The tradition of temporary wives began in what was then the Dutch East Indies, but rapidly caught on. Temporary wives had advantages for everyone; the traders got the benefit of local contacts and knowledge and better prices and terms. The girl’s family profited, since naturally she would channel as much business as she could through it.

The man had a stable domestic life and regular sex, which meant he would not become a denizen of the whorehouses and opium dens; and he would have a presentable, locally-fluent companion who could accompany him on business and official trips and engagements. (It was said that the best language teacher in the world was the pillow!) To make it even better, the costs could be set off as legitimate business expenses, since temporary wives were technically employees.

Continue reading “Lesbians and Temporary Wives”

14/02/2024

The Warm Pink Jelly Express Train

Originally posted 2021-03-02 15:02:36.

The Warm Pink Jelly Express Train is a fast, sexy novel set in Paris. It concerns the lives of two trans prostitutes and a Brian MacMaster, a journalist who falls in love with one of them, Rafy. Soon, Brian’s newshound nose begins to suspect the girls are up to something and he soon uncovers a scandal that brings down the government. It’s an absolutely cracking read.

Gold and God & Goddess Patrons can download the book by clicking the link below.

14/02/2024

Marcel Duchamp: how he wrecked Art

Originally posted 2022-08-16 21:33:32.

Contemporary Art — perhaps better called ‘today’s art’, because all art is ‘contemporary’ at the time it is made, is shit. It has been shit for a long time; but it is not getting any better at all.

Towering over the carnage that is all that remains of gallery art in the West is the pixie figure of Marcel Duchamp. You may never have heard of him, but that doesn’t mean he was not important. For many, Marcel Duchamp was the most important artist of the twentieth century.

Now I am going to show my colours here; I have a Master’s Degree in Fine Art. And I have spent my life as a practising artist, in various media. So I am both academically and professionally interested in this.

So with that out of the way, why is ‘Contemporary Art’ so bad? And who the hell was Marcel Duchamp? The story is long, so bear with me.

Continue reading “Marcel Duchamp: how he wrecked Art”

14/02/2024

Tryst on Februar Fowerteen – A Scots Allegory

Originally posted 2014-02-14 20:16:57.

A fell cauld wind wis sauchin ower the muir as the bonny wumman gart her wey tae tryst her jo. For the necht wis Februar the fowerteen, an aabody kens at’s the necht for luve.

She wis winsome eneuch, tho the first blush o youth, it maun be said, was left ahent her a lang while syne. A body mecht hae speirit at himsel how comes a lass o sic natral attractions hidnae been wad this mony a lang year.

At last she reached the spot ablow an auld aik whaur she an her jo hiv met this necht mony mair years nor either of them wad care tae hink on. Her jo wis aaready there, a puckle fashit, ye mecht hink, wi the wye he wis stridin up an doon, his een flashin faniver he luikit up.

“Ah, here you are, at last,” he intoned, as the lass presented hersel.

Featured Image: Restenneth Priory, Forfar, Angus, Scotland. Pic by Rod Fleming

Continue reading “Tryst on Februar Fowerteen – A Scots Allegory”

14/02/2024

Poaching the River

Originally posted 2021-03-02 13:15:20.

An action-packed tale of love and life, humour and romance, played out by an unforgettable cast of characters with genuine Scots voices, Poaching the River will make you laugh and cry out loud.

It’s a quiet afternoon in Auchpinkie, a tiny fishing village on the east coast of Scotland, and in her Corner Shop, Mae and her cronies are setting the world to rights.

Suddenly a furniture van draws up outside one of the houses along the street. A beautiful young woman is moving into Etta Swankie’s old house. But no-it can’t be-that’s Rae, Etta’s daughter, and Etta always swore she’d disinherit her!

Over the next few days the action races to its riotous climax, as Big Sye, Rae’s cousin, poaches the River Pinkie in a daring adventure, the village public convenience is destroyed by a freak explosion, and the parish minister is baffled by the sudden religious conversion of two formerly heathenish young lads.

Behind it all a spider’s web of intrigue is woven, as the villagers conspire to get Big Sye and Rae together. But there are things going on that none of them ken, and secrets that only Rae’s old friend Izzie knows…

Print ISBN: 978-0-9554535-0-2

Buy the eBook

Buy the Kindle version using the following direct links below:

For Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.de
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.fr
http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.es
http://www.amazon.es/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.it
http://www.amazon.it/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.co.jp
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.com.br
http://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.in
http://www.amazon.in/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.com.au
http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.com.mx
http://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B00CPESW9U

For Amazon.nl
http://www.amazon.nl/dp/B00CPESW9U

Note that Amazon does not use ISBN for Kindle books.

14/02/2024

Gateways to Heaven: Check in Bar, Bangkok.

Originally posted 2021-03-01 15:50:04.

Well the pandemic seems to be easing and so the Gateways to Heaven — ladyboy bars — are opening again. These girls are from Check in Bar in Bangkok.

Here’s a wee Youtube video. Apparently Check In has residential rooms and a restaurant so you could just fly to BKK, take a taxi to Sukhumvit and then just have a different girl on your knee every night. Or two. Or three…Never need to set foot outside the door.

14/02/2024

Maryhill, Glasgow, May 1974

Originally posted 2018-09-18 07:57:20.

Maryhill, the poor part of Glasgow’s West End, in 1974, was a different world. Looking back on these pictures, forty-five years later, I am still moved.

When I came to the Philippines first, a kind but unaware French friend told me that I would see poverty such as I had never seen before. I had not the heart to tell him; I had seen worse — in Maryhill, Glasgow, for one.

Yet on the other hand I have so many memories of Maryhill, Glasgow and most of them are good. I was never robbed, beaten up or threatened there. Nobody ever asked if I was a Catholic or a Protestant — a question I would get used to later. People were poor, yes, many had no shoes; but they had community and mutual respect. I see that today in the Philippines. We lost a great deal when we lost that.

Click the link below to continue to more pictures

Continue reading “Maryhill, Glasgow, May 1974”

14/02/2024

Pasig Wet Market (Palenke), Philippines

Originally posted 2017-07-21 21:52:57.

The ‘wet market’ or palenke in Pasig City is really huge and spectacular. You can buy anything there, believe me. it’s a fun place too, literally open 24/7/365. Keep your wallet in your pocket and you’ll have no problems.

To view the gallery, please click the ‘Read More’ link below

Continue reading “Pasig Wet Market (Palenke), Philippines”

14/02/2024

Plaridel, Philippines December 2016

Originally posted 2017-08-02 18:05:28.

This was my fifth visit to the Philippines and again, I arrived before Christmas, on the 8th of December. I had rented an apartment in Plaridel, Bulacan, which was to be my base for the next four months.

Plaridel

Plaridel is a market and manufacturing town about 30 miles north of Manila. In 2015 it had a population of 107,000. It has an airport.

I’ll let the pictures and captions speak for themselves in this photo diary of the trip. This section goes from my arrival up to New Year. I’ll do another section for the latter part.