Getting Reminded of My Desire To Move On From My Desire to Watch Porn While Watching 'The Accidental Pervert' at the West Village

Andrew Goffman's 'The Accidental Pervert' reminded me once again on my wish to keep away from watching porn, which audio-visual materials are always around here in NYC. Of course, some of these materials are very subtle and designed to promote and market certain ideas. The trouble really is that some of us get stuck in these materials and take our own sweet time to get a grip of ourselves and start deriving same enthusiastic pleasure from enjoying audio-visuals that go beyond what is ordinarily considered porn (or nearly pornographic) as shown us on the many packages we receive daily.

Goffman's one-man show was so humorous, almost absurd, poignant, spontaneous, endearing, and (would you believe) family oriented. I have to admit I got attracted to watch it because I figured I could connect with the material, having been a porn consumer myself (more on & off lately than when I was younger). Well, to admit that I'm a porn consumer myself has taken me a lot of guts to do so - I've written about it in one of my articles (there are currently 16 views here: 'Men: Why They Watch Porn', which includes mine). And with Goffman, he went a different route and made a play about his views (of course, I'm not sure if this play is based on his personal experiences).

Goffman played in a one-man show that depicts his views (he was the writer!) on the undeniable presence, ever-ready availability of porn in our midst, even among characters whose lives you would not suspect to be attracted to porn. He performed for the next hour and a half (more or less) what happened when he discovered a box full of porn videos and magazines that his father collected through the years. He didn't stop there as he continued to present vital links of the porn experience he accumulated while growing up to stages that most men would undergo as they start dating, do paid work, get engaged, get married (or get remarried in some cases) and start bringing up their respective families with their spouses. Porn seems to serve a purpose of deadening one's tired body and senses from the almost-painful demands of daily living. In this play, it's the link that connects the main character with the memory of his Father - I felt for him, too, as I recalled my own late father myself. I also actually asked similar questions about my father as he and his wife (my Mom!) had 7 children (one of whom died after being alive for 7 days).

If you hear about this show in your place, take the chance to watch it. The title's just a come-on. It's worth watching something that presents what is eerily similar to what most men would authentically experience when they face life's challenges head-on.