Parodying The Pearl

Mar 29, 2007 17:49



No, I'm not talking about the Steinbeck novel. The Pearl is a Victorian periodical that was published between 1879 and 1880, with an entry or two in 1881. It is a collection of erotica, which basically means that it's pornography in the style of anything written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Naturally, that makes it more funny than erotic, although some people seem to disagree with me. Anyway, when you get a book of Victorian erotica, you basically get people who, though outwardly respectable, go absolutely mad whenever they catch sight of an ankle and proceed to either wank themselves to near death or grab the nearest sexual toy (for all Victorian porn stars conveniently have these on hand) and have fun with it. If another real person is there, regardless of gender, then some sort of sexual act is guaranteed. Just like modern porn, though, there's really no plot - it's all sex, but the characters say funnier things whilst in the throes of passion.

Anyhow, I realized that this sort of thing screams Parody me, you git! at the top of its metaphorical lungs, so I fully intend to do so. I've gone through a few ideas, my personal favorite being Basil and Dustin recording it as an audiobook (which, due to Dustin's lack of any deadpanning ability, makes it come out more like a Victorian Derek and Clive). Of course, I could also just write a parody, which I might get around to doing sometime.

If you're curious, the full title is The Pearl: A Journal of Facetiae and Voluptuous Reading, and you can read it online if you Google it. I must warn you, though - the material is definitely rated NC-17. If you've got any parody suggestions, let me know, because I'm always looking for new ideas.

That being said, enjoy reading. Where else can you hear about pricks with wings?

(Yes, that is a real quote from the book.)

EDIT: Here's something more contemporary - but still bad - if that's more your style.

londinium: pricks with wings, londinium: the pearl, londinium: victorian erotica, parody

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