Very well done. You’re one of the few people on Substack who can write. Or perhaps I should say, who can write on Substack. There are many people who can write, but who don’t write well on Substack. Because we’re in the attention economy here and everything is performative, and so often suffers from look-at-me-ism. This reads as though it was written for a conference a few months down the road. That’s a compliment!
Also, a question: have you read William Ian Miller‘s Anatomy of Disgust? Very good IMHO.
Finally, an anecdote about Martin Luther, who was known to be an earthy guy. He and his wife made dinner for a bunch of people. He asked them if they enjoyed it. They said yes. And he responded: “well then why aren’t you all burping and farting?”
Thank you! I don’t know how I missed this the other day - incredibly kind comment. (Some of this research is ending up in a paper that hopefully one day will be at a conference). And weirdly enough, I started reading the Miller today having had it on order for ages.
Nice post. Good reading flow; astonished that you can talk in public so vulnerably about all those internal anxieties which would otherwise seem to inhibit sharing. Courageous—not as fearlessness but overcoming fear. Like most people reading this, I have fewer anxieties and more inhibitions. It’s admirable.
I like how the piece communicates your skill as a writer — whether or not you edited this heavily, it reads raw, flowing and uncomfortably captivating.
I was at a literary group last night where we discussed writings and readings around the theme of hunger and I so wish I saw this before. A lot was said about the need of hunger to 'fill' and 'satiate' – not necessarily bodily needs. I've been thinking about what it really means to be full. Full of food / life / energy etc. Especially in the world of ozempic... and now tapeworm diets! Great writing.
There were mainly readings from personal pieces, but we discussed nymphomaniac (the film), the vegetarian (of course), butter, It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over (which sounds amazing), and epic poems.
It's actually a London based group. If you're interested send me a message here or instagram and I can share with you!
Very much enjoyed your prosaic definition of the ouroboros, it caught me off-guard in the best way. This ends with such an evocative dismount. Wonderfully woven as always.
i think entering on a gripping vignette of inner world with your relationship to the gym was already a pretty successful earth-bringer-downer and seguing from that into such a well-reasoned reflection and analysis is the Helena Aeberli way but the little display of your humour is a sparkle in the urgency your topic, y'know? do i sound like a teacher rn?
I read this on a Saturday morning amidst pangs of self-disgust from last night:
- eating like a pig at dinner because I hadn't eaten all day;
- having more drinks than usual and saying absurd, unfiltered things;
- waking up late this morning, feeling gross for being in bed at 11h;
- opening Substack to a thread of anxiety-inducing wellness rituals;
- realizing in a panic that I might not make it to the gym today.
I regret allowing petty discomfort to infect my enjoyable disgusting behaviour; I will nonetheless now drag myself out of bed and force myself to the gym.
The ouroboros is alive and well! I kind of love him.
Loved this Helena! I’ve been thinking abt disgust a lot lately too - esp after seeing someone on here (Emma garland maybe?) mention Ethel Cain’s new album as a really bold visceral exploration of shame & disgust & sex - something interesting there abt making art that makes the audience uncomfortable both by subject matter and formal experiments? But def feels like an emotional experience much of our culture rn really avoids exploring otherwise! So really appreciated this lol
I loved this! The human body is endlessly fascinating. I love how you connected your vulnerability to these bodily functions, and I especially love the bit about how we get bloated more when eating out because we are typically with friends, what a beautiful connection to illustrate acceptance of the “disgusting.” This reminds me of the intersection of social anxiety and emetophobia, something I struggle with that makes it difficult to eat at restaurants with loved ones. Eating at home is so much easier because the bodily functions im afraid will happen will at least happen in private. But that takes the joy away from eating, which is largely a social activity.
What a gripping read! So many thoughts to share and I am curious as to whether our beliefs towards disgust change as we get older, or depend on gender or situations in life.
In brief - I've always been a serial farter. Throughout school, it was never a problem; quite the opposite, actually, as my friends and I had farting competitions. But then I got to university and realised that this wasn't going to fly, so I was always self-conscious about it and would take simethicone to reduce gas, but then in my mid-20s I started to think 'why would anyone do this to themselves?' And so I said to hell with it. Just live the way I want, consequences be damned.
Honestly, I'm disgusted by the fact that so many people are disgusted by any talk of farting, shit, bodily fluids, whatever. It's natural and I struggle with squeamish people turned off by this. I get disgusted by the idea that we're conditioned to believe it's inappropriate or disgusting or impolite. And the alternative? Discomfort of our own from trapped gas or fear of using the toilet in public or other shame.
This might be TMI but I've turned farting into performance art, something which I'm known for amongst my friends. Am I proud of this? Absolutely (it might also explain why I'm recently divorced, but that's another story for another time! 😂🤣)
A great book on this topic is Fart Proudly by Benjamin Franklin. And although it's not quite on the topic, Rose George's The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste is a fantastic book.
Very well done. You’re one of the few people on Substack who can write. Or perhaps I should say, who can write on Substack. There are many people who can write, but who don’t write well on Substack. Because we’re in the attention economy here and everything is performative, and so often suffers from look-at-me-ism. This reads as though it was written for a conference a few months down the road. That’s a compliment!
Also, a question: have you read William Ian Miller‘s Anatomy of Disgust? Very good IMHO.
Finally, an anecdote about Martin Luther, who was known to be an earthy guy. He and his wife made dinner for a bunch of people. He asked them if they enjoyed it. They said yes. And he responded: “well then why aren’t you all burping and farting?”
Thank you! I don’t know how I missed this the other day - incredibly kind comment. (Some of this research is ending up in a paper that hopefully one day will be at a conference). And weirdly enough, I started reading the Miller today having had it on order for ages.
That's a terrific Martin Luther anecdote. I'm pretty sure there's another farting-related one of his I've heard, but it escapes me now.
I've just come across Anatomy of Disgust myself and have added it to my TBR list.
Nice post. Good reading flow; astonished that you can talk in public so vulnerably about all those internal anxieties which would otherwise seem to inhibit sharing. Courageous—not as fearlessness but overcoming fear. Like most people reading this, I have fewer anxieties and more inhibitions. It’s admirable.
I like how the piece communicates your skill as a writer — whether or not you edited this heavily, it reads raw, flowing and uncomfortably captivating.
thank you - astoundingly kind!
i loved this 💖 its about finding out our values and preferences outside of sensation seeking and immediate validation
I was at a literary group last night where we discussed writings and readings around the theme of hunger and I so wish I saw this before. A lot was said about the need of hunger to 'fill' and 'satiate' – not necessarily bodily needs. I've been thinking about what it really means to be full. Full of food / life / energy etc. Especially in the world of ozempic... and now tapeworm diets! Great writing.
Thank you! I’d love to hear what else you were reading too.
There were mainly readings from personal pieces, but we discussed nymphomaniac (the film), the vegetarian (of course), butter, It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over (which sounds amazing), and epic poems.
It's actually a London based group. If you're interested send me a message here or instagram and I can share with you!
Very much enjoyed your prosaic definition of the ouroboros, it caught me off-guard in the best way. This ends with such an evocative dismount. Wonderfully woven as always.
thank you! I actually thought about cutting that out but I suppose if the aim is to bring things down to earth that has to include my pretensions.
i think entering on a gripping vignette of inner world with your relationship to the gym was already a pretty successful earth-bringer-downer and seguing from that into such a well-reasoned reflection and analysis is the Helena Aeberli way but the little display of your humour is a sparkle in the urgency your topic, y'know? do i sound like a teacher rn?
I read this on a Saturday morning amidst pangs of self-disgust from last night:
- eating like a pig at dinner because I hadn't eaten all day;
- having more drinks than usual and saying absurd, unfiltered things;
- waking up late this morning, feeling gross for being in bed at 11h;
- opening Substack to a thread of anxiety-inducing wellness rituals;
- realizing in a panic that I might not make it to the gym today.
I regret allowing petty discomfort to infect my enjoyable disgusting behaviour; I will nonetheless now drag myself out of bed and force myself to the gym.
The ouroboros is alive and well! I kind of love him.
incredible essay. i have a lot to think about and question that hardly ever crossed my mind, thank you for this brilliant piece!
Loved this Helena! I’ve been thinking abt disgust a lot lately too - esp after seeing someone on here (Emma garland maybe?) mention Ethel Cain’s new album as a really bold visceral exploration of shame & disgust & sex - something interesting there abt making art that makes the audience uncomfortable both by subject matter and formal experiments? But def feels like an emotional experience much of our culture rn really avoids exploring otherwise! So really appreciated this lol
I loved this! The human body is endlessly fascinating. I love how you connected your vulnerability to these bodily functions, and I especially love the bit about how we get bloated more when eating out because we are typically with friends, what a beautiful connection to illustrate acceptance of the “disgusting.” This reminds me of the intersection of social anxiety and emetophobia, something I struggle with that makes it difficult to eat at restaurants with loved ones. Eating at home is so much easier because the bodily functions im afraid will happen will at least happen in private. But that takes the joy away from eating, which is largely a social activity.
What a gripping read! So many thoughts to share and I am curious as to whether our beliefs towards disgust change as we get older, or depend on gender or situations in life.
In brief - I've always been a serial farter. Throughout school, it was never a problem; quite the opposite, actually, as my friends and I had farting competitions. But then I got to university and realised that this wasn't going to fly, so I was always self-conscious about it and would take simethicone to reduce gas, but then in my mid-20s I started to think 'why would anyone do this to themselves?' And so I said to hell with it. Just live the way I want, consequences be damned.
Honestly, I'm disgusted by the fact that so many people are disgusted by any talk of farting, shit, bodily fluids, whatever. It's natural and I struggle with squeamish people turned off by this. I get disgusted by the idea that we're conditioned to believe it's inappropriate or disgusting or impolite. And the alternative? Discomfort of our own from trapped gas or fear of using the toilet in public or other shame.
This might be TMI but I've turned farting into performance art, something which I'm known for amongst my friends. Am I proud of this? Absolutely (it might also explain why I'm recently divorced, but that's another story for another time! 😂🤣)
A great book on this topic is Fart Proudly by Benjamin Franklin. And although it's not quite on the topic, Rose George's The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste is a fantastic book.