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Description edit
PERMANENT OBSCURITY: Or a Cautionary Tale of Two Girls and Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography and Death by Dolores Santana (as told to Richard Perez)
A youthful bohemian satire, a story of alienated nonconformists, a "girls on the lam" story, a sexploitation and S/M romp, a... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Another reviewer (Andrew Kennett) put it best:
Permanent Obscurity is an interesting tale of two drug-addicted artists in New York City, searching for a way to make a living, and escape their mounting creditors, through their art. What do they decide to try? Making pornography, of... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Dolores Santana: Dolores Santana (our narrator)—a young Nuyorican (New York City born Puerto Rican), is stubborn, foul-mouthed, impulsive, misanthropic (Sarah Silverman, in spades). A total nonconformist. She is also, unapologetically, addicted to weed (while being in denial, of course) and enjoys using shockingly obscene, deliberately un-PC language. Dolores strives toward authenticity and “keeping it real”—therefore, prefers to live outside the limelight and observe the world from the shadows, where she can better maintain her integrity: her chosen vocation is as a photographer, an observer/witness. She is also, without realizing it, a sardonic, energetic storyteller. Her last name, “Santana,”aside from referencing the devil, is a Spanish variation of “Sutana,” the last name of the lead actress in “Faster Pussycat! Kill!…Kill!…” who partly served as inspiration.
- Serena Moon: Serena Moon: in Thelma & Louise, she would be Louise (the “organized” one). In Heavenly Creatures, she would be Juliet (Kate Winslet). Serena is also extremely beautiful, the “star,” the performer (and sometimes the phony) and the gal with the “killer body” everyone seems to take notice of. Her great physical beauty, sadly, contributes to a tragic flaw in her character. She has grown used to being “the object of desire,” used to playing “a role” or wearing a mask, which has led her to become a chameleon and generally insincere. Serena comes truly alive only when she is onstage, or portraying someone else. Her chosen vocation, therefore, is as “performer.” As the novel begins, she is in a failing rock band, her 3rd—and potentially her last. Dolores, the photographer, plays a supportive role; this is how they meet, this is their relationship, in a nutshell. Serena needs Dolores like a face needs a mirror, like a sex object needs an observer. Serena will star in the femdom movie, which Dolores, at one point, jokingly calls “a Serena Moon film.” She respects Dolores, because of her strong boundaries and her ability, in turn, to keep her in line. Serena needs this: To be reprimanded and kept in check when she occasionally crosses the line. Most people are intimidated by Serena because of her looks and apparent confidence, but not Dolores. And while Serena is dominant with most, she shares an equal relationship with Dolores. “Serena” evokes another underground “star” name from the '70s, the era of “porn chic.” Her last name, “Moon,” was also chosen deliberately and refers to a specific body part, alternately a source of lust and resentment, which plays a crucial role, in the long second act climax.
- Raymond: Raymond—is the older (44-year-old) boyfriend of Dolores. He is a faltering lawyer, a mentor, a sugar daddy of sorts to Dolores, but also in many ways dependent on her. He’s also somewhat pathetic and geek-like (imagine the main character of the movie, The 40-Year-Old Virgin). He becomes infatuated with another young woman, a “Paris Hilton clone,” which creates a rift between himself and Dolores. Raymond is also a sadly frustrated artist and a borderline alcoholic. In spite of the age difference between himself and Dolores, it’s Dolores who mostly calls the shots in their relationship and always—almost comically—has the last word. This is deliberate, a source of comedy (much as it is in the novel, Lolita <where the little girl is also named Dolores. Dolores being Spanish for “sorrows.”>). The main subplot of this novel is actually a romantic comedy between this unlikely pair: Raymond fails her early on in the story, and he spends the rest of the novel trying to win her back—as Dolores casually tortures him.
- Baby ... AKA "Sebastian": Sebastian (a.k.a. “Baby”)—is Serena’s toy. More accurately, she refers to him as her “sub” or “submissive” in a unique relationship they share. Named after St. Sebastian (and borrowing from Shakespeare’s Romeo), “Baby” also subscribes to certain deeply felt chivalrous and romantic codes of behavior, which involve self-sacrifice and faith in the service and honor of “his lady”—and does so completely without irony. Sebastian is nothing if not sincere. He may also be touched in the head or delusional, but only as a romantic person might be: Innocently so. He’s a genuinely kind character—in many ways noble—which makes him an anomaly in our present company. By necessity—or through his relationship with Serena—Sebastian has also developed some underworld connections, and, at the end of the narrative, calls upon them. His character and heroic nature is openly revealed in a moment of crises, occurring in the final act.
- Dick: The hapless writer who steps in to write (and star in) the femdom scenario. Dick—is the writer and bit player in the “dirty” movie, and, therefore, scripted to be the loser, on all counts. He’s the least sympathetic character in the book (purposely so). As the “author,” he contributes the scenario for the fetishy “dirty movie”—except for the ending, which, he promises to provide “in person.” What happens from there is essentially a dark joke, further propelling the story to its own dramatic and ironic conclusion. His sad fate is to give true weight to the book's title, as only a writer can.
- Madblaze: Another young drug dealer.
- Raul: Another drug dealer.
- Charles Manson: Yep, another drug dealer.
Quotes edit
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“"Art and life are mutually exclusive."”
Setting & Locations edit
First Sentence edit
WHAT LEADS US to do the wicked things we do?
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Sexploitation ... in art and cinema: Permanent Obscurity steals from both tabloid sleaze and sexploitation. But since the central plot involves the making of a fetishy “dirty” movie—I’ll say it tips more heavily toward sexploitation. So, what is sexploitation? Generally, sexploitation has been associated with bland T&A or softcore movies (and books), which is one side of it. The other side of sexploitation is dark. That form of sexploitation, taking its cue (as the name suggests) from more feral subcurrents, is devious and subversive. It’s primal. Even cruel. I associate this form of sexploitation with filmmakers and writers who use gratuitous (and “deviant”) sexuality in ways that challenge audiences and defy the norm. That’s right, fuck the squares. This makes them—these books and films—art, in my opinion. Not just decorative “product,” existing as audience pleasers. To quote William S. Burroughs: “Any honest account of human experience must be shocking. For it is the function of art to make the reader or viewer aware of what he knows and in most cases doesn’t know that he knows and doesn’t want to know.” So, let’s just say that a function of art is to jolt the audience out of its “comfortably numb” state. Like the best performance art, these works exist to make you uncomfortable or uneasy. As a member of the audience, it drags you in as a participant, an accomplice—so, yes, indulging in this fare implies in part that you are a deviant. A sinner. A perv. Welcome to the human race.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Richard Perez (Author)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: 2009940333
- Dewey: 813
Subjects edit
Popular Tags
Links to Supplemental Material edit
- PermanentObscurity.com: Visit the "notebook" for the novel -------> where I discuss PERMANENT OBSCURITY, the characters, etc.
- PERMANENT OBSCURITY: the title and where it came from
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Read a swinging book excerpt! RIGHT HERE!: The first 50 pages + fun book trailer
- The subversive power of sexploitation: pre-porn era sexploitation and its influence
- BAD GIRL CINEMA (and its influence on the novel):
More Books Like This edit
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