The current storyline on
Rhythm City between Lucilla and Ivan got me thinking about the ins and outs of sex-for-sale.
Lucilla's in a situation where she's shagged Ivan in return for his promise that he'll get rid of David Genaro. She's feeling guilty about it and she's concerned that she's been tricked, suspicious that he isn't going to uphold his side of the deal.
The conflict as I see it: has she really sold herself?
Or has she chosen what she believes is her best option? Which means that it isn't wrong.
When is sex for sale? What's the difference between taking cash for sex and getting something else in return? Like acceptance? Or happiness? Is there a difference between getting something emotional back versus posessions or a promise?
Doesn't everyone get
something in return for sex? Where does the line begin and end when it comes to the dealings of it?
I caught up with RC's
Macks Papo to get his view. As Ivan on the show I reckoned he'd have thought about it - which he has.
I asked him what he thinks about Lucilla's response to Ivan's demands:
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| Macks as Ivan |
Macks as Macks, on his mobile
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Macks: Both as a man, outside of the character as well as as Ivan ... as Ivan I don't feel sorry for her obviously, that's what I want, I want something in return.
But, as myself, I feel sorry for somebody that might have to find themselves in a situation like that. At the same time I feel that, you know, you always have a choice. You don't
have to be that extreme.
Sometimes desperate measures are what one has to take if you are desperate but I find that she could have thought a little more about it.
The story is almost a very classy way of selling oneself. It's just a classy, glorified version of it but if you reduce it to what it is essentially, it's whoring.
Most of the time, it's women - I've never heard of a man who has to do it to make up for the dough. But then, you also get the situation where young men today are actually going out with sugar mommies for the dough. That's a disguised version of whoring oneself for money.
Give me something, anything. I'll give you sex.
Macks: If you think about it, how relevant this storyline is, because it's working on multi-parallels in that, even in situations where money's not the case, there are people who will have extra-marital affairs for many social and I guess professional reasons.
You may find there's not enough intellectual stimulation at home. This is the one woman that you maybe met when you were still young, you've intellectually developed to a level where you're now beginning to relate to people who are much more interesting.
What's in it for me? ... a medical aid!
Tashi: Are you speaking from experience?? I know you did a story in Drum where you admitted to an extra-marital affair.
Macks: *laughs and laughs and laughs and laughs and laughs* Don't you even go there! I don't know how many times I have to hear that story - I'm so bored with it!
Let me tell you what experience I'm talking from. I'm speaking from observation. I'm a graduate, with a Masters of Life, from the University of Life. I've mastered it. I majored in observation!
Tashi: So you've been asked that a lot?
Macks: I've done that story to exhaustion. I did it for Sunday World two years ago and each time I want to do something with Drum magazine they want to go back to it. Don't quote that story! Let's just say: "I'm not perfect." Okay? *laughs and laughs and laughs*
Tashi: *laughs and laughs and laughs* Okay: "Not perfect, with a Masters degree in Life."
Macks: Ja, my major was Observation. You know what that quality gives you as an actor - it gives you that passionate, authentic quality.
Tashi: You're saying your affair was actually research?
Macks: *laughs and laughs and laughs* Little did I know that it was going to come in handy! For my acting life. It was quite good for my career. There's always a good thing that comes out of a bad situation ...
When I thought about everything that my ex-wife actually took - she didn't fight for the property - I'm still living in the same house, we still haven't formerly divorced - we're in a very extended,
elongated seperation.
I don't know if it ever will end, but it has to, this year, because I have since met somebody. I've moved on. Now we're changing the subject!
I laughed because she removed me from the beneficiary list from all those policies - some of which were quite handsome *laughs and laughs and laughs* But you know what she left me with?
I'm still the beneficiary of her medical aid! She's concerned about my health you know. I'm not a sickly person - so I don't benefit that much. I'm a very healthy person but every now and I then, when I go to the doctor or pharmacy and look at how much I've actually spent - I pay a levy of like 83 bucks - so she left me with that.
Tashi: Ha!
She probably left you with that because she knows you're healthy and won't overdo it.
Macks: Ja!
Your answer to an indecent proposal?Tashi: If you were in Lucilla's situation what would you do?
Macks: I'd have crossed sexuality! You have to agree with me that many young women, not only young women - Lucilla's not that young - but many are attracted to power and money and if they can get it easily they'll do it. Lucilla isn't different in that sense. I think she's taken the easy option here.
Tashi: Is there a difference between having sex for money and having sex with someone to protect your family?
Macks: I think that she's in a situation where she's extending some kind of platform for those watching to sympathise with her. Many people feel very strongly about family and they'd do anything, and I mean
anything to protect their families.
She's getting a whole lot of other things that the audience is not seeing. You could find yourself falling in love with that person and Lucilla is no different or an exception.
She's actually beginning to like the man. He can do things for her and that's attractive.
Spill the dirrrrtTashi: Have you ever been in a situation where you've had sex as a trade?
Macks: No, let me tell you something, at the risk of sounding very self-assured, I've never found myself in a desperate situation sexually or looking for something that I didn't have, like sleeping with an older woman or a woman who's more powerful than my woman or anything.
It never happened in my younger life, nor when I was older and wiser. Not even now when I'm so much wiser and awake.
Thank God that it hasn't and it better stay like that. I'd hate it - you know how I'd feel? The morning after, I know women can feel the same, I would feel so, so, so soiled that I'd think: "What did I give up for this?!" My motto is: "Never never never ever have to sell your soul for anything. And I mean
anything."
Ends
Have you? Would you?