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Abstract
Incest prohibition is contradictory in itself; despite being considered instinctive in nature, there still exists a wide circulation of societal and political laws against incest. These regulations are perpetuated through the medium of mass communication which assist in reinforcing the values and seemingly creating law and order. The suppressed desires find a vent out through Media as it triggers as well as promulgates incest, putting forth valid reasons to justify actions. The objective of this research is to explore the portrayal of incestuous relationships in Media and the reasons that assist in its propagation. The study claims that sex and/or incest should not be considered as a taboo as it is inherent part of human evolution and that removal of control over libido can lead to an advancement and progression of society.
Keywords: Prohibition; Laws; Media; Trigger; Evolution; Libido
Introduction
Incest as a taboo
Society is an emblem of human characteristics and behaviour that are not genetically inherent. These set of traits; being acceptable as well as taboos, are social constructs that are imposed on human beings. Being cultural containers of these beliefs, humans transmit these sociological conditions from one generation to another. The transference of constructed set of traits, which at times are said to be taboos are time and again taught despite their instinctive nature. Incest, being considered as a taboo universally, is said to be instinctive [1] and its avoidance works as a mechanism to drive the individual into societal relationships. By calling incest as "instinctive" and forming rules against it is in itself contradictory. In cue with this, White in The Definition and Prohibition of Incest has claimed that "To say that prohibitions against incest are "instinctive" is of course to declare that there is a natural, inborn and innate feeling of revulsion towards union with close relatives" [2].
"Societies have generally condemned sexual relations between blood relatives as a sort of perversion" (Code of Canon Law, 1091). The feeling of union is prohibited through wide circulation of strict laws against it. As a matter of fact, the strict widespread rules and regulations against incest show that humans have universal and powerful sexual attraction towards one's relatives [3]. Conversely, some societies treat marriage with first cousin not as an...