Monk Fetish!
Quite a title huh?
Believe it or not, I do have a topic and it's not Shaolin iron crotch porn. Sorry Gene.
Anyway, what is with the obsession that many people have with Shaolin monks? These obsessors have an idealized view of the monks that seems based on Kwai Chang Caine or something. Suddenly, all of Kung Fu revolves around Shaolin monks. The concept that not everyone who did Kung Fu in the past was a monk and that martial monks weren’t all Kwai Chang Caine clones doesn't seem to cross their minds. I think this fetish probably started with the Kung Fu TV series but has deeper roots in Orientalism. Gene pointed out in another thread that modern Western society isn't that exposed to monasticism whereas other areas of the world such as Thailand are. I think this is a good point and accounts for some of the mystique surrounding the Shaolin monk concept. What thoughts do you have on this topic folks?
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