I was an angsty teenage boy when I heard my true calling in life. I look back fondly on these years because I tried on several different identities in search of an authentic sense of self. It was a time in my life when I had fun exploring my artistic side, and one artistic experience stands above the rest during this emotionally turbulent time. I watched a music video for a song written by a band I knew very little about. That song was called ‘Prison Sex,’ and the band was called TOOL. At this point in my development, I had no idea of the impact this artistic experience would have on me. This bizarre music video for a song on an album released in 1993 demonstrates the ideas of Aristotle, a man who first wrote about this key artistic concept many centuries ago. The hidden wisdom in this eerie stop-motion video would have a substantial positive impact on the trajectory of my life. The following essay breaks down this crucial, transformative aesthetic experience using the tenets from an unpublished essay by George Wale.
This song and accompanying video, “Prison Sex,” is not literally about what happens inside prisons, but the controversial nature of its implied subject matter drew my morbid teenage curiosity. The song and the band that wrote and performed it were still shrouded in mystery and intrigue back in 2003, enough to draw me into their narrative. I knew very little about the band TOOL at the time, and their ideas stimulated me intellectually. They certainly gave me food for thought. The idea that human beings derive pleasure from imitating one another or any significant event, as proposed by Aristotle, makes me appreciate how, by imitating the disturbing ideas and feelings surrounding the topic of childhood sexual abuse through the stop-motion animation featured in the music video, the enjoyment Aristotle refers to is for the members of TOOL alone. These musicians took professional risks to make this project happen, and I am grateful they did.
The music and lyrics helped me identify feelings of anger when I heard this song. Specifically, a call to action or motivational anger. The rhythm is infectious. The song and melody are catchy and pleasing to the ears, despite the disturbing imagery of the music video. After connecting the title to the subject matter, I understood that this song is about childhood sexual abuse, and this was a highly triggering subject matter for me. Still, I was impressed with the bravery of TOOL for making this video. I hope others benefited from an altered life course upon hearing this song, because I have. This is the power of art, specifically music, to serve as a rallying cry or a call to action through the use of melody, a concept Aristotle recognized thousands of years ago.
My visceral reactions to this music video and its subject matter were not subtle. I remember feeling sick to my stomach at specific imagery featured in the music video. This song and video triggered a reaction inside me that caused a lasting impression. These toxic, physical feelings of disgust I felt were the trauma stored in my body. Even though I would not learn about this for several more years of counselling, I am happy to report that it was this music video that sparked a desire to seek psychiatric help in my recovery. Aristotle knew that this was the most noble role that artworks served in society. Although, for commercial reasons, this music video by TOOL was promptly banned by MTV upon its release in 1994, this aesthetic experience still helped me to eventually let go of these strong negative emotions.
What truly stood out to me when I saw this music video was that I somehow intuitively knew the narrative was communicating to me in a language of its own, through symbolism and metaphor. I intuitively understood that this video was not about the erotic gratification of sexually overpowering another person, but about recognizing these dark desires in oneself. I immediately saw laid out before me the full potential of art making. I was so enthralled with the power to convey meaning like this that I devoted myself to this path of the artist. Aristotle recognized that an artist, or a poet, can convey meaningful messages about society, even though they might not directly address facts. The music video for "Prison Sex" by TOOL accomplishes exactly that; it tackles this gruesome subject matter without referring to it explicitly.
The emotions brought up by this song and video were highly triggering at the time. I was still closeted as a young gay man, and mental health issues were also still heavily stigmatized back then. This was a triggering aesthetic experience, but I had a few healthy coping skills that I relied on. I coped with the loneliness and pain I felt back then through art-making of my own. I took as many art classes in high school as they let me, and I painted in oils at home in my spare time. I strongly identify with the rage expressed in this video. I am an abuse survivor. This music video came to me at a time in my life that had the most significant possible impact on me. Aristotle noted that the arts often enhance our learning experiences. This was true when this philosopher spoke to his scribes centuries ago, and it remains true today.
Aristotle’s ideas on tragedy apply quite accurately to the effects that watching this music video has on its audience. For instance, negative emotions such as pity and fear feature prominently in this music video's symbolism, and it served as a starting point for purging these negative emotions from my conscious life. Memories of my abuse festered for many years, and seeing this video facilitated my search for professional help. The animation and its narrative in this video serve as effective visual metaphors for the toxic feelings people feel after being molested. They support Aristotle’s ideas around the spectacle serving the plot of a tragedy, thus contributing to catharsis.
To me, this song’s title represents the mind as the actual prison in the lives of sexual abuse survivors. It is not about the various methods of sexual assault. It is about being trapped in a vicious cycle of abuse, only to grow up and act upon others in the same manner. I am happy to have caught this hidden meaning within this narrative, as I eventually got the help I needed. This consistency reflects the same virtues Aristotle mentioned in his discussion of plot and the importance it gives to tragedies. Following the narrative to its conclusion is what purges negative emotions from society.
By confronting these aspects of my past, I can now apply art-making in a very positive way. The same year I witnessed the video for ‘Prison Sex,’ I met a man named Ed Hagedorn at one of his art exhibits. Ed is an Art Therapist, and when I discovered his occupation - what he does for a living - I have been on a quest to become an art therapist ever since. This entire aesthetic experience illustrates art's power to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.
My art making has shifted from a cathartic expression of rage to a sensual activity for relaxation and stress relief. I am at peace with my past and look forward to helping others use art making on their healing journeys. Aristotle’s ideas are evident in Prison Sex. But I never thought I could achieve catharsis and feel such a sense of inner peace as I do today.
I possess the skills to transform my painful life experiences into material for my art-making, utilizing many of the ideas explored in this elective course on the philosophy of art. As an aspiring Art therapist, I often consider specializing in sexual abuse recovery and PTSD for veterans, etc. There is abundant synergy between art and trauma, and Prison Sex is a masterpiece within this genre. Aristotle’s commitment to outstanding character development is reflected in these choices not to let abuse control my life or define me. I learned these lessons from works of art, not necessarily from doctors or social workers.
I am still trying to find my authentic artistic voice, or style, but I love experimentation. I feel I owe it to myself to hold on to the positive message that artwork can heal and doesn’t have to be mainstream or pretty. Censoring oneself is not helping anyone, and silence always enables the perpetrators of violent crimes, never the victims. Sometimes, I feel scared about the potential to feel overwhelmed by my own emotions. It's times like these when I focus on being a recipient of art therapy. I still have a long way to go on this quest, but I have already come far. Aristotle believed that tragedies provided society with a noble benefit by allowing people to explore their dark emotions. Unfortunately, sometimes life imitates art because if art upsets the status quo too much, artists experience the ultimate irony when they are censored.
The real test of my knowledge will be to create works of art that can evoke similar thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the hearts and minds of my viewers. I don’t want to trigger others without having proper support available - this is a courtesy I didn’t receive the first time I watched ‘Prison Sex’ as a teenager. All of this leads me to the conclusion that this elective in the philosophy of art was an invaluable opportunity for me to explore these ideas and set my own goals. How often does anyone get the privilege of studying the philosophy of art? The effect all of this has had allows me to discard all pity and fear. Aristotle would be proud of me, the members of the band Tool, and everyone involved in teaching this course.
Tool Lyrics - "Prison Sex"
It took so long to remember just what happened
I was so young and vestal then, you know, it hurt me
But I'm breathing, so I guess I'm still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
I've got my hands bound
And my head down,
And my eyes closed
My throat's wide open
I do unto others as I would have them do unto me.ld have them do unto me.ld have them do unto me.ld have them do unto me.ld have them do unto me.ld have them do unto me. been done to me
Do unto others as has been done to you
I'm treading water
I need to sleep for a while
My lamb and martyr,
You look so precious
Won't you—won't you come on a bit closer
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I can't stand to burn too long
Released in sodomy
For one sweet moment, I am whole
I do unto you now what has been done to me
Do unto you now what has been done
You're breathing, so I guess you're still alive
Even if signs seem to tell me otherwise
Won't you—won't you come on a bit closer
Close enough so I can smell you
I need you to feel this
I need this to make me whole
Released in sodomy
Have you witnessed that blood and flesh can't be trusted
Have you witnessed that blood and flesh can't be trusted
And only this one holy medium brings me peace of mind
Got your hands bound,
And your head down
And your eyes closed
You look so precious now
I have found some temporary sanity in this
Shit blood and cum on my hands
I've come full circle
My lamb and martyr,
This will be over soon
You look so precious [6x]
Writer(s): Paul D'Amour, Daniel Carey, Maynard Keenan, Adam Jones, Maynard James Keenan, Daniel Edwin Carey, Adam Thomas Jones
References
Keenan, M. J. (n.d.). Prison Sex. AZLyrics. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tool/prisonsex.html
Wale, G. (1993). Defining The Aesthetic Experience [Essay, Brock University].
Werhane, P. H. (1984). Philosophical Issues in Art Chapter One (pp. 5-83). Prentice Hall, Inc. https://doi.org/11/30/06
Comments
Post a Comment