Wikipedia

The Rape of the A*P*E*

The Rape of the A*P*E* is a satirical book that was written by the Musician and Satirist Allan Sherman. It was commissioned and published by Playboy Press, in July of 1973.[1][2] This title was designed as an acronym that would allow for memorable alliterations and permutations. The full and complete title was presented as, “Rape of the American Puritan Ethic: The Official History of the Sex Revolution 1945–1973: The Obscening of America. An Redeeming Social Value Pornography.”[3]

The Rape of the A*P*E*
Cover of first edition
AuthorAllan Sherman
Original titleThe Rape of the A.P.E. (American Puritan Ethic : The Official History of the Sex Revolution, 1945-1973 : The Obscening of America, an R.S.V.P. Document)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon-fiction
Published1973 Playboy Press
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages410 pp
OCLC252868519

The Rape of the A*P*E* is an analyzation of sexuality and how it has developed only to be historically repressed. The main focus of the book, though, is the sexual revolution and its emergence in the United States during the 1960s.[4][5][2][3]

The book was the subject of much publicity, when it appeared, due to both its subject and author. Despite his ill health at the time, Sherman went on a two-week media tour to promote The Rape and appeared on many radio shows.[5] He died on November 20, 1973, just a short 4 months after release while on “Rape of the A*P*E*” publicity tour. Allan Sherman Died from multiple health complications related to his obesity, leading to lung failure.[3]

Development edit

The Rape of the A*P*E* was originally conceived of through a contract Allan Sherman gained with Playboy. Allan had submitted a short story for the December 1971 issue of Playboy, titled, “Griselda and the Porn-O-Phone.” The story was accepted and published in the December issue of Playboy hosted by centerfold Karen Christy. "Griselda and the Porn-O-Phone" was a short story about Griselda Thrindle who had been born and raised in puritan Wisconsin by her janitorial Father who had dreams of Griselda becoming a chairwoman.[6]Griselda then comes upon a phone sex hot line and her world changes forever, as she finds herself addicted to the debaucherous life style. The article did well enough with the public that Playboy then commissioned Allan Sherman to write an entire book in a similar breath of humor[3][6]

Publication edit

In the year prior to the book's release, Allan Sherman participated in a publicity tour for this book. Even though Playboy had originally commissioned the book, Allan began to express to others that he had reason to believe that Playboy wasn't promoting the book to a level that Allan considered adequate for a successful release.[3]During this time Allan had resurfaced in the public eye. He had begun working in live performances as well as providing animation voice-overs. This intensity of exposure caused him to rise out of temporary obscurity with Allan Sherman preforming onstage golf - centric stand-up comedy and doing small roles such as the narration for Dr. Suess’s “Green Eggs and Ham.”[3]Allen’s Golf Stand-up routine specifically caught the eye of Warner Bros. and they picked Allan up for an album with a $5,000 advance, with a promise that Allan would begin recording as soon as his tour promoting The Rape of the A*P*E* concluded.[3]

The Rape of the A*P*E* had 3 primary publication editions: the Original Playboy Press public release in 1975, The 1978 Jove pubns mass public paperback release, and the Buccaneer Books Hardback re-release in 1991.[7]

Reception edit

The “Rape of the A*P*E*” received mixed reception upon its release and has been seen as dated as the years pass. With the higher praise of reviews saying “cloaked in disappointing opening and closing sections, this is a book in disguise. Its central 310 pages are neither stupid nor hypocritical.”[3]And lower reviews describing the book as “Rambling, myopic book” … “More or less a view of the sexual revolution through the eyes of a middle-aged Hollywood Cynic.”[8]

Quotation edit

While Allan Sherman's "Rape of the A*P*E*" may not have had the cultural impact he intended it to have, the book has been referenced in many other places. In "Perfect Husbands (& Other Fairy-tales : demystifying marriage, men, and romance)" by Regina Barreca, "Rape of the A*P*E*" is quoted directly in the chapter "Why is God a Bachelor?"[9]Allan is quoted on the contradiction of God sanctifying marriage only to remain a bachelor himself, as well as tackle the outdated perception of men overwhelming women to sweep them off their feet and sex with her is laying claim to her being, as well as discuss how such fantasies just aren't true to reality.[9]

Within "The transmission of doubt : talks and essays on the transcendence of scientific materialism through radical understanding" by Adi Da Samraj, a book about Scientistic materialism, the entirety of the chapter "Conversations with Testoob, the Science Man," is borrowed with credit.[10]"Conversations with Testoob, the Science Man," is a dialogue between two people, Testoob the science man and the Sap the first man, in a discussion of how science is the process of "transforming nature into useful things,"[10]and the gradual progression of possession in the name of answers until humans are in control of everything, removing any need for a God if there even was one in the first place.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ Amazon.com: Rape of the A. P. E. (American Puritan Ethic : The Official History of the Sex Revolution, 1945-1973 : The Obscening of America, an R. S. V. P.): Allan Sherman: Bo...
  2. ^ a b Sherman, Allan (1973). Rape of the A*P*E*: The Official History of the Sex Revolution 1945–1973: The Obscening of America. An R*S*V*P* Document (1st ed.). Playboy Press.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Cohen, Mark (2013). Overweight Sensation: The Life and Comedy of Allan Sherman. Brandeis University Press. pp. 109, 182–183, 246, 248, 249, 250. ISBN 9781611682564.
  4. ^ The Austin Chronicle: Arts: Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh: My son, the theatrical revue
  5. ^ a b A Wheeze over Sex. The Los Angeles Times. Art Seidenbaum. Oct 4, 1973. p. A1
  6. ^ a b Dubois, Larry (1971). "Gala Christmas Issue". Playboy. 18 (12).
  7. ^ OpenLibrary.org. "Rape of the A. P. E. by Allan Sherman | Open Library". Open Library. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  8. ^ Kalfus, Ken (1994). Shine on, Harvey Bloom: Why Allan Sherman Made Us Laugh. New york: Commonweal Foundation. p. 3.
  9. ^ a b Barreca, Regina (1995). Perfect husbands: (& other fairy tales). Demystifying marriage, men, and romance (3. [pr.] ed.). New York, NY: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-47538-9.
  10. ^ a b c Samraj, Adi Da (1984). The transmission of doubt : talks and essays on the transcendence of scientific materialism through radical understanding. Dawn Horse Press. pp. 98–106.

Bibliography edit

  • Sherman, Allan. (1973). “Rape of the A*P*E*: The Official History of the Sex Revolution 1945–1973: The Obscening of America. An R*S*V*P* Document.” (1st ed.) [Physical]. Playboy Press. (OCLC 252868519)
 

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