The Pig-Gaze: Swine in Global Art, the Metaphor of Becoming-Pig, and Intersections with BDSM

In the realm of cultural and artistic representation, the pig emerges as a multifaceted symbol, embodying contradictions that span from abject filth to sacred fertility, from gluttonous excess to subversive transformation. This essay explores the concept of the "pig-gaze" as an extension of gaze theory, wherein the swine's stare disrupts anthropocentric hierarchies, compelling a reevaluation of human-animal boundaries. Drawing on poststructuralist frameworks, particularly Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's notion of "becoming-animal," the pig becomes a metaphor for fluid identities—becoming-pig as analogous to becoming-man or becoming-woman, a process of deterritorialization that challenges fixed subjectivities. Furthermore, this analysis extends to the erotic and transgressive dimensions of swine symbolism, intersecting with BDSM practices where "pig play" invokes themes of degradation, submission, and carnal liberation. Through psychoanalytic lenses, including Freudian and Lacanian interpretations, and theories of eroticism from Georges Bataille, the pig's presence in painting, cinema, theater, and literature reveals deeper cultural anxieties about desire, power, and the body. Cultural studies and art history provide additional scaffolding, illustrating how swine motifs reflect societal taboos and aspirations across epochs. By citing relevant literature in APA 7 style, this discussion underscores the pig's role in critiquing humanism, sexuality, and ethics, without recourse to overt subdivisions but through sustained, interwoven argumentation.