(no subject)
Now that the fervor surrounding the Women's Center's positive sex week seems to be over, I think this is an appropriate time for some reflection. Overall, I am glad that the events did much to spark conversation on campus; that's really all it was meant to do. And while I'm not as actively upset about the negative outcry displayed, I think it points to an interesting aspect of campus politics.
It seems to me that the majority sentiment is liberal apathy. As in, once something is accepted as a mainstream tenet of a broadly liberal outlook, it is embraced by the campus. We accept relatively radical views on environmental issues not only because they seem pressing on a campus surrounded by mountains, but also because they have been accepted in everyday life and have been deemed appropriate.
Similarly, I find it interesting which positive sex week events were embraced by the general population and which were derided. The Vagina Monologues, on the one hand, had two awesome sell-out performances for an audience that was an exciting cross-section of students, professors, and even townies. Annie Sprinkle, on the other hand, had a modest audience of intrepid students and campus life staff. While there was much talk about Annie Sprinkle showing a sampling of her pornography and performance art, no one commented on the merits or drawbacks of the Monologue's imitation orgasm scene. I admit that there are differences in the forms of representation at each event, but I'd argue that Annie Sprinkle and The Vagina Monologues addressed a range of similar topics. Yet because the play has already had its public image battle and has since been accepted as a worthy and appropriate vehicle (heck, your high school probably put on its own production at some point), the Williams population is comfortable with it and supporting of it. I know this isn't the best forum to be raising these kinds of questions in, but I'd be interested to ask the campus: if we're okay with drag shows (several a year, in fact), queer bash, and Vagina Monologues, why not Annie Sprinkle?
It seems to me that the majority sentiment is liberal apathy. As in, once something is accepted as a mainstream tenet of a broadly liberal outlook, it is embraced by the campus. We accept relatively radical views on environmental issues not only because they seem pressing on a campus surrounded by mountains, but also because they have been accepted in everyday life and have been deemed appropriate.
Similarly, I find it interesting which positive sex week events were embraced by the general population and which were derided. The Vagina Monologues, on the one hand, had two awesome sell-out performances for an audience that was an exciting cross-section of students, professors, and even townies. Annie Sprinkle, on the other hand, had a modest audience of intrepid students and campus life staff. While there was much talk about Annie Sprinkle showing a sampling of her pornography and performance art, no one commented on the merits or drawbacks of the Monologue's imitation orgasm scene. I admit that there are differences in the forms of representation at each event, but I'd argue that Annie Sprinkle and The Vagina Monologues addressed a range of similar topics. Yet because the play has already had its public image battle and has since been accepted as a worthy and appropriate vehicle (heck, your high school probably put on its own production at some point), the Williams population is comfortable with it and supporting of it. I know this isn't the best forum to be raising these kinds of questions in, but I'd be interested to ask the campus: if we're okay with drag shows (several a year, in fact), queer bash, and Vagina Monologues, why not Annie Sprinkle?