In Zurich, the Berlin-based cultural studies scholar BEATE ABSALON has been offering workshops for several years under the label LUHMEN D'ARC . She published her first book in May and is now taking the opportunity to combine practice and theory: following a weekend with the workshop (AN)OTHER ORGY , she will presentherdebut work atGLEISwith a reading followed by a discussion with the audience.
AboutNOT GIVING A FUCK:
Finally, no more sex!
The pressure to have amazing sex is everywhere these days. Beate Absalon invites us to shake it off and explore the possibilities of uninhibited and inventive pleasure.
Sex can be a source of regret. It could be a refuge for mutual pleasure and carefree whims—but it has become a high-stakes endeavor that must succeed at all costs so that we, too, can be considered successful, even in areas where we’re already doing better from a queer-feminist perspective.
In her quest to de-stress, Beate Absalon takes a culturally and historically grounded look at the secluded—yet only seemingly opposed—side of sexuality: sexual aversion, asexuality, celibacy, and dysfunction, which delightfully refuse to submit to the duty of sexual service and open up unprecedented scope for exploration.
Press reviews:
“Not giving a fuck” can be a revelation, a catalyst for recognizing our sexually compulsive society and questioning it for ourselves. It’s a refreshing read because the book is not only empathetic and unbiased, but also connects individual questions to the bigger picture.
–queer.de
With direct, often humorous language and a refreshingly honest approach, Absalon turns conventional notions of sexualityon their head and opens up new perspectives on intimacy.
–GGG.at
As pleasurable, intense, self-determined, and liberating as possible—that is the new mantra of sex positivity. In *Not Giving a Fuck*, Beate Absalon calls on readers to resist this pressure and view sex holistically.
– Christine Mayrhofer, *Die Presse*
About the author:
As a cultural studies scholar, Beate Absalon focuses on contemporary sexual culture. Combining theory with practice, she offers workshops on forms of sexual play under the labelluhmen d’arc, in which she explores ambiguities, sociopolitical contexts, and non-cathartic emotions (such as awkwardness, shyness, and laziness).
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