Sex is considered the most wonderful little thing in the world. But have you ever felt that this expectation actually creates pressure and, in a cruel twist, spoils the enjoyment of the experience? What if the solution might lie in approaching with curiosity what we usually want to get rid of as quickly as possible? What eroticism lies hidden in listlessness? How audacious is it to simply let sex be? How much potency lies in allowing oneself to be listless?
Cultural studies scholar and workshop leader Beate Absalon will read from her book "Not giving a f*ck" and invite attendees to talk openly about sex and our struggles with it in a relaxed atmosphere.
SCHEDULE
Tue, Dec. 3, 2024
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION
Blättern – A Space for Boundless Emerging Literature
Gartengasse 28, Graz
LANGUAGES
German
With
Beata
AboutNOT GIVING A FUCK:
Finally, no more sex!
The pressure to have great sex is everywhere these days. Beate Absalon invites us to shake it off and explore the possibilities of unconventional and inventive pleasure.
Sex can be a source of regret. It could be a refuge for mutual pleasure and pointless whims—but it has become a high-pressure endeavor that absolutely must succeed so that we, too, can be considered successful, even in areas where, as queer feminists, we’re already doing better.
In her search for relief from stress, Beate Absalon takes a culturally and historically grounded look at the secluded—though only seemingly so—opposite of sexuality: sexual aversion, asexuality, celibacy, and dysfunction, which delightfully refuse to submit to the obligation of sexual service and open up unprecedented scope for exploration.
Press Reviews:
"The book is inspiring because readers can’t help but reflect on their own patterns and beliefs—both in and out of bed."
– L-Mag - The Magazine for Lesbians
"'Not giving a fuck' can be a revelation, a catalyst for recognizing our compulsive-sexual society and questioning it for ourselves. It’s refreshing to read because the book isn’t just empathetic and free of prejudice—it also connects individual questions to the bigger picture.”
– queer.de
“The author invites us to let go of the idea that we have to experience mind-blowing sex. Instead, she encourages us to discover a personal, independent, and inventive form of pleasure.”
– (Freizeit) Kurier
“We take the topic of sex too seriously. True intimacy only arises when a lack of desire and sexual underperformance are accepted as completely normal, says cultural studies scholar Beate Absalon.”
– Stern online
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 draws attention to ambiguities, sociopolitical contexts, and non-cathartic feelings (such as awkwardness, shyness, and laziness). >> More about Beata
For those who want to be prepared: order the book from your favorite bookstore
or>> from the publisher in Austriaor >> from Orell Füssli