Trudy
About a month ago, I spent my Saturday afternoon in a museum. It is most certainly not like the Met fashion exhibits that I love to frequent like this one. It was at one of the more salacious museums in the city. Well, that would be the perception by the name of it, but you would actually be wrong. It was the Museum of Sex, and I wasn’t overwhelmed by kink as I thought I would or maybe it’s just the jaded New Yorker in me from seeing more vulgar things on the A train. But even if you are the biggest and most modest prude, here are five reasons why I think that you should visit the Museum of Sex:
- The wing dedicated to the exhibition sex in the animal kingdom titled, The Sex Lives of Animals is really informative. It is eye-opening how similar sex is for humans and animals. The courtship and practices are metaphorically the same. Men strut and prune before women, just like species of colorful birds or primates. Women show their willingness by giving off pheromones and examining their options (some better than others) just like the females of a species. Just imagine any co-ed gym and you’ve seen it a thousand times. Same-sex and polyamorous relationships exist in the animal world, just like it does for humans. I’m not into it for humans but it isn’t a big deal in the animal kingdom ( at least not for me).
- The staff at the museum are the most helpful I have ever encountered, they even have an information desk in the museum shop that is filled with sex toys, prophylactics, and reading materials. I guess this if you far too intimidated to go to a sex shop and buy there.
- In the section of the museum titled, Hardcore: A Century and A Half of Obscene Imagery, you’ll find out that pornography has a long history of film and literature, before the moving picture. Most of it is highly insulting due to the cultural and racial stereotypes and language.
- The ObjectXXX pulls from the Museum of Sex archives to show pieces, toys, and products used in different aspects of sex. From condom dispensers to bondage gear and vibrators. Did you know that vibrators used to be made by Hamilton Beach? You know the company that currently makes kitchen appliances with veering motors, makes sense if you think hard enough. Reduce, reuse, recycle was the thought behind that, maybe?
- The exhibition “Night Fever” featuring photographs by Bill Bernstein of the disco scene from 1977-1979. The exhibition is designed like a pop-up disco from the 70’s complete with a DJ booth and bar with drinks. It is really cool to read and see interviews and photos of how open everyone was about their sexuality and nudity. Definitely a different era, pre- HIV where being sexually open didn’t carry the same weight of consequences. It was the decade of Studio 54, Crisco Disco, Le Clique, and Xenon among others.
Here are some of the pictures I took, be forewarned that some contain some nudity and don’t faint on me. For people with virgin eyes look away from the pictures from the Night Fever exhibition.
The Museum of Sex is located at 233 Fifth Avenue on the corner of 27th street in Manhattan. The museum is definitely on the unique side and that makes it perfect for a city like New York. It traipses the line of naughty and informative in such a deliberate way that you don’t realize you are actually learning something. Now I know there aren’t many museums like this around the world but have been to a unique museum and then realized that you actually learned something afterward? Tell me all about it in the comments below, hopefully, you aren’t too sheepish after the cheeky subject matter.
Until our next rendezvous…
XOXO
Trudy
I’ll definitely check it out the next time I’m there! Looks super cool and SEXY… 🙂
Yes, check it out. It would make for an interesting date if you are too sheepish to talk about certain subjects, lol. Very sexy things are on sale and being surrounded by it just made everything seem very “normal” in comparison to the bright light of day.
I’ve been to the sex museum in Amsterdam and that’s…an eye opener to say the least. This actually sounds genuinely informative and also looks kind of classy?
I can boldly confirm that I am not shocked by much since I am jaded New Yorker, so I did find their approach to some difficult to talk about topics as classy. I would’ve thought the same of the one in Amsterdam as well.
So many reasons to go to New York again…
Haha ?When were you last here?
About a year and a half ago. Sounds like a lot has changed since then;)
Well the city is always changing, but there’s so much that even if you live here, it’s hard to get to everything. And you need to stay more than a week.
What an interesting museum! Bet you saw some things you never though you’d see ? I’ve heard about the museum in Amsterdam but didn’t realise there was on in NYC. Learn something new everyday!
You know what? It really wasn’t that shocking, but so informative! Although some of the animal sexuality was kind of funny.
Oh and I didn’t get to go to the bouncy room because it was packed. ?
I want to go to this museum so bad! I’ve always seen it during business trips but always felt awkward if I went by myself?? This confirms I totally want to go! Great post!
I went, and I noticed people there alone, I would suggest going during the week. On the weekend, it’s too crowded.
LOL! This is definitely a place I need to visit!
Then that means I did an ok job! Great!
Looks like a super place to explore. I’m not sure if you have ever heard about such parks in Korea?
Parks? No, I haven’t.
Do google about it. It is in Jeju Is.
I saw it! It is racier than the museum, in my opinion and I didn’t expect that in Korea. Very interesting!
There is similar stuff in Bhutan, China and Japan too! I guess it is not everyone’s cup of tea!
I don’t think that it should be such a taboo subject, in my opinion, open discussion can only lead to good things and healing.
I will certainly agree with you. Some European countries in Scandinavia have been following a very open approach towards this subject which in my opinion is a great way forward.
that would be an interesting thing to tour. 🙂
It was. I didn’t even get to see everything. Maybe I’ll go back when a new exhibition comes into town.
cool! 🙂
Never been but next visit might have to pop in!
It a really cool unconventional museum! I liked it.
I’ve added this to my list of attractions to see next time I visit.
Thank you!!