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Comic Connoisseur: A love note to Sex Criminals

By
EIC
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Photo courtesy of Image Comics.

Dear Sex Criminals,

I have thought about you very often these last couple months and I have come to one conclusion: I think I am in love with you. Nothing else makes me feel quite the same as you do. When I look upon you, I feel so alive. With you I laugh, I cry, and I reach the highest throes of joy and bliss.

Sex Criminals, you are unlike anything I have ever experienced in my quarter century of life. To the ignorant and tasteless few you are perceived as a cheap and graphic Harlequin novel, but deep inside I know you have a wonderful heart. You are without a doubt the steamiest graphic novel I have had the fortune to flip through, and also the most well-written.

Your story follows a simple and succinct subject: the old trope of boy meets girl — injected with one rather heart-stopping twist. When this particular couple meet and become infatuated with one another, they stumble upon each other’s closely hidden secret. Upon achieving an orgasm, both Suzie and Jon can freeze time.

Capitalizing on their talent, this brand new couple opts to use their powers to rob the bank that Jon works at to save Suzie’s library from foreclosure. What follows is a story that tickles one’s fancy as much as it tickles one’s heart.

The art within you is so wonderful to behold. It is so in sync with the script, it’s hard to tell who the real hero is — the writer or the artist. Sex Criminals, if you are anything at all, you are testament to two individuals collaborating perfectly with one another. If that were not enough, you have done the unthinkable in the medium of graphic novels, a feat not even the most acclaimed writers and artists have ever attempted: you audaciously included a musical number to Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” — a song for which you did not even have the rights to. This is proof alone that you make the rocking world go round.

Above all, your captivating commentary on relationships today is immensely poignant and pulls no punches. You highlight the good as much as you do the bad — never painting things as they should be, but as they are. You perfectly render the lust-fuelled intensity that ignites the start of a romance, followed by the reckless abandon, and shortly after, the death rattle of the honeymoon phase. Yet, you never leave us cynical or without hope, but ever more excited at the notion of sharing a similar relationship to Jon and Suzie’s in the foreseeable future.

I owe everything to Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky for bringing you into existence; you truly are the apple of your creators’ eyes. Without them conceiving you I cannot imagine where I would be.

My dear, I must have more of you or I risk losing my mind. You are as daring as you are vivacious and it makes me so hot. Simply put, darling, I must have more of you in my life.

Yours forever,

The Comic Connoisseur

The art of on-screen sex

By
EIC
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0
Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment.

One human experience that still needs more artistic exploration is sex. There is a discomfort associated with sexual activity and talking about sexual experiences that I find curious. This uneasiness seems to cause filmmakers to neglect sex scenes as legitimate tools for storytelling.

We Canadians exist in an interesting semi-open minded era. The proverbial Canadian millennial is a tech-savvy, liberal thinker who embraces diversity and the unorthodox in a way that would have been unthinkable in generations past. Tradition and convention, though, still seem to play a huge role in how people communicate. While freedom of speech is a right, the court of public opinion dictates what can or cannot be said out loud. The threat of social prosecution restricts conversation to topics deemed “appropriate.” This is where art becomes invaluable.

Artists have the ability to separate who they are from what they express as creative entities. This makes them an exception to the social rule of political correctness. Art, with its wide range and diverse meanings, is not being used to its full potential in terms of its capacity to circumvent restriction. There are many aspects of the human experience that are not being explored as much as they should be.

Too often, the sex scene in movies is skimmed over. The viewer understands with a few images that two characters are intimate but does not conceptualize its significance to the film as a whole.

As outmoded as it is now, I have to point to the Twilight saga. A lot of time was spent setting up an epic love story. From the dangers of a human-vampire relationship to Edward’s insecurities about hurting his “soulmate,” there was a buildup to what was meant to be a monumental love scene. I was unimpressed — the art of the scene was simply average. When the image of Edward breaking the bed frame was shown, I could feel the desperation to make the scene “out of this world,” but I learned nothing new or interesting about the characters or their relationship. The scene existed just for the sake of it.

In other cases, the physical act of sex is overemphasized and unnecessary. It feels as though the the plot and characters are forgotten in favour of titillation. Films like these are more suitable under the category of pornography.

The key to a good sex scene on screen is truth; the best ones are honest. Honesty, in this sense, does not necessarily mean realism; what separates an artistic depiction of sex from cheap titillation is the factor of storytelling behind it. In film, sex can add something interesting to the storyline. Does the scene embody the awkwardness and nervousness of having sex for the first time? Is the point of the scene to showcase an unhappy marriage? For the sake of humour and irony, is the scene a parody of sex itself?

In the film The Duchess, the sex scenes were brilliantly used to depict the relationship the protagonist had with her two partners. A cold marriage against a passionate affair. Rather than the exaggerated combination of movements and moans displayed in Fifty Shades of Grey, the sex scenes in The Duchess were not only relevant to the story, but executed in an intriguing way.

Sex involves a wide range of emotions and activities, but this does not mean artists should shy away from the subject. Filmmakers have the rare opportunity in this era to explore sex in a public space, and attempt to understand all its complicated intricacies. They should take complete advantage of it.

HUMOUR: An open letter to my polygamy-opposed wife

By
EIC
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0
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Dearest Elicia,

You used to be the love of my life, the apple of my eye (that’s a thing, right? I heard it used in a song once). However, that was before I saw the real you: the cold, insensitive, unaccepting-of-my-way-of-life you.

A week ago, you kicked me out of our apartment because you didn’t approve of my lifestyle choices. Have you seen the news lately, Elicia? America legalized gay marriage in every state; Time magazine called trans issues the “next civil rights frontier.” Quite frankly, with all the progress being made towards greater acceptance of all people, I was taken aback by your unforgiving mindset.

When you found me in bed with another woman, you totally spazzed out. Now I have no place to live because of my lifestyle. I am persecuted.

I am a polyamorist. I have multiple intimate relationships at the same time. It’s just the way I am. I was born this way and there’s nothing I can do about it.

While it’s true that I yelled, “Oh shit!” and then said, “You weren’t supposed to find about this” before cowering in a corner crying while my hot, blonde, slightly younger mistress looked on confusedly, that’s because I’m in the closet. Yes, I’m an in-the-closet polyamorist.

But now, I’m out. And I accept myself, despite the discrimination I face from you and from society.

And I have a dream: one day, maybe not too far in the future, every man or woman can have sex with as many partners as they want, anywhere they want. They won’t need to tell anyone involved about anyone else, and they will be unafraid of persecution, unafraid of their wives, girlfriends, or 22-year-old mistresses getting upset. No longer will I have to hide in the shadows of society.

You broke my heart (and my back, as I’ve been sleeping outside on concrete for the last three days) but I forgive you. Unlike you, I am sensible and accepting of other people’s feelings and ways of life.

With that being said, I don’t believe we can see each other anymore. Even though you told me “Get out!” and that you never want to see me again, I know you were just overreacting. But I must put an end to this; I am just too hurt.

Unless you want to do a threesome, which case I will probably find a way to forgive you for your persecutions.

Sincerely,

Dick

P.S. There wasn’t a good time to say this, but you should probably get checked for STIs. You’re welcome.

With files from Austin Cozicar   

The week in comics

By
EIC
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0


attractivehunks copy
Seagull Square (by Jill Mandrake & Gregory Edwards)

clit eastwood
Pun 2 3 (by Sarah Walker)

HUMOUR: The best places on campus to do “it”

By
EIC
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0
Photo by Phoebe Lim

In preparation of The Peak’s sex issue, we asked readers to tell us where their favourite places to do “it” on campus are. After sifting through hundreds of submissions and compiling all of the answers, we finally have the top six places on campus where people like to settle down and get busy.

1. The silent study floor in Bennett Library: Whoa, boy, if there’s one place on campus where it’s good to get down and dusty, it’s the six floor of the Bennett Library. A hotbed of activity, I’m surprised they don’t just have mattresses set up — ‘cause of how much time I spend up there.

2. The English Student Union common room: Nothing gets me in the mood like being around like-minded people who can empathize with me over the same course work and professors. Once I get my things set up, I swear, I could do it all night long in the common room — and I almost did once!

3. On the football field: I’ve always had an exhibitionist side to me, so I can definitely agree with people who said the football field was their favourite place to study on campus. Sometimes the field can get a bit crowded though, so it’s harder to find a good spot to do it.

4. The sixth-floor bathrooms of the AQ: I don’t really understand this one. Is it because not a lot of people go up there, so you can set up your studying materials in a stall and not be interrupted? I don’t know how I’d feel about hooking up in the bathroom though, considering there aren’t a lot of spare electrical sockets for my laptop.

5. In one of the residences: It might get a little crazy in there at times, but so many fellow undergrads occupying the same space, you’re bound to find someone willing to be your study partner.

6. The couches in The Peak offices: Sure, they’re comfortable, but what helped the couches we sit on on a weekly basis make the list is presumably the fact that they recline, so they’re lying flat. That way you can lie down while cramming.

S.T. EYE is a great concept, but why a glowing condom?

By
EIC
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0
Photo Credit: Rachelle Tjahyana

I almost fell off my seat after reading this: a few 14-year-olds from Isaac Newton Academy in Britain had invented a condom that glows different colours depending on what type of disease or infection you have. I thought, “Well, at least when they start actually having sex they’ll know to be responsible about it!”

While the contraceptive S.T. EYE is still in the concept phase, it has been receiving a lot of media attention, probably due to the fact that such an invention was created by students so young.

This striking youthfulness is reflected in the product itself: I can’t imagine a more awkward type of sexual technology that would kill the mood faster. This is a creation that could only be invented by sexually inexperienced teenagers who do not yet understand that using this condom would be the absolute worst time to learn you have a sexually transmitted disease or infection.

If anything, this new idea should be a reminder that if we’re unsure about ourselves, we should get ourselves tested before we have sex with our partner, rather than to experience that heart-stopping glow beneath the sheets. One of the teens told The Daily Mail at a TeenTech conference that the condom would allow people to “take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes without the invasive procedures at the doctors.”

Let people enjoy protected sex to fullest with a good ol’ Trojan.

Alright, the kid has a point. Doctors can be scary and uncomfortable, and while I personally put my faith in medical care professionalism and confidentiality, I can see how others wouldn’t be so keen. In this case, rather than to share that glorious ‘moment of truth’ with your significant other, it may be best to develop this technology into something a little more personal.

The condom is designed to hold molecules that will attach to STD bacteria which will then cause the glow. So, why does this technology have to be in a condom? Couldn’t we create something equivalent to a pregnancy test, in which people could privately test themselves before engaging in sexual activity?

I get it, people just want to have sex. Masturbation is boring and lonely when I have a warm body to share the experience with. And besides, buying a glowing disease test at the pharmacy is even more awkward than buying the actual condoms. However, I strongly feel that for those who care about their sexual health and value their privacy, the market will be there for such a device.

The concept is groundbreaking, but now it has to be taken from the hands of three teens and usefully adapted to something that will be quick, convenient, and allow both men and women to take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes without other witnesses involved. Let people enjoy protected sex to fullest with a good ol’ Trojan.

Sexual diseases are incredibly personal; we really must respect that fact and keep it this way.

Neighbours complain about loud sex

By
EIC
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1
Be as loud as you want, but your neighbours might not like it. - Phoebe Lim

Experts encourage partners to be communicative with each other during intercourse, but the neighbours of one Swiss couple think they’ve taken that too much to heart.

A resident of Rosengarten apartments in Untersiggenthal, in the Swiss canton of Aargau, soon got tired of being woken up in the middle of the night by a neighbouring couple having noisy sex.

Angry with the nocturnal activities, he decided to write down his frustrations in an open letter to the building in order to shame the rowdy couple to tone it down between the sheets.

In his letter he wrote, “At the beginning [it] was quite amusing to listen through the walls and windows to their loud mating rituals, but still, in the long run, I have to say as a neighbour it just sucks.”

He also went on to further explain his grievances: “It’s no fun to explain [to visitors] that ‘Oh God, I’m coming’ [has] nothing to do with religion or suicide.”

This disgruntled neighbour wasn’t the only one who had complains against the couple. After the media got involved, another neighbour from a different building added that they could hear the sex noises through open window in their building as well.

On the flip side, the response from many others to the annoyed neighbour was: “Buy earplugs.” There are some who feel that it’s none of their business, with another resident saying that “sex in your own home should still be allowed.” The conflict sparked debate on whether the neighbour’s complaints made in public were a violation of privacy.

The Untersiggenthal resident felt it was within his rights to post a note detailing his disdain on the door to the parking area of the couple’s the building, but Walter Angst of the building’s tenant association asserted that no one should be expected to keep quiet during sex and the sort of complaint that was publicly posted could be grounds for legal action on account of violation of privacy.

So, what’s the deal with noisy sex in our home province? According to BC’s Privacy Act, “privacy may be violated by eavesdropping or surveillance, whether or not accomplished by trespass.” The problems outlined in the letter were a result of accidental eavesdropping since the noise was loud enough for residents in other apartments to hear clearly.

In BC, there are exceptions to the violations of the the Privacy Act: “A publication of a matter is not a violation of privacy if (a) the matter published was of public interest or was fair comment on a matter of public interest, or (b) the publication was privileged in accordance with the rules of law relating to defamation.”

An unhappy Vancouverite wrote into Dan Savage’s love column in The Georgia Straight also complaining about neighbours having loud sex. Savage explained, “Your creepy neighbour with the hipster mustache and his girlfriend can be as loud as the hell they want when they’re makin’ love.”

He added, “But you and your wife — their annoyed neighbours — can be as loud as the hell you want when they’re making love. You can pound on the walls, [. . .]     make your displeasure known, scream and yell, et cetera.”

Love, in the bedroom and elsewhere

By
EIC
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0
Photo Credit: Phoebe Lim

Love and sex? Yeah, they’re somewhat related. They can also be far from it, I know. But, being that it’s not completely prevalent elsewhere in the 2015 Sex Issue, I hope to throw in this edition at least a thought about the subject.

At least, I can show my own vulnerability, as talking about the concept of love can make me feel as vulnerable as sexy times can, or at least as being naked can.

And yep, I’m far from an expert on the topic of love. I’ve tried, I’ve failed, and I probably have an overall  average understanding about it. It would be a disservice to myself, though, if I told myself I couldn’t talk about it; and I think it would be a disservice to anyone to believe that only experts are worthy of opinions.

What I can offer is a willingness to talk about it, and the hope that I can promote an environment in which it is easier to talk about. As a man, especially, I want to show as often as I can that it’s okay to love, and to talk about loving, and say that that often feels more comfortable than prescribed, scripted, off-hand man-talk that those of my gender too often slip into.

When I feel love, I have a smaller ego, and lately, I’ve noticed my ego a lot. It’s that thing that tells me that I need to be smarter/stronger/better than other people/objects/housecats, etc. It’s a ridiculous part of being human. I feel the most welcoming of love when I feel egotistical fears have only their smallest grip on me, and thus, when I allow myself to be present, honest, and accepting.

When I am present, I feel ready to love. I feel focused on the immediate experiences around me, and sometimes, I can let myself try to forget the small pleasures of life I take for granted. Presence also provides a chance to focus on others, on the small parts of their personality that make them beautiful, and on how I view them, whether that way is fair or otherwise.

When I’m ready to love, I feel more focused on the immediate experiences around me.

When I am brave, I feel ready to love. And, in my less-than-action-packed life, my braveness usually comes in the form of honesty. I recognize I’m scared of saying how I feel, and say it anyway. My hands shake during a public speech, but I speak. I feel myself about to stutter, so I stutter anyway. I run head first into those fears and continue living.

When I realize I don’t want any more than what I have (whatever that may be), I feel I ready to love. When there feels like there is a roof to the happiness that I’m receiving, and I want to break through that roof, to extend happiness, to extend pleasure, to extend whatever — I’m relieved in those times when I realize how silly this is; I come closer to the joy of accepting what I have right now.

I hope you’re still with me. I’m not even sure if I know what love is. I could describe love as calm, serene, sincere, but these words can only touch a feeling. Everyone has to find and feel love for oneself, I’m certain.

This isn’t always an easy battle for me, because facilitating these conditions takes a lot of effort on my end. But when it happens, it’s always beautiful.

The feeling, of course, doesn’t have to be related to anything in the pants, or the bedroom; it doesn’t even have to be related to anyone but oneself.

But if these acts that one does do come from the vulnerability, openness, honesty, and trust that come from love, and if there is consent and safety, then that is something to celebrate.

SFU courses explore sexuality

By
EIC
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0
Image Credit: Phoebe Lim

SFU is bringing sexual issues to the forefront and into the classroom.

This semester, SFU offered two courses on human sexuality in the psychology department and in the political science department.

Sex, Love, and Politics from Classical Greece to Contemporary Times taught by Genevieve Fuji Johnson, and Psychological Perspectives on Human Sexuality taught by Rebecca Cobb both explore the nature of human sexuality.

Political Science 419, Sex, Love and Politics from Classical Greece to Contemporary Times, explores aspects of sex from a political perspective. Some of the topics in the course include defining and demarcating citizenship with regards to sex, its regulation for productive and reproductive purposes, and the exploitative and violent aspects of sex.

Despite the sensitive subject matter of the course, Fuji Johnson says the course sees a high enrolment. “I think because there’s ‘sex’ in the title of the course it’s very popular. It’s usually oversubscribed. This means that the students who enroll typically have high GPAs and are in the fourth year or beyond. So, the class discussions are always really thoughtful and informed.”

She continued, “Students are always very respectful. We do discuss a wide range of topics that many find quite personal, but I can’t say that it’s ever been awkward, at least not for me.”

The course also focuses on patriarchy, same-sex marriages, gender identity/expression, polygamy, pornography, and prostitution.    

The Peak asked Fuji Johnson if there was one particularly important aspect of the course she hoped students would take away from the class. “I really want students to consider how very fundamentally personal issues are political,” she responded. “I want them to think about how their personal lives are socially constructed and to be critical of the role of norms, policies, and laws in this construction.”

“I think because there’s “sex” in the title of the course it’s very popular.”

Genevieve Fuji Johnson,

SFU professor of political science

Psychology 367, Psychological Perspectives on Human Sexuality, examines research on sexual topics such as gender differences in sexuality, sexual orientation, and sexual arousal. The objective of the course is for students to be able to critically evaluate claims about sexuality through empirical research.

Cobb commented on how students typically respond to the topics and content of the course: “At first, students are sometimes reluctant to ask questions or to respond to questions during lecture, but after a few small group discussions, they quickly become more comfortable.”

She continued, “I have had students comment that this was the first time they said words like ‘porn’ or ‘orgasm’ out loud during class in front of a hundred other students. They seemed almost shocked that they were able to muster the confidence to do so.”

The course will also dive into the history of sex research, attitudes about sex, sexual orientation, communication about sex, sex motives, sexual fantasy, and pornography.

Cobb expressed her aspirations for the students taking her class: “I hope students will build on what they have learned to have effective conversations with their partner about sexual issues. Start talking about sex early and often in your intimate relationships, but it is never too late to start.”

Step up your tech game in bed

By
EIC
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0
Photo courtesy of Bandara

People have always tried to quantify their sexual experiences — by number of partners, number of orgasms, or duration.

Technology has allowed us to find a hook-up with a swipe of our fingers, as well as helping us achieve that orgasm through looking up new sex moves or with any of the interesting toys that are now on the market.

Now, technology is able to more explicitly measure our sexual experiences in hopes of improving our time in the bedroom.

Bondara’s SexFit is an innovative piece that has been coined “the pedometer for your penis.” This ring straps to the male genitals and does the usual job of restricting blood flow and providing a vibrating sensation; however, this item provides its wearer with some interesting added features.

SexFit not only counts calories burned and registers thrusts per minute, but this device also allows an individual to send results to a trusted smartphone, wiith the possibility to share their bedroom stats with all of their friends and family on their favourite social networking sites.

Adding to this already unique device, LED lights on SexFit light up when one has attained the perfect rhythm. SexFit is currently in the prototype stage, so it may be a while for this unique device to hit the markets and to be available at a store near you.

Another upcoming gadget for the bedroom is an innovation that transforms Google Glass into a sexual gadget. Glance is an app that promises to give the wearer a different view of all the events that are carried out in the bedroom.

Bringing the sex-tape to a whole new level, Glance claims to “bring a new perspective on personal experiences.” While wearing the Google glasses in the sack may not be the most appealing, this app offers one to view their partner’s perspective in hopes of heating up the experience.

Not only can you watch from your partner’s view, but Glance allows you to replay the entire event later on from a smartphone. These videos are available to watch for five hours, and are automatically deleted at the end of the time period.

With technology advancing and infiltrating an individual’s most private and personal areas of their lives, sex is being quantified in more ways than ever before.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society