Museum of the Week: Museum of Sex ($3 Off Until Saturday)
According to the old adage referring to books and their covers, things aren’t always what they seem. And from the bewildered looks of the patrons inside the Museum of Sex (233 Fifth Avenue @ 27th Street, 212.689.6337, $3 off coupon available until Saturday, 5.6.09), undoubtedly expecting lascivious displays of sex acts and nudity suggested by the Museum’s name, a lot of judging had already been taking place.
Photography courtesy of wikimedia commons
The Museum of Sex (MoSex), founded in 2002, seeks to promote an open discourse on sex and sexuality, disposing of conventional, traditional and the status quo perceptions of sex, gender and sexuality. The museum occupies a unique position in the intersection between academia and pop culture, with exhibitions that have encompassed the realms film, science, and history, among others.
I’m inherently attracted to things that appear to be one thing, and then turn out to be something else entirely. Most often, they’re something wonderful. I first went to the Museum of Sex three years ago with my then boyfriend, tense with the anticipation of not knowing what to expect. Now I was back, past knowledge in hand, to see the Museum’s two newest exhibits: ”The Sex Lives of Animals” and “Action: Sex and the Moving Image.”
“The Sex Lives of Animals” attempts to challenge society’s perceptions of human sexuality by exploring sexuality in the natural world. The exhibit is highly scientific and academic, but is presented in a very “user friendly” way. That is to say, that it is in no way boring, dull, or dry. The exhibit catches your attention from the beginning, and doesn’t let go until the very end. The exhibit reviews multiple relevant categories, such as sexual selection, sexual cannibalism, and homosexuality in nature.
My favorite part of the exhibit is located on the homosexuality wall, and is the story of Roy, Silo and Tango, the story of two male chinstrap penguins (Roy and Silo) who hatched and raised a female penguin chick (Tango) at the Central Park Zoo (Roy and Silo eventually separated. Silo was in a monogamous relationship with a female penguin, but is now currently single. Tango is in a lesbian relationship with another female penguin.)
The “Sex and the Moving Image Exhibit” seeks to trace the historical, sociological, and political reasons for the representation of sex on screen in various ways over time. The exhibit starts with the first moving films through to the present day celebrity sex video tapes. I had to elbow my way through the exhibit, as it was noticeably more crowded than the “Sex Lives of the Animals” exhibit. One can only guess that this was due to the actual pornography playing on some of the screens over to the far left (maybe you can judge a book by its last chapter).
Another thing — the first thing I noticed when I walked into the building is that the staff (all men from what I could see that day) that work at MoSex are incredibly good looking. At first I wasn’t going to mention this because I figured it had nothing to do with the museum itself. Then I realized… it has everything to do with the museum.
Museum Hours and Information:
Hours:
Sunday – Friday : 11 am – 6:30 pm (last ticket sold at 5:45)
Saturday: 11 am – 8 pm (last ticket sold at 7:15)
Ticket Prices:
Adults (18+): $14.50 + tax
Students and Seniors (with valid ID): $13.50 + tax
Head’s Up: $3 Coupon to the Museum of Sex
Although I love to maintain an air of mystery and suspense, later this week I will be reviewing the Museum of Sex (233 Fifth Avenue @ 27th Street). Please, get your minds out of the gutter. When I went there three years ago, I didn’t know what to expect, but its actually very tasteful. At any rate, because this coupon is about to expire (5.6.09 [Saturday] to be exact), I didn’t want anyone to miss out before I do my review, so… here’s a $3 off coupon for admission to MoSex (as it is affectionately called). Have fun!
Admission is normally $14.50 + tax for adults, $13.50+tax for seniors and students.
