Sex is funny, so most people turn into giggling 12-year-olds when they hear that there’s a Museum of Sex on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The Museum of Sex understands this, and hey, they think sex is funny too! They also know that sex is an important part of not only the human experience as we know it, but of all of human history and all life on Earth. MoSEX, as the Museum of Sex is abbreviated, provides its visitors with a tongue-in-cheek, interactive look at how sex affects our culture, our perspective, and our self-image, and a sufficient amount of giggles along the way.
In addition to its Spotlight on the Permanent Collection, which currently includes the famous “Jump for Joy” bounce house made entirely of giant breasts, an animated diorama about “The Sex Lives of Robots,” and several works of photography and illustrations, MoSEX has three special exhibits happening right now.
The first one visitors walk through is called “Hardcore: A Century and a Half of Obscene Imagery.” The black walls are lined with relics documenting sex and sexual thoughts, fantasies, and practices throughout American history, especially in New York City. Through in-depth looks at how pornography shaped publishing, photography, film, and even animation, this exhibit highlights the huge impact that sex, especially from a heterosexual male perspective, has had on American culture. While many people may think sex was a completely taboo subject until the latter half of the 20th century or later, this exhibit leaves visitors with a more enriched perspective on how sex has been discussed and portrayed throughout American history.
Another walk up the stairs brings visitors to “Splendor in the Grass,” a “kinesthetic” collection of campground-themed interactive units meant to foster the connection of the conscious self with its sexual drives and impulses. Each activity is a fun, lighthearted exploration of the senses and self-awareness. The most satisfying part about this exhibit is the mirror tent— its sign tells visitors to go in alone and fall in love with themselves, and how can they not when surrounded by mirrors and a soft lighting? “Splendor in the Grass” is sure to produce smiles and a heightened awareness of one’s sexual drive, but fair warning: if it’s busy, you will get caught making out in the dark tent with the aphrodisiac smells.
The last special exhibit is “The Sex Lives of Animals,” a scientific look into the habits, tendencies, and deviations of reproduction in all kinds of animals, from pandas to ducks to manatees. While there is a lot of information conveyed through the writing and videos on the walls, this exhibit is so much more than a collection of fun facts. “The Sex Lives of Animals” proves that all aspects of sexuality in humans, from the variations in orientation to the power dynamics of sexual interactions, can be reflected in nature. Humans are not unique in our complicated relationships with sex— it’s all natural.
The Museum of Sex is an excellent source of engaging and laugh-inducing content, but its most important function is making sex a little less taboo as it illuminates sexuality as an important part of the cultural conversation— a must-see for all people with a sexual drive and a sense of curiosity.
All photos by Tom Fields.
