masturbation

In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play (8/29/2010)

annette — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Washington, D.C.

“Please turn off anything that beeps, buzzes, or vibrates.” And with that comic admonishment to the audience, Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer Sarah Ruhl’s play about the advent of vibrators began.

The setting is Dr. Givings home, where his living room is located next to, and within earshot of, the “surgical theater.” Here, Dr. Givings (played by Eric Hissom) treats hysteria, a “medical ailment” dating back to about 300 BC, when Hippocrates thought women’s madness stemmed from their womb. Meanwhile, back on stage, the good doctor’s wife (Katie deBuys) wonders why patients come in with symptoms of anxiety and leave, only anxious to come back again—and soon.

Above the noise of “oh-ooh-oooh,” Dr. Givings himself groans about the bygone days of manual stimulation: “It was like a child’s game–trying to rub the head and the stomache at the same time.” Why, the procedure could take up to an hour! With the electric massager, “paroxyms” can be had within three to five minutes time and, if they don’t, um, come, Dr. Givings hands the tedious task over to his competent assistant Annie (played by Sarah Marshall).

While patients such as Mrs. Daldry (Kimberly Gilbert) and a male patient named Leo Irving (Cody Nickell) make it clear their emotional needs are not being met–Mrs. Daldry cannot have children and Mr. Irving cannot find the passionate love that his creative soul desires—the doctor steadfastly believes their symptoms can be treated with the latest technology of the day, the electromechanical vibrator for her and the anal dialater for him.

So the new device makes patients happier—so happy that Mrs. Givings breaks into the room and tries it out herself for her own hysteria–feeling unfulfilled in her marriage and inadequate in nourishing her newborn—but, alas it’s not fixing the problems.

Aside from having unmet emotional needs, women’s sexuality is still not recognized and even feared, as the men highlight in their joke about a friend that thought women looked like marble statues you see in a museum—and then ran like a mad man from his wife when he saw she had beastly hair “down there.” Only the wet nurse Elizabeth (played by Jessica Frances Dukes) hired to feed Dr. and Mrs. Givings’ baby, understands the connection between the vibrator and sexual pleasure. Otherwise, the technological wonder is thought to produce a confusing mixture of pain and pleasure. So confusing it brings them back daily to figure out if they like it or not!

Behavior like this and many other comedic opportunities make director Aaron Posner’s In the Next Room a humorous, but not insensitively so, play about the history behind the medical use of vibrators. It subtly and sometimes not-so-subtly highlights the utter lack of knowledge and understanding of women’s physical bodies, sexual desires, and emotional needs. It beautifully portrays women’s roles, relationships, and subordination to men during Victorian times and reminds us that even today, we still grapple with some of these issues. However, the play about vibrators will make an historical imprint itself—made many years after we laughed about the link between masturbation and mental illness in men-and will stimulate discussion of female sexuality for years to come.

Written by: Joan Dawson, September 22nd 2010

Fast Feminism

mandy — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:00:00 +0000

By Shannon Bell

Autonomedia

Autonomedia has just published Fast Feminism, the latest book by the performance philosopher and associate professor in Political Science at York University, Shannon Bell. The book contains 198 pages, including thirty-one plates taken of Bell's genitalia during masturbation/ejaculation performances. It may appear unusual that an academic is involved in public displays with highly charged, erotic content; however, Bell has been conducting workshops on the female phallus and instructing women on the art of female ejaculation for the past two decades.

Bell’s oeuvre follows a long tradition in performance art that includes Vito Acconci's "Seedbed," in which he masturbated underneath a ramp at the Sonnabend Gallery, New York as people walked by above him; Valie Export's film Mann & Frau & Animal (1973) that shows her pleasuring herself in a bathtub; Annie Sprinkles' ritual magic masturbation performances; Elke Krystufek's 1994 masturbation performance at Vienna Kunsthalle; and a public performance in the mid-nineties by transgendered academic and performance artist Allucquere Rosanne Stone, who stimulated the palm of her hand to produce an organism. Moreover, Bell’s performance is "embedded in praxis," and "The 'I' of the text is a post-identity recognized by gait, movement and speed." Fast Feminism is a confessional and articulate text that straddles academic writing and colloquial language; it draws heavily on sexual expletives to stress the subcultural activity in which Bell's performance praxis operates.

Fast Feminism's text is definitely Deleuzian. One idea begins and is shattered, only to be taken up in the next already somewhere else, free-floating and circulating. Rather than "buggering" the texts and producing a bastard offspring, an activity Bell states as her intention throughout the book, Fast Feminism appears at least on the surface as homage to masculine writers. Texts by George Bataille and the Marquis de Sade collide and intersect with Emmanuel Levinas ethics of the other; the latter used in her chapter on the perverse aesthetics of the homosexual, pedophile, child pornographer, and writer, John Robin Sharpe. I must say that although I accept Sharpe's erotic writings are situated within an established and honored literary genre, I was uncomfortable with this section because I have raised a child and believe that children should be protected from those who may hurt or abuse them.

I was less interested in the practice of female ejaculation and Bell’s manual of how to achieve it (which forms much of the basis of chapter two), than the writing itself and the various references to philosophical theory, performance art, and politics of the body. When Fast Feminism is meditating at a wake for Horsey—a dog that died because he could not digest a bone, Bell asked one of the participants at the wake to reach inside her vagina and remove the package of money she'd placed there as a donation. This action evoked Carolee Schneemann's 1975 performance, "Interior Scroll," in which she slowly extracted rolled up paper from inside her vagina, whilst reading from a text that reflected the subject positions of both genders. Moreover, Fast Feminism draws attention to the relationship between currency, the female body, and the way is has been abused by others throughout human history. By branding her body Bell has created a living, breathing commodity.

It is clear from her photographs that Fast Feminism is not an everyday example of an aging female body. Having never borne a child, Bell does not posses drooping breasts, excess fat deposits, stretch marks, scars, sagging stomach muscles, or the like. But she does underscore the fact that in our youth obsessed society, bodies that are old, diseased, or less than "perfect" are generally encouraged to remain hidden from public view. Indeed, a strategy against the aging body and diseased organs is the development within biomedicine of tissue engineered replacement body parts. Riding on the intrigue and possibility for experimentation as well as the resulting rarefied aesthetic that tissue-engineering offer, a number of artists have been motivated to move into the realm of creating bio-artificial artifacts. Bell’s tissue-engineered phallus invites us to think about human evolution in relation to the construction of sexuality and the immense impact that various technologies do and will have on the way we perceive ourselves and others in real and imaginary domains.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Fast Feminism and would recommend it to anyone interested in performance art, philosophy and sexuality.

Excerpted from Anything But Human

Written by: Julie Clarke, September 4th 2010

Bcute Curve

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By AdultSexToys.com

You know the panties you like: the old pair that look like they've had their time and then some; the ones you won't get rid of because they're so comfy, but would never dream of wearing for a first date? While they'll continue to live a lengthy drawer life, your personal massager—the only thing likely laying beside them—most likely will not.

Thus, you may need the Bcute Curve from B Swish. At less than four inches, this massager is true to its name. Small and smooth to the touch, it can easily find a storage place and is convenient for travel. With multiple speeds, you can choose your pleasure level and have plenty of room to experiment. With a waterproof silicone design, you can be as adventurous or naughty as you like.

If the Bcute Curve is not the style for you, don't be discouraged. B Swish offers an assortment of massagers that appeal to anyone’s desire for private time pleasure. Not only do the products impress, but the company's website is an experience in and of itself. Perusing the easy to navigate site, you'll find yourself feeling sexy just by looking. Equally satisfying is that B Swish cares for the woman's body. Their line of Pjur lubricants and essentials are gentle on irritated and sensitive skin.

In addition to the great designs and products, the price is right. B Swish does an excellent job of combining sexy with quality, while making it affordable. The company also believes in not harming the environment and only produces their massagers with ABS plastics that are RoHS and FDA compliant, which means you get the strength and reliability without harmful toxins.

Bcute, bclassic or bcurious, but whatever you be, be savvy with B Swish.

Written by: Irene Wazgowska, May 26th 2010

Couture Collection Tsunami

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

By AdultSexToys.com

A vibe is a vibe is a vibe right? The way I see it, how many varieties of vibrators can there possibly be? Well, a lot! There are a ton of vibrators out there and depending on what you are looking for, you can get exactly the one that features everything you desire.

The Couture Collection Tsunami Silicone Vibrator is a G-spot stimulator, seven-function, Japanese silicone vibrator available for purchase at a variety of sex toy shops. It is seven inches by 1.5 inches, if size matters to you, and is multi-ridged with a pinpoint head. It typically costs around eighty dollars. If you check out AdultSexToys.com, you will see that the Couture Collection also offers many other options of similar vibes.

I've only really ever used the typical low quality bullet vibes, so this vibrator was a sassy step up! I really liked that the Tsunami runs on AA batteries, instead of the smaller ones some use that you can only usually find at the sex toy store you bought it from. So, if you are out, you can just pop over to any store and get new ones. Plus, it is quite portable since it is not a plug-in.

While I am not usually interested in sex toy use in water, it is completely waterproof. That means if you are into water fun, you could definitely get splashing without fear of ruining it. On the downside, I found the battery compartment near to impossible to open. It probably has to be very secure so that there is no water leakage, but I had to struggle with it roughly for quite a while to pop it open. I was almost ready to throw it across the room!

The seven functions mentioned include vibration, pulsation, and escalation, which means there are three levels of normal, continuous vibration; two escalating vibrations increasing from gentle to fast; and two pulsing vibrations. It is moderately quiet for more discreet use, for instance, if you have roommates!

Using it with a partner was difficult and actually kind of humorous as the function button was quite sensitive, or as the company described it, has a “feather-touch.” The Tsunami would change to the next function at the slightest pressure. So, if you are looking for some spontaneity it perhaps could serve you well; however, while I found it funny, the constant shifting was, unfortunately, a bit too distracting in the end.

Overall, the vibrator is very high quality and definitely worth the higher price. It can be used on the clitoris and for penetration and G-spot stimulation. It offers nearly all possible combinations of vibrating power. I mean, I'm not sure what else you could possibly want when looking for a vibrator! So, get greedy, treat yourself, and check out the Couture Collection Tsunami.

Written by: Lesley Kartali, May 23rd 2010

Emma's Passion Garden Water Lily

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By AdultSexToys.com

Finding the right vibrator is a difficult choice. Too weak and it will not get the job done. Too strong... well, there will be some discomfort the next day. The Water Lily model from California Exotic Novelties' line Emma's Passion Garden claims “flowers are a girl's best friend,” but how well does it work?

The Water Lily is not a scary looking vibrator. Shaped more like a calla lily than a water lily, the purple body of the Water Lily even has textured “leaves” at the base. The box is tastefully done, with an attractive woman wearing a Grecian-style dress. The bottom of the vibrator can be screwed off, revealing the battery pack that contains two AA batteries. The seal on this part of the vibrator is secure, a must for a waterproof vibrator.

The Water Lily has a push button controller with three settings. To turn it off, push the button four times. That button control gives the user complete control of how powerful the vibration is, and because of its location, the button cannot be hit by accident during use.

Now to the shape of the vibrator. The box advertises that the pistol of the flower is the vibrating part, perfect for stimulating the clitoris. However, that is not the case. Powered by a silver bullet near the top of the toy, the entire unit vibrates. While the flower shape of the toy cups the clitoral area, a user gets more stimulation by flipping the vibrator over and using the silver bullet directly. The actual movement of the pistol is minimal.

While the Water Lily design may not be ideal for all women, it does work wonders in the water. Because of the elongated length of the toy, it is easy to use in the bathtub without straining the user's hand. If you are looking for a vibrator to keep by the bedside, the Water Lily may not be the one for you. But if you looking to add a little more fun to bath time, then you might want to consider the Water Lily.

Written by: BSCG, May 10th 2010

Doc Johnson Japanese G-Spot Squirmy Vibe

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

By AdultSexToys.com

People do not like to think of themselves as inadequate or deformed. Therefore, while I do not doubt that this is a perfectly adequate small vibrator with external stimulator, I do doubt that I have a G-spot, or that it is even an established existing anatomical structure. But, low—review the internet again, and it is revealed that I might, indeed, be a mutant.

Although, glance once more, and other researchers conclude “the G-spot is rather a perception created by non physiological factors that can cause a heightened sexual sensation” (Journal of Sexual Medicine, January 4, 2010). Named in honor of the German gynecologist Dr. Ernst Gräfenberg, this bean-shaped region one to three inches within the vagina on its anterior wall, has always made me suspicious. Perhaps out of jealousy—if one of my sister feminists has an extra sensory source of delight, more power to her, and may she celebrate it frequently. However, given the history of clitoral orgasm’s ‘immature’ status, I view attempts to locate more sensitive vaginal regions with some doubt, that their existence might give lazy males an excuse to minimize time outside the vagina engaging in more delicate foreplay.

I tried this toy in bed, I tried it in the bathtub, I tried in the shower, I tried it standing up, I tried it suspended upside-down in a harness—okay, the last one is a lie. No matter how applied, I experienced a smile’s worth of stimulation, not an eye-rolling, scream-stifling, leg-shaking good time. Maybe I’m just too much of a Rabbit junkie.

That being said, the Doc Johnson Japanese G-Spot Squirmy Vibe has independent rotation and clit stimulation controls, three levels apiece, can rotate both ways, and is waterproof. The control panel lights up in the dark, and it is a reasonable eight-inch length with a three-inch working end intended for G-spot stimulation. Available in lavender and rose, the softer latex casing was a pleasant surprise. The three AAA batteries required for its operation are not included. This might be a good gateway toy from a bullet or finger vibe to more formidable hardware.

Written by: Paulette S. Case, April 21st 2010

Blueberry Buzz

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By Babeland

The Blueberry Buzz vibrator looks like a good time, if a good time brings the 1970s disco era to mind—you dancing with your friends in a place overflowing with neon electric lights and disco music. This vibrator, in a loud neon electric blue, looks like a lava lamp, only in miniature. It is a compact 6.25 inches, and approximately one inch wide, which makes it a great travel companion—but clearly, in size and girth, won’t rock your world.

The series of Waterproof Turbo Gliders is touted as being waterproof, and I can confirm the battery-powered vibrator still works when wet. The sound of the vibe is quite tame compared to the buzz-saw cacophony of some other vibes out there, which, for me, is one of the Blueberry Buzz's advantages.

At the same time, the power of the vibrator itself is moderately palpable at best. The power is muted by the fact that the head, or nodule, at the tip of the vibrator is separated from the body of the vibrator by a plastic disk. The consequence is that the head is detached from the vibrations that shake the body of the vibrator; there’s no action at the tip. The plasticity of the vibrator again adds to its value as a travel companion, but it also makes the vibrator feel terribly cheap—it seems more of a gag gift than sex toy.

Also a bit perplexing is the product note included in the package, which reads “[f]or external use only.” Um... really? To my vibe-enthusiasts out there, I suppose there’s not much more to say, now, is there? Clearly Blueberry Buzz is intended for some lighthearted fun—perhaps even waved around as a glow-stick at a Jonas Brothers concert—but it is not intended for hardcore action.

Written by: Zara Thustra, April 12th 2010

Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:01:00 +0000

By Claire Cavanah, Rachel Venning

Avery Books

If you’re looking for a book about anything and everything related to sex, look no further than Moregasm. It starts with the basics—getting to know the lay of the land on a woman’s body. It moves on to a thorough discussion of orgasms, masturbation, and toys; a chapter on men; an exploration of what can turn you on; a how-to on sex with the hand or mouth; penis-in-vagina intercourse; safe sex practices; and a question and answer section. Each chapter also has its own Q&A more specifically related to the topic of that chapter.

With its bright colors, pictures and diagrams on almost every page, and clear language, it’s informative, and also very easy—even fun!—to read. It assumes you know nothing and gives general information that’s easy to follow, but it also has some suggestions for how to spice things up and take things to the next level if you’re no longer a novice.

One of the best sections of this book is the chapter entitled “Love Thyself,” and discusses orgasms, masturbation, and sex toys. It’s not exactly a surprise that this chapter has the most information, seeing as how the book is Babeland’s guide to sex and Babeland is all about sex toys and self-love. Another chapter choc-full of information was “Getting Off: By Hand, By Mouth.” These chapters were my favorites because they had great information with detailed diagrams, but the book has a little something for almost everyone, whether you’re looking to try BDSM or anal sex, or just getting started with a vibrator.

I will say that this book probably doesn’t have a lot for you if you’re a sex expert. It can bring you back to basics, but if you’ve been there, done that with everything sex-related, it won’t offer much in the way of new information. Overall, though, it’s informative and engaging. This is definitely a book I’ll recommend to my friends and keep handy so I can refer to it periodically.

Written by: frau sally benz, March 18th 2010

Silicone Night Time Buddy

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:01:00 +0000

By AdultSexToys.com

Virgins beware. This dick does not come with training wheels.

For weeks I looked forward to my pale pink Night Time Buddy. The picture I saw online made it look so cute... and effective. Upon opening the box, however, cute was not what came to mind. Six inches always sounded so good, yet when I feverishly cut away the packaging tape what came to mind was “huge” and, admittedly, “terrifying.”

Generals: Two AA batteries (not included) and about half an hour later I had faith that the Night Time Buddy had earned its (largish) place among the other battery-operated gadgets in my nightstand drawer. At first, the veins and balls gave my gizmo the uncanny valley effect, but I soon realized that once between your legs, it really doesn’t matter what it looks like. My new pal, er, buddy, has four fun vibrating settings with different rhythms, and will never go soft on you when you’re in the mood. I do wish that the vibrations were a little more intense, but the highest setting got me there with a little effort.

Details: The suction cup worked great on the kitchen counter, but in the bedroom I was hard-pressed to find something it would grip. It does not stick to the wall, and I didn’t even try putting my particleboard Ikea furniture at the peril of my bucking hips. In order to take full advantage of that feature, you’re going to need to be resourceful. Fake balls, like real balls, don’t do that much for me, so the two flat pink feet at the bottom of my new penis (which also comes in blue or purple) sort of seemed to get in the way.

Finally, size does matter. Maybe I need a little more time with the Buddy, but for an external masturbator (me, not the dildo), this guy is enormous. The head seems to have extra girth, and after a few uses I got something I once read about in a magazine called “hairline tears in the vaginal entrance.” Lubrication was not the issue. Perhaps it’s because silicone, though quite pliable, does not have the same give as flesh. Or maybe it’s because this dick is huge. But whether it’s too big or I’m too small, I’m okay with either.

All these painfully realistic details aside, the thing does work. With fresh batteries and a sense of adventure the Night Time Buddy can go a long way. Between internal and external stimulation, suction to a (limited) number of surfaces, and plenty of penis to go around—there is a little something for everyone. If you know what 6x2 is like, and you can handle it, I say go for it.

Written by: Tatiana Ryckman, February 19th 2010

Blossom Sleeve

admin — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:13:00 +0000

By Babeland

Billed as ‘The Personal Choice of The Wicked™ Girls’ (though what they would do with it is far from obvious), the Blossom Sleeve is a ‘deep penetrating’ four-inch, ribbed tunnel made of Senso® material. Remember those twenty-five cent rubberish spiders that stuck to the wall it was thrown against, and subsequently 'walked' down? That's the stuff this is made of. Who ever said squishy toy spiders don’t feel anything like vaginas? The Blossom Sleeve even has eight little petals standing in for labia minora. But I’m making this all sound less appealing than it actually is. It heats up quickly and is a very nice masturbator once you grasp the essential fact that it can, and should, be enjoyed hands free. I'll leave you to sort out the logistics on your own, but it tears easily, so be gentle, use lots of compatible lube (BabeLube works quite nicely), and clean it with short fingernails or you’ll be on the market for a new one.

Written by: Kramer Goldsack, November 10th 2007