Objects can be sites of powerful eroticism and desire, yet the sexualization of objects has a long history of taboo and cautionary tales. From the negative connotations around 'objectification' to the fetishization of specific objects, body parts and physical settings, sexuality is always in some sense 'objective.' Are subjective qualities desirable? What is the difference between a simulated sexual experience and a 'real' one? What does Object-Oriented Ontology teach us about the perhaps artificial boundaries between subject and object, and the pleasure/desire relations between and among these? What does dematerialization of experiences (VR/AR, etc.) mean for desire and experience?

This event is dedicated to the exploration of objects and their relationship with pleasure. We will have a workshop on sex toys involving various demonstrations and how-tos, a ‘play’ space for exploring new pleasures, new intimacies, and new solidarities, all preceded by a short film screening and a brief talk on the Pleasure of Objects. Tea service will be available.

Critical Hedonism(s) is a social movement dedicated to redefining the ways that care and pleasure circulate and get expressed, integrating critical, analytical thought with experimentation and exploration.