Thomas Hoving, the former Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art was once quoted exclaiming: “Art is sexy! Art is money-sexy! Art is money-sexy-social-climbing fantastic!” Art is sexy, especially when subject matter of the art is sex itself. New York and Paris are recognized globally as epicenters of the art world. But let’s bypass these cities’ PG-rated arts institutions for a moment–forget the Louvre, the MoMA, the Musée d’Orsay, the Guggenheim…
Instead, let’s explore the racier, the oh-la-la museums of these respective cities: the Museum of Sex in Manhattan and Paris’ own Musée de l’érotisme. “Now hold on a New York minute!” you cry. Rightfully so, my darlings, for “SEX” and “EROTIC” are certainly not one in the same. Lets consult the dictionary why don’t we…says Merriam Webster:
Sex (noun): the sum of the structural, functional, and behavioral characteristics of organisms that are involved in reproduction marked by the union of gametes
Erotic (adjective): of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire.
Hmmmm…the definition of sex is not so…sexy. I wonder, could it be that the difference between American and French attitudes towards sex lies in this seemingly insignificant choice of words?! Peut-être…
I begin my investigation by examining who is leading the charge. In the Paris it is Alain Plumey and Joseph Khalifa, who assembled a vast collection of erotic art and artifacts in the 30 years that preceded the museum’s opening in 1997. Located in Paris’ red-light district, Pigalle is notorious for its peep shows, sex shops, prostitutes, and strip clubs. Plumey explains: “The quarter had stopped being sexy. We’re getting it back there.”
Their New York counterpart, Daniel Gluck takes a drastically different attitude, he explains that The Museum of Sex (MoSex) is dedicated to “the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality.” Its mission is not to make its environment sexier, but to bring the public the best current scholarship on sex. Looking for salaciousness and titillation? Pas à MoSex.
It has been said of French women that they are irresistible because of their coquettish nature, their sultry coolness, their discretion, and most importantly, their ability to maintain an air of mystery. The current exhibition on at New York’s Museum of Sex is “The Sex Lives of Animals.” Trust me, there is no mystery in seeing two elephants shag. Contortionists? Definitely more mysterious. That is the current show at Musée de l’érotisme, along with a several other exhibitions that boast everything from erotic drawings to sexy leatherwork.
Alain Plumey concedes that people’s erotic tastes differ according to nationality. In his model the breakdown is as follows: “The English like latex and spanking, the Germans like toilets, the French like lingerie and the Americans like big breasts.”
What do you think She is French followers? Which side of the pond do you fall on–sex or erotica?
~Lily La Tigresse