now if I was to ask you what bad sex was what it looked like
what it looked like
what it looked like sounded like felt like chances are I
sounded like felt like chances are I
sounded like felt like chances are I think that you might come up with quite
think that you might come up with quite
think that you might come up with quite a range of different answers
a range of different answers
a range of different answers there’s no adage that says one person’s
there’s no adage that says one person’s
there’s no adage that says one person’s good sex is another person’s bad but
good sex is another person’s bad but
good sex is another person’s bad but maybe there should be but if I was to
maybe there should be but if I was to
maybe there should be but if I was to ask you what a bad sex scene looked like
ask you what a bad sex scene looked like
ask you what a bad sex scene looked like I think you might come up with some
I think you might come up with some
I think you might come up with some quite similar answers we might talk if
quite similar answers we might talk if
quite similar answers we might talk if we’re thinking about literature about
we’re thinking about literature about
we’re thinking about literature about clunky metaphors or awkwardly mismatched
clunky metaphors or awkwardly mismatched
clunky metaphors or awkwardly mismatched characters or cliches all kind of
characters or cliches all kind of
characters or cliches all kind of euphemisms for sex that just feel
euphemisms for sex that just feel
euphemisms for sex that just feel awkward or embarrassing or bad somehow a
awkward or embarrassing or bad somehow a
awkward or embarrassing or bad somehow a bad sex scene in literature you might
bad sex scene in literature you might
bad sex scene in literature you might say could look something like this like
say could look something like this like
say could look something like this like a Furious Matador he thrusts his
a Furious Matador he thrusts his
a Furious Matador he thrusts his throbbing member into her desperate
throbbing member into her desperate
throbbing member into her desperate yearning flower oh god she cried she was
yearning flower oh god she cried she was
yearning flower oh god she cried she was a locked door begging to be opened and
a locked door begging to be opened and
a locked door begging to be opened and he was the locksmith of her dreams now
he was the locksmith of her dreams now
he was the locksmith of her dreams now this is pretty bad right right I can
this is pretty bad right right I can
this is pretty bad right right I can promise you with almost total certainty
promise you with almost total certainty
promise you with almost total certainty that the author of this passage won’t be
that the author of this passage won’t be
that the author of this passage won’t be offended if you think so because it was
offended if you think so because it was
offended if you think so because it was me and if you can make me a moment of
me and if you can make me a moment of
me and if you can make me a moment of just a very brief I promise literary
just a very brief I promise literary
just a very brief I promise literary analysis this bad sex seems got it all
analysis this bad sex seems got it all
analysis this bad sex seems got it all so it’s got the slightly weird opening
so it’s got the slightly weird opening
so it’s got the slightly weird opening simile so like a Furious Matador it’s
simile so like a Furious Matador it’s
simile so like a Furious Matador it’s got the inevitable but awful genital
got the inevitable but awful genital
got the inevitable but awful genital genital euphemisms so he has a throbbing
genital euphemisms so he has a throbbing
genital euphemisms so he has a throbbing member and she has a desperate yearning
member and she has a desperate yearning
member and she has a desperate yearning flower it has the inevitable exclamation
flower it has the inevitable exclamation
flower it has the inevitable exclamation of female pleasure that has to always
of female pleasure that has to always
of female pleasure that has to always greet the throbbing member and finally
greet the throbbing member and finally
greet the throbbing member and finally as if all of that wasn’t enough it ends
as if all of that wasn’t enough it ends
as if all of that wasn’t enough it ends on a seriously clunky
on a seriously clunky
on a seriously clunky you metaphor she is a locked door
you metaphor she is a locked door
you metaphor she is a locked door begging to be opened
begging to be opened
begging to be opened he is the locksmith of her dreams now as
he is the locksmith of her dreams now as
he is the locksmith of her dreams now as a lecturer in English literature I do a
a lecturer in English literature I do a
a lecturer in English literature I do a lot of research on sex and shame which
lot of research on sex and shame which
lot of research on sex and shame which means that I have to read loads of dirty
means that I have to read loads of dirty
means that I have to read loads of dirty books and it means that I have to watch
books and it means that I have to watch
books and it means that I have to watch loads of truly filthy films which you
loads of truly filthy films which you
loads of truly filthy films which you know isn’t the worst job in the world
know isn’t the worst job in the world
know isn’t the worst job in the world there are worse but I like to make my
there are worse but I like to make my
there are worse but I like to make my job that a little bit more uncomfortable
job that a little bit more uncomfortable
job that a little bit more uncomfortable by deliberately seeking out the sex
by deliberately seeking out the sex
by deliberately seeking out the sex scenes that make me personally feel as
scenes that make me personally feel as
scenes that make me personally feel as embarrassed and awkward as possible and
embarrassed and awkward as possible and
embarrassed and awkward as possible and those are the sex scenes that I write
those are the sex scenes that I write
those are the sex scenes that I write about now I think it’s quite easy if you
about now I think it’s quite easy if you
about now I think it’s quite easy if you want to to avoid bad sex scenes maybe
want to to avoid bad sex scenes maybe
want to to avoid bad sex scenes maybe more so than avoiding bad sex for
more so than avoiding bad sex for
more so than avoiding bad sex for example I can think of one case at least
example I can think of one case at least
example I can think of one case at least where the Christmas Day gift-giving of a
where the Christmas Day gift-giving of a
where the Christmas Day gift-giving of a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey wasn’t
copy of Fifty Shades of Grey wasn’t
copy of Fifty Shades of Grey wasn’t exactly received with the Glee that was
exactly received with the Glee that was
exactly received with the Glee that was perhaps anticipated but what I’d like to
perhaps anticipated but what I’d like to
perhaps anticipated but what I’d like to suggest in my talk today is that we
suggest in my talk today is that we
suggest in my talk today is that we become much more curious about the
become much more curious about the
become much more curious about the embarrassment and awkwardness that we
embarrassment and awkwardness that we
embarrassment and awkwardness that we feel when we experience bad sex scenes
feel when we experience bad sex scenes
feel when we experience bad sex scenes I think bad sex scenes have a lot to
I think bad sex scenes have a lot to
I think bad sex scenes have a lot to teachers about the world that we live in
teachers about the world that we live in
teachers about the world that we live in now in and of itself that’s not exactly
now in and of itself that’s not exactly
now in and of itself that’s not exactly a revolutionary idea that notorious
a revolutionary idea that notorious
a revolutionary idea that notorious bedroom curtain twitcher freud had a lot
bedroom curtain twitcher freud had a lot
bedroom curtain twitcher freud had a lot to teach us about the way that our
to teach us about the way that our
to teach us about the way that our desires shape culture and how culture
desires shape culture and how culture
desires shape culture and how culture shapes our desires in return and we need
shapes our desires in return and we need
shapes our desires in return and we need to take a more contemporary example that
to take a more contemporary example that
to take a more contemporary example that the sustained consumption of hardcore
the sustained consumption of hardcore
the sustained consumption of hardcore pornography not only changes our
pornography not only changes our
pornography not only changes our attitudes attitudes to sex but the way
attitudes attitudes to sex but the way
attitudes attitudes to sex but the way we actually go on to have it so just as
we actually go on to have it so just as
we actually go on to have it so just as we shape the culture then we’re shaped
we shape the culture then we’re shaped
we shape the culture then we’re shaped by it
by it
by it in return so let’s talk about bad sex
in return so let’s talk about bad sex
in return so let’s talk about bad sex scenes why they make us feel awkward and
scenes why they make us feel awkward and
scenes why they make us feel awkward and what we can learn from those feelings of
what we can learn from those feelings of
what we can learn from those feelings of kind of cringe enos and embarrassment
kind of cringe enos and embarrassment
kind of cringe enos and embarrassment when we watch or read them okay so the
when we watch or read them okay so the
when we watch or read them okay so the first thing to think about when we’re
first thing to think about when we’re
first thing to think about when we’re thinking about shame and embarrassment
thinking about shame and embarrassment
thinking about shame and embarrassment in particular is the way that those
in particular is the way that those
in particular is the way that those feelings are actually related to
feelings are actually related to
feelings are actually related to feelings of interest and enjoyment which
feelings of interest and enjoyment which
feelings of interest and enjoyment which might have first seemed quite
might have first seemed quite
might have first seemed quite counterintuitive it might seem to you
counterintuitive it might seem to you
counterintuitive it might seem to you that feelings of shame and embarrassment
that feelings of shame and embarrassment
that feelings of shame and embarrassment are actually the opposite to feelings of
are actually the opposite to feelings of
are actually the opposite to feelings of interest and absorption and enjoyment
interest and absorption and enjoyment
interest and absorption and enjoyment and pleasure but what I want to suggest
and pleasure but what I want to suggest
and pleasure but what I want to suggest to you today is that for there to exist
to you today is that for there to exist
to you today is that for there to exist the possibility that we are turned off
the possibility that we are turned off
the possibility that we are turned off by something there also has to exist the
by something there also has to exist the
by something there also has to exist the possibility that we can be turned on by
possibility that we can be turned on by
possibility that we can be turned on by it now mid 20th century American
it now mid 20th century American
it now mid 20th century American psychologist called sylvan tompkins came
psychologist called sylvan tompkins came
psychologist called sylvan tompkins came up with some really useful ideas about
up with some really useful ideas about
up with some really useful ideas about how to think about this relationship
how to think about this relationship
how to think about this relationship between pleasure and enjoyment on one
between pleasure and enjoyment on one
between pleasure and enjoyment on one hand and shame and embarrassment on the
hand and shame and embarrassment on the
hand and shame and embarrassment on the other and what he said about shame is
other and what he said about shame is
other and what he said about shame is that it happens only when we’ve had some
that it happens only when we’ve had some
that it happens only when we’ve had some kind of prior interest in a thing or a
kind of prior interest in a thing or a
kind of prior interest in a thing or a person so what he said about shame then
person so what he said about shame then
person so what he said about shame then is that shame operates ordinarily only
is that shame operates ordinarily only
is that shame operates ordinarily only after interest or enjoyment has been
after interest or enjoyment has been
after interest or enjoyment has been activated and inhibits one or the other
activated and inhibits one or the other
activated and inhibits one or the other or both
or both
or both so for shame to happen there has to have
so for shame to happen there has to have
so for shame to happen there has to have been some interest and furthermore he
been some interest and furthermore he
been some interest and furthermore he discovered in his work that shame also
discovered in his work that shame also
discovered in his work that shame also only happens when you’ve been unable to
only happens when you’ve been unable to
only happens when you’ve been unable to completely cut off your interest in the
completely cut off your interest in the
completely cut off your interest in the thing that’s now causing you shame and
thing that’s now causing you shame and
thing that’s now causing you shame and to illustrate that he used a set of
to illustrate that he used a set of
to illustrate that he used a set of really interesting examples of the
really interesting examples of the
really interesting examples of the experience of seeing a stranger on the
experience of seeing a stranger on the
experience of seeing a stranger on the street
so Tompkins says that shame happens in
so Tompkins says that shame happens in these circumstances then firstly you
these circumstances then firstly you
these circumstances then firstly you looked at by a stranger I think we can
looked at by a stranger I think we can
looked at by a stranger I think we can all relate to that if we looked at by a
all relate to that if we looked at by a
all relate to that if we looked at by a stranger it can make us feel a bit
stranger it can make us feel a bit
stranger it can make us feel a bit awkward self-conscious embarrassed or
awkward self-conscious embarrassed or
awkward self-conscious embarrassed or you’re interested in looking at someone
you’re interested in looking at someone
you’re interested in looking at someone but suddenly can’t because they’re
but suddenly can’t because they’re
but suddenly can’t because they’re strange or you expect someone to be
strange or you expect someone to be
strange or you expect someone to be familiar but they turn out to be
familiar but they turn out to be
familiar but they turn out to be unfamiliar and I think what he’s talking
unfamiliar and I think what he’s talking
unfamiliar and I think what he’s talking about here is the experience of thinking
about here is the experience of thinking
about here is the experience of thinking that you know someone and then them
that you know someone and then them
that you know someone and then them taking you by surprise or and this last
taking you by surprise or and this last
taking you by surprise or and this last example I think will speak to anyone who
example I think will speak to anyone who
example I think will speak to anyone who incredibly short-sighted like I am you
incredibly short-sighted like I am you
incredibly short-sighted like I am you start to smile at someone in the street
start to smile at someone in the street
start to smile at someone in the street hello then realize they’re a stranger so
hello then realize they’re a stranger so
hello then realize they’re a stranger so all of these examples he says cause a
all of these examples he says cause a
all of these examples he says cause a shame but they’re all examples that are
shame but they’re all examples that are
shame but they’re all examples that are to do with having some kind of interest
to do with having some kind of interest
to do with having some kind of interest in something that’s then cut off causing
in something that’s then cut off causing
in something that’s then cut off causing a shame shame throws us back then
a shame shame throws us back then
a shame shame throws us back then suddenly self-consciously on ourselves
suddenly self-consciously on ourselves
suddenly self-consciously on ourselves our interest has been severed we might
our interest has been severed we might
our interest has been severed we might feel when we’re ashamed like we have
feel when we’re ashamed like we have
feel when we’re ashamed like we have something on our face that everybody can
something on our face that everybody can
something on our face that everybody can see except us so that’s a little bit of
see except us so that’s a little bit of
see except us so that’s a little bit of background about how shame and
background about how shame and
background about how shame and embarrassment are related to interest
embarrassment are related to interest
embarrassment are related to interest and pleasure but what does this mean for
and pleasure but what does this mean for
and pleasure but what does this mean for thinking about literature and for
thinking about literature and for
thinking about literature and for thinking about bad sex scenes in
thinking about bad sex scenes in
thinking about bad sex scenes in particular well to start to answer that
particular well to start to answer that
particular well to start to answer that question I want to take us back in time
question I want to take us back in time
question I want to take us back in time a little bit to the 1920s to the
a little bit to the 1920s to the
a little bit to the 1920s to the publication of these two books so the H
publication of these two books so the H
publication of these two books so the H Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover and James Joyce’s Ulysses now both of
and James Joyce’s Ulysses now both of
and James Joyce’s Ulysses now both of these books were banned almost as soon
these books were banned almost as soon
these books were banned almost as soon as they were published on account of
as they were published on account of
as they were published on account of containing what was judged to be
containing what was judged to be
containing what was judged to be sexually obscene material ulysses
sexually obscene material ulysses
sexually obscene material ulysses famously features an account of a man
famously features an account of a man
famously features an account of a man masturbating on a beach whilst he looks
masturbating on a beach whilst he looks
masturbating on a beach whilst he looks a woman he
a woman he
a woman he is an avid reader of romance novels
is an avid reader of romance novels
is an avid reader of romance novels slowly lifting her skirts and Lady
slowly lifting her skirts and Lady
slowly lifting her skirts and Lady Chatterley’s liver features an account
Chatterley’s liver features an account
Chatterley’s liver features an account of an affair across class lines and also
of an affair across class lines and also
of an affair across class lines and also features a really detailed anal sex
features a really detailed anal sex
features a really detailed anal sex scene so when these books were published
scene so when these books were published
scene so when these books were published and then when they were subsequently
and then when they were subsequently
and then when they were subsequently subsequently banned censors called them
subsequently banned censors called them
subsequently banned censors called them slimy and disgusting and immoral and
slimy and disgusting and immoral and
slimy and disgusting and immoral and evil and there was particularly an
evil and there was particularly an
evil and there was particularly an anxiety about the possibility that women
anxiety about the possibility that women
anxiety about the possibility that women might read these books it being felt at
might read these books it being felt at
might read these books it being felt at the time although I still think this
the time although I still think this
the time although I still think this belief persists to some extent that
belief persists to some extent that
belief persists to some extent that women were likely to be more sexually
women were likely to be more sexually
women were likely to be more sexually corrupted by reading literature and
corrupted by reading literature and
corrupted by reading literature and seeing some knowing smiles and the
seeing some knowing smiles and the
seeing some knowing smiles and the audience there than men were in other
audience there than men were in other
audience there than men were in other words that a woman would read Ulysses
words that a woman would read Ulysses
words that a woman would read Ulysses one day and then the next day go out to
one day and then the next day go out to
one day and then the next day go out to a beach and Hika skirts up that was the
a beach and Hika skirts up that was the
a beach and Hika skirts up that was the belief so both of these books then hit
belief so both of these books then hit
belief so both of these books then hit kinds of raw cultural nerve when it came
kinds of raw cultural nerve when it came
kinds of raw cultural nerve when it came to sex Ulysses was mocking the very
to sex Ulysses was mocking the very
to sex Ulysses was mocking the very thing that ultimately got it banned the
thing that ultimately got it banned the
thing that ultimately got it banned the idea that women reading literature was
idea that women reading literature was
idea that women reading literature was going to make them sexually corrupt
going to make them sexually corrupt
going to make them sexually corrupt somehow and Lady Chatterley’s liver was
somehow and Lady Chatterley’s liver was
somehow and Lady Chatterley’s liver was kind of a triple hitter not only did it
kind of a triple hitter not only did it
kind of a triple hitter not only did it feature an affair across class lines the
feature an affair across class lines the
feature an affair across class lines the belief being in English society at that
belief being in English society at that
belief being in English society at that time that the only way that that society
time that the only way that that society
time that the only way that that society was going to care was if people didn’t
was going to care was if people didn’t
was going to care was if people didn’t move across class lines it also featured
move across class lines it also featured
move across class lines it also featured a really detailed account of female
a really detailed account of female
a really detailed account of female sexual desire and it brought with it the
sexual desire and it brought with it the
sexual desire and it brought with it the suggestion that World War one had
suggestion that World War one had
suggestion that World War one had somehow rendered the elite classes
somehow rendered the elite classes
somehow rendered the elite classes impotent so these were both books then
impotent so these were both books then
impotent so these were both books then that made judges very nervous and in
that made judges very nervous and in
that made judges very nervous and in return they labeled these books as bad
return they labeled these books as bad
return they labeled these books as bad and that’s another way of thinking about
and that’s another way of thinking about
and that’s another way of thinking about the word bad in my title today that bad
the word bad in my title today that bad
the word bad in my title today that bad sex scenes are not just sex scenes that
sex scenes are not just sex scenes that
sex scenes are not just sex scenes that have been deemed to be poorly written
have been deemed to be poorly written
have been deemed to be poorly written somehow like a stunning passage from the
somehow like a stunning passage from the
somehow like a stunning passage from the beginning of my talk
beginning of my talk
beginning of my talk but they’re also sex scenes that have
but they’re also sex scenes that have
but they’re also sex scenes that have been viewed to be somehow morally
been viewed to be somehow morally
been viewed to be somehow morally objectionable sex scenes that are going
objectionable sex scenes that are going
objectionable sex scenes that are going to turn readers rotten here’s the catch
to turn readers rotten here’s the catch
to turn readers rotten here’s the catch though in order to decide that a book is
though in order to decide that a book is
though in order to decide that a book is dirty you have to have a dirty mind and
dirty you have to have a dirty mind and
dirty you have to have a dirty mind and I think this is something that the
I think this is something that the
I think this is something that the judges who banned these books were
judges who banned these books were
judges who banned these books were trying to draw a kind of pure righteous
trying to draw a kind of pure righteous
trying to draw a kind of pure righteous looking veil over and that’s another
looking veil over and that’s another
looking veil over and that’s another thing that shame allows us to do if we
thing that shame allows us to do if we
thing that shame allows us to do if we call something shameful we get to kind
call something shameful we get to kind
call something shameful we get to kind of hold it a distance from us and
of hold it a distance from us and
of hold it a distance from us and pretend we’re not personally implicated
pretend we’re not personally implicated
pretend we’re not personally implicated by it the judges who banned these books
by it the judges who banned these books
by it the judges who banned these books then were afraid that they were going to
then were afraid that they were going to
then were afraid that they were going to kind of bring into being a society where
kind of bring into being a society where
kind of bring into being a society where for example people had anonymous sex or
for example people had anonymous sex or
for example people had anonymous sex or had affairs or enjoyed taboo kinds of
had affairs or enjoyed taboo kinds of
had affairs or enjoyed taboo kinds of sex without realizing that the fact that
sex without realizing that the fact that
sex without realizing that the fact that these books had been written was proof
these books had been written was proof
these books had been written was proof of the fact that that society was
of the fact that that society was
of the fact that that society was already in place okay so today we view
already in place okay so today we view
already in place okay so today we view these books as modern-day classics and
these books as modern-day classics and
these books as modern-day classics and they provide us with really interesting
they provide us with really interesting
they provide us with really interesting windows onto the times that they were
windows onto the times that they were
windows onto the times that they were written in and sure yep particularly for
written in and sure yep particularly for
written in and sure yep particularly for me lately Lady Chatterley’s liver
me lately Lady Chatterley’s liver
me lately Lady Chatterley’s liver contains scenes that feel kind of cringy
contains scenes that feel kind of cringy
contains scenes that feel kind of cringy but what I’d like to suggest is that we
but what I’d like to suggest is that we
but what I’d like to suggest is that we interrogate and become curious about the
interrogate and become curious about the
interrogate and become curious about the feeling for what it can teachers about
feeling for what it can teachers about
feeling for what it can teachers about what we want and don’t want from sex and
what we want and don’t want from sex and
what we want and don’t want from sex and about the world that we live in
about the world that we live in
about the world that we live in more generally okay so to bring it
more generally okay so to bring it
more generally okay so to bring it forward took the contemporary then we
forward took the contemporary then we
forward took the contemporary then we don’t really ban books in the West so
don’t really ban books in the West so
don’t really ban books in the West so much anymore although it still happens
much anymore although it still happens
much anymore although it still happens but what we have are other kinds of
but what we have are other kinds of
but what we have are other kinds of disciplinary mechanisms for pushing away
disciplinary mechanisms for pushing away
disciplinary mechanisms for pushing away the bad sex and the bad sex seems that
the bad sex and the bad sex seems that
the bad sex and the bad sex seems that we don’t want to encounter and one of
we don’t want to encounter and one of
we don’t want to encounter and one of these happens every year in London
these happens every year in London
these happens every year in London amongst the literary elite and that is
amongst the literary elite and that is
amongst the literary elite and that is the so named bad sex in fiction award
the so named bad sex in fiction award
the so named bad sex in fiction award so every year the bad sex in fiction
so every year the bad sex in fiction
so every year the bad sex in fiction award judges read all the literary
award judges read all the literary
award judges read all the literary fiction from that year and pull out the
fiction from that year and pull out the
fiction from that year and pull out the novels that they believe have most
novels that they believe have most
novels that they believe have most crossed the lines of good taste when it
crossed the lines of good taste when it
crossed the lines of good taste when it comes to their depiction of sex and the
comes to their depiction of sex and the
comes to their depiction of sex and the novelist who they feel has written the
novelist who they feel has written the
novelist who they feel has written the the worst sex scene gets the gb/s honor
the worst sex scene gets the gb/s honor
the worst sex scene gets the gb/s honor of receiving the bad sex in fiction
of receiving the bad sex in fiction
of receiving the bad sex in fiction award now it goes without saying that no
award now it goes without saying that no
award now it goes without saying that no novelist wants to receive this award
novelist wants to receive this award
novelist wants to receive this award just as no one presumably wants to be
just as no one presumably wants to be
just as no one presumably wants to be told that they’re bad in bed and hardly
told that they’re bad in bed and hardly
told that they’re bad in bed and hardly ever any novelist ever turns up to
ever any novelist ever turns up to
ever any novelist ever turns up to collect their prize because the bad sex
collect their prize because the bad sex
collect their prize because the bad sex in fiction award is kind of like a
in fiction award is kind of like a
in fiction award is kind of like a modern-day stalks that has almost
modern-day stalks that has almost
modern-day stalks that has almost started to work to shame authors of
started to work to shame authors of
started to work to shame authors of literary fiction out of even trying to
literary fiction out of even trying to
literary fiction out of even trying to write about sex in their books for fear
write about sex in their books for fear
write about sex in their books for fear that they might receive one of these
that they might receive one of these
that they might receive one of these awards the bad sex in fiction award in
awards the bad sex in fiction award in
awards the bad sex in fiction award in other words feeds on shame and we have
other words feeds on shame and we have
other words feeds on shame and we have other ways of shaming or pushing away
other ways of shaming or pushing away
other ways of shaming or pushing away the sex scenes that we don’t want to
the sex scenes that we don’t want to
the sex scenes that we don’t want to think about in contemporary society and
think about in contemporary society and
think about in contemporary society and another one of those ways is mocking
another one of those ways is mocking
another one of those ways is mocking people who read erotic fiction which I
people who read erotic fiction which I
people who read erotic fiction which I think you can see a lot with the kind of
think you can see a lot with the kind of
think you can see a lot with the kind of cultural snobbery that greeted the
cultural snobbery that greeted the
cultural snobbery that greeted the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey
publication of Fifty Shades of Grey
publication of Fifty Shades of Grey now I had a high school English teacher
now I had a high school English teacher
now I had a high school English teacher he when my friends and I were reading
he when my friends and I were reading
he when my friends and I were reading books like Fifty Shades of Grey
books like Fifty Shades of Grey
books like Fifty Shades of Grey as teenagers used to tell us in a very
as teenagers used to tell us in a very
as teenagers used to tell us in a very haughty grammar school teacher sort of
haughty grammar school teacher sort of
haughty grammar school teacher sort of voice these books girls and like
voice these books girls and like
voice these books girls and like drinking dirty milk that’s how she’d say
drinking dirty milk that’s how she’d say
drinking dirty milk that’s how she’d say it and I think the implication there was
it and I think the implication there was
it and I think the implication there was that by reading these books we were
that by reading these books we were
that by reading these books we were somehow turning ourselves into dirty
somehow turning ourselves into dirty
somehow turning ourselves into dirty girls so she was trying to censor our
girls so she was trying to censor our
girls so she was trying to censor our reading in a way that I think there’s a
reading in a way that I think there’s a
reading in a way that I think there’s a certain kind of censorship today around
certain kind of censorship today around
certain kind of censorship today around contemporary erotica
contemporary erotica
contemporary erotica so maybe we haven’t moved on so far then
so maybe we haven’t moved on so far then
so maybe we haven’t moved on so far then since the days of Ulysses and Lady
since the days of Ulysses and Lady
since the days of Ulysses and Lady Chatterley’s liver but what I’d like to
Chatterley’s liver but what I’d like to
Chatterley’s liver but what I’d like to suggest is this next time we feel
suggest is this next time we feel
suggest is this next time we feel embarrassed about a bad sex scene and
embarrassed about a bad sex scene and
embarrassed about a bad sex scene and want to hold the sofa cushion over our
want to hold the sofa cushion over our
want to hold the sofa cushion over our face or slam the book sure how about we
face or slam the book sure how about we
face or slam the book sure how about we become a bit more curious about that
become a bit more curious about that
become a bit more curious about that feeling about what it can tell us not
feeling about what it can tell us not
feeling about what it can tell us not only about our hopes and desires for sex
only about our hopes and desires for sex
only about our hopes and desires for sex but about the way that we move through
but about the way that we move through
but about the way that we move through the world it could be then that bad sex
the world it could be then that bad sex
the world it could be then that bad sex scenes are kinds of invitation in
scenes are kinds of invitation in
scenes are kinds of invitation in disguise to come back to our
disguise to come back to our
disguise to come back to our prize-winning passage from the beginning
prize-winning passage from the beginning
prize-winning passage from the beginning of the talk bad sex scenes could be like
of the talk bad sex scenes could be like
of the talk bad sex scenes could be like locked doors begging to be opened which
locked doors begging to be opened which
locked doors begging to be opened which might just make us the locksmiths of
might just make us the locksmiths of
might just make us the locksmiths of their dreams thank you
their dreams thank you
their dreams thank you [Applause]
”
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