CSGS Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality at New York University » art exhibit

“Spanking and Poetry”: An Exhibition & Conference on Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick

Robert — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:28:54 +0000

February 25-26, 2010

CUNY Graduate Center
365 Fifth Avenue
New York City

Visit the “Spanking and Poetry” website for more info.

Gender, Sexuality, and Social Transformation in South Korea

Robert — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:25:20 +0000

Colloquium and Photo Exhibition at NYU

Organizers:
Sealing Cheng, Assistant Prof., Women’s Studies, Wellesley: sealing.cheng@gmail.com
Henry Em, Associate Prof., NYU East Asian Studies: henryem@gmail.com

The aim of the photo exhibition, colloquium, and methods workshop is to analyze and intervene in the debate over sex work/prostitution in South Korea.

Rather than simply confirm victimhood, or affirm dominant beliefs, attitudes, and values in representations of sex workers as abject (representations that do not produce emancipatory politics), how might sex workers be engaged as interlocutors?

In gaining visibility for the politically under-represented, such as sex workers, who is required to display what, and to whom? Can photography by sex workers de-naturalize ideological common sense, and reverse voyeuristic representations that only foster sentimentality and charity?

I. Photo Exhibition: “Our Yongsan, Our Lives: A Red-light District to be Demolished”

Monday, Oct 26 – Friday, November 6

Gallatin, NYU
715 Broadway, 4th floor
New York, NY

This exhibition presents forty photographs selected from more than a thousand images taken by women in the Yongsan red-light district, Seoul, South Korea, some of whom have worked and lived in the area for as long as 40 years. The red-light district, located near Yongsan Railway Station in central Seoul, is one of the oldest red-light districts in South Korea. As part of the urban renewal project, the area will be demolished by the end of 2009. These photographs are a form of personal histories written onto the space and architecture of the red-light district, indicative of how it is home to these women who have lived on the margins of Korean society.

One of the ten photographers, Hyun-Sook Park (Magdalena House), together with Kim Ae-Ryung (Ewha Women’s University), a researcher, will offer guided tours of the photo exhibition.

II. Classroom Lecture

Tuesday, Oct 27, 3:30 – 4:15 pm

Silver Center, NYU
Room 405
31 Washington Place
New York, NY

Sealing Cheng (Assistant Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies, Wellesley College)

“Understanding Sex Work/Prostitution in South Korea”

III. East Asian Studies Colloquium

Tuesday, Oct 27. 4:30 – 6:30 pm

East Asian Studies, NYU
Conference Room
715 Broadway, 3rd floor
New York, NY

“Work, Life, and Rights in a South Korean Red-Light District”
Won, Mi-Hye (Ph.D. candidate, Ewha Women’s University)
Cheng, Sealing (Assistant Professor, Wellesley College)

IV. Research Methods Workshop

Wednesday, Oct 28, 3:30 – 6:00 pm

East Asian Studies, NYU
Conference Room
715 Broadway, 3rd floor
New York, NY

“Ethnography – Doing Fieldwork with Marginal Groups”
Yi Hee-Young
Sealing Cheng

VULVAGRAPHICS: An intervention in honor of female genital diversity!

Robert — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:29:10 +0000

Recent years have seen increased concerns about genital appearance for women, alongside publicity about labiaplasty and other procedures to cosmetically alter female genital appearance. It seems that there is a general lack of knowledge of vulva diversity, meaning that:

Many women don’t know whether their vulva looks ‘normal’
Some women compare their vulva to a perceived norm or ideal, and don’t like how theirs looks. This supposed ideal vulva is often depicted on the websites of surgeons who offer genital cosmetic procedures, in ‘after’ photos that appear alongside ‘before’ photos (e.g., http://www.centerforvaginalsurgery.com/nyclabiaplasty/labiaplastypictures.htm).

An upcoming Brooklyn event provides a challenge to this cultural shift, offering a very visual celebration of diversity. Vulvagraphics is the second (annual) activist event organised in NYC by New View Campaign in response to the rise and promotion of female genital cosmetic surgery.

The New View Campaign opposes the medicalisation and corporatisation of (female) sexuality. Past work challenged Big Pharma, but last year we turned to the rise of female genital cosmetic surgery and conducted a vigorous street protest, complete with street-theatre, outside a Manhattan surgeon’s office. It was covered in both BUST and TIME!. This year we celebrate the role of art in activism, with a multi-media show to promote understanding and appreciation of female genital diversity.

Vulvagraphics is a 2-day exhibit of explicit photography, drawing, print, craft, video, and film, including the premiere of the international vulva knitting circle! It features a brunch salon on ‘critical issues in genital activism’, as well as numerous activism opportunities!

If this sounds like you, bring your intrigue, passion and creativity, not to mention your relatives, friends and partners, and come down to Vulvagraphics to learn about, and celebrate, vulval diversity.

If this doesn’t sound like you, even more reason to head on down! We look forward to seeing you there!

WHERE: The Change You Want To See gallery at 84 Havenmeyer St, Brooklyn

WHEN: Saturday October 24th: 6-9pm (opening reception & exhibition);
Sunday October 25th: 12-6pm (exhibition); 1-3pm (brunch salon).

Further information: see our website or email Rachel Liebert.