‘Passion & Power: The Technology of Orgasm’

From November 14–20, the film Passion & Power: The Technology of Orgasm will be playing at the Hippodrome State Theatre.

This is the story of one simple invention, the vibrator, and its relationship to one complex human behavior, the female orgasm. The history of the vibrator and its medical use had virtually vanished until historian, Rachel Maines, researching needlework patterns in early 20th century women’s magazines, ran across ads for electric vibrators.

Piquing her curiosity, she traced the origins of this early electrified appliance and made an astonishing discovery. Under the guise of a medical treatment, Victorian doctors had used vibrators to relieve women of symptoms of hysteria. Symptoms of hysteria were vague – being cranky, reading French novels while wearing tight corsets, etc. It was a disease manufactured by doctors creating a lucrative clientele and a mutually camouflaged procedure that satisfied both. This film looks at the evolution of women’s sexual satisfaction from its use by Victorian doctors to its resurgence during the sexual revolution of the 1970s and on to its status today, when in some states laws still exist that restrict the number of vibrators one may own. 2008/ 74 mins/ USA/ NR

For viewing times and ticket prices visit the Hippodrome website.

Arranged marriages in the United States

NPR: Arranged Marriage: Trapped Between Two CulturesIn lecture on Monday, Dr. Gravlee raised the question of whether romantic love is perceived as necessary for marriage cross-culturally. He showed data from a survey of college students in 11 countries, which showed large cultural differences on the matter. In Japan, only two percent of students reported that they would marry someone who had all the qualities they were looking for, even if they weren’t in love. In Pakistan, half of all students said they would marry someone under those circumstances.

Yesterday National Public Radio picked up on this theme in “Arranged Marriage: Trapped Between Two Cultures,” the first story in a three-part series. The report explores the generational and cross-cultural conflicts many young Muslims experience in the United States over love and marriage. “For many families like Sandhu’s,” Jamie Tarabay reports, “a marriage arranged by the parents is the best way they know to guarantee a solid future for their child.”

Have you or someone you know experienced the situation NPR describes? Whether you have or not, can you relate to the struggles of young Muslims in America over love and marriage? How does this story help you become aware of the things you take for granted about love and marriage in your life?