Hysterical Literature
What is Hysterical literature?
“Hysterical Literature” refers to a sort of performance art in which a person reads a written text while having an orgasmic experience as part of an investigation into the relationship between the body and the mind. Clayton Cubitt, an American artist, invented the concept, which entails filming a woman reading a book while being stimulated in a way that causes her to orgasm, with the goal of examining the tension between control and submission.
The term “hysterical literature” refers to the historical link between women’s sexuality and hysteria, a now-defunct medical diagnosis that was originally used to describe a variety of symptoms such as uneasiness, irritability, and sexual desire.
Characteristics of Hysterical Literature
The following are features of “Hysterical Literature” as a performing art form:
1. Orgasmic experience: The orgasmic experience of the subject serves as a metaphor for the conflict between control and surrender in the performance.
2. Reading a written text: During the orgasmic experience, the individual reads a written text, usually a classic work of literature. The text is typically chosen for its literary worth as well as its capacity to captivate the reader’s intellect.
3. Exploration of the body-mind relationship: The performance is intended to investigate the body-mind relationship and to challenge standard concepts of sexuality and gender.
4. Film format: Typically, the performances are recorded on film and made available for viewing online. The film format allows the audience to see the subject’s physical and emotional reaction to stimuli.
5. Interruptions: Interruptions in the reading are frequently caused by the subject’s orgasmic experience, adding to the intensity and thrill of the performance.
In conclusion, the goal of “Hysterical Literature” is to challenge society standards and taboos around sexuality, as well as to foster an open and honest conversation about the complexities of human sexuality and desire.
Examples of Hysterical Literature
Clayton Cubitt’s “Hysterical Literature” is a series of performance art pieces in which a woman reads a book while being stimulated to orgasm using a sex toy. The project’s purpose is to investigate the relationship between pleasure, control, and the female body.
Each Hysterical Literature session is unique because the woman’s orgasmic experience impacts her ability to continue reading, resulting in a continually changing and growing performance. The project has gained a lot of attention, both positive and negative, for its investigation of sexuality and the female body.
Following are some instances of Hysterical Literature sessions:
1. In “Session One: Stoya,” adult film actor Stoya reads a passage from Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.”
2. In “Session Two: Cindy,” advertising executive and founder of the social network MakeLoveNotPorn Cindy Gallop reads from Gustave Flaubert’s “Madame Bovary.”
3. In “Session Three: Ela,” adult film star and VR entrepreneur Ela Darling reads from Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre.”
Page Six, performer and writer, reads from James Joyce’s “Ulysses” in “Session Four: Page.”
5. In “Session Five: Holly,” creative director and writer Holly Sloan reads from Toni Morrison’s “Beloved.”
These are only a few of the sessions that comprise the Hysterical Literature initiative. Each session is a one-of-a-kind and thought-provoking look at sexuality, pleasure, and the female body.