Spring Break
Sex signals uses humor to draw crowds for serious topics
Melanie Deziel
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: Focus
In a show that combined scripted material, improvisation and audience interaction, Sex Signals both entertained and informed last night during their two SUBOG Lecture Committee sponsored performances at the Student Union Theater.
Posters around campus advertised Sex Signals as "the real life funny sort-of-improv show about dating and other stuff," and the vague description couldn't be more fitting. Fawzia Mirza and George Zerante, the duo who performed on Monday night, covered a wide variety of topics including gender stereotypes, safe sex, and the difference between "stranger rape" and "date-rape."
The show relied heavily on audience suggestions for determining behavior and starting conversation between characters in several simulated scenarios. A comical party scene showcased Zerante acting as the audience's consensus of the stereotypical "aggressive macho guy" pursuing the cliché "passive and lady-like" Mirza.
Audience members were given red "STOP" cards and told to hold them up to indicate when they felt the scene was getting out of hand. Many audience members gave up, putting down their cards when they proved ineffective, just as Mirza and Zernte had intended.
"Here's the thing," Zerante announced. "We were never going to stop."
The speakers took this opportunity to address the need for a "stop means stop" mentality and discussed how obtaining explicit verbal consent for each sexual act can help to avoid confusion and accusations of rape.
"Think of consent as a verbal condom. Yes, it might be awkward and, no, it may not be sexy, but it's vital and it protects everyone involved," Zerante said.
The show ended with the assignment of the Extreme Consent Challenge. Audience members were instructed to ask for explicit consent for anything they needed from someone over the next few days. The reasoning, the duo said, was "because the best way to get good at something is to practice."
"It was unexpectedly serious, but it's a good way to drawing people in to broadcast more serious issues," said Terrence Smith, an 8th-semester business management major.
Alyssa Tiso, a 2nd-semester anthropology major, noted that the show was funnier than she expected and that the humor went a long way toward easing what might have otherwise been an awkward subject.
Kristan Ingraham, the acting SUBOG Lecture Chair, said the committee was made aware of Sex Signals through a national campus activities conference that is held each semester.
Zerante and Mirza have performed at universities and military bases all across the country. Zerante, who has been with Sex Signals since December, said that each audience in different. "But people have the same concerns whether they go to Harvard or a community college in the middle of Kansas." Mirza added.
Posters around campus advertised Sex Signals as "the real life funny sort-of-improv show about dating and other stuff," and the vague description couldn't be more fitting. Fawzia Mirza and George Zerante, the duo who performed on Monday night, covered a wide variety of topics including gender stereotypes, safe sex, and the difference between "stranger rape" and "date-rape."
The show relied heavily on audience suggestions for determining behavior and starting conversation between characters in several simulated scenarios. A comical party scene showcased Zerante acting as the audience's consensus of the stereotypical "aggressive macho guy" pursuing the cliché "passive and lady-like" Mirza.
Audience members were given red "STOP" cards and told to hold them up to indicate when they felt the scene was getting out of hand. Many audience members gave up, putting down their cards when they proved ineffective, just as Mirza and Zernte had intended.
"Here's the thing," Zerante announced. "We were never going to stop."
The speakers took this opportunity to address the need for a "stop means stop" mentality and discussed how obtaining explicit verbal consent for each sexual act can help to avoid confusion and accusations of rape.
"Think of consent as a verbal condom. Yes, it might be awkward and, no, it may not be sexy, but it's vital and it protects everyone involved," Zerante said.
The show ended with the assignment of the Extreme Consent Challenge. Audience members were instructed to ask for explicit consent for anything they needed from someone over the next few days. The reasoning, the duo said, was "because the best way to get good at something is to practice."
"It was unexpectedly serious, but it's a good way to drawing people in to broadcast more serious issues," said Terrence Smith, an 8th-semester business management major.
Alyssa Tiso, a 2nd-semester anthropology major, noted that the show was funnier than she expected and that the humor went a long way toward easing what might have otherwise been an awkward subject.
Kristan Ingraham, the acting SUBOG Lecture Chair, said the committee was made aware of Sex Signals through a national campus activities conference that is held each semester.
Zerante and Mirza have performed at universities and military bases all across the country. Zerante, who has been with Sex Signals since December, said that each audience in different. "But people have the same concerns whether they go to Harvard or a community college in the middle of Kansas." Mirza added.
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