Genesis
“My abortion paved the way for me to make better contraception decisions, my abortion made it so that I also finished school, and the abortion made all the extracurricular activities my daughter participated in and the tutors she needed affordable.”
Photograph of the advertisement for Genesis’ presentation.
Genesis’ capstone project for P2A was a multimedia art presentation called “Consent to Pleasure.” The show focused on stories surrounding different aspects of reproductive rights, with the bottom line being consent. Through the stories told in the presentation, the audience will see how their relationship to consent and abortion shapes how we govern and create citizens for better or worse.
In Her Own Words
Consent to Pleasure was designed to deconstruct our thoughts on pleasure being sexual only, and provide a deeper thinking into our actual consent over our bodies, and how reproductive planning impacts how we govern people. We presented it in two parts consisting of an intimate focus group digging into their uncensored thoughts on sex, life planning (highlighting abortion as an option), and the human connection to pleasure. The second portion was a showcase of various artistic expressions about consent and pleasure with an open group discussion sharing experiences, upbringing ideologies and unraveling how pleasure influences how we approach government. The event was full of ways to explore and express how you connect with pleasure through food, music, dialogue and creative expression. The DJ and the snack bar helped to decrease nerves and endorphins which opened more opportunities for connecting, and during the focus group we provided options for things considered taboo or a guilty pleasure pushing the participants to experience a wide range of emotions.
The event was eye opening for all those involved. They shared their opinions on abortion and being vulnerable enough to openly share the depths of their sexuality, embedded childhood values and belief systems were challenged, and they shockingly learned how safe abortion actually is. The shame, desires, and community duties vs pleasing one’s self all came out during the discussions, and some public misinformation about how lifestyles and sexuality are expressed, were addressed and clarified. Everyone walked away with a new found connection to pleasure, leaving a lasting impression on them.