"Erotic" storytelling - including tales of a man who dreamt about five virgins splashing in a pond and another tale of a woman whose affair with a stranger introduced sweetness into her life - gave an early start to Valentine's Day for some students Saturday night.
More than 120 students and storytelling fans filled the Union Club in the Michigan Union to hear a program of humorous and sensual stories sponsored by the Michigan Union Program Board.
The event, showcasing a topic that had never been explored at a Union storytelling event before, was a compilation of "erotic" stories and humor including Native American tales to stories accompanied by the Blues-style guitar-chords.
 |
| KRISTIN GOBLE/Daily Debra Christian tells erotic stories at the Michigan Union on Saturday. Christian said she was excited to bring her sizzling stories to the University community. |
Mexicotte said although there was some hesitancy about the subject matter, she knew the University community would meet it with "interest rather than dismay."
Christian said she had to search for a place to share the sizzling subject matter because other settings do not provide an opportunity for exploration.
"When you are a storyteller, you have the honored position of being the keeper of tales," Christian said.
But Christian said the spectrum also includes sensual tales that often are left out of other performances.
"Tales of love need to be shared and told because through story we learn so much," she added.
Mexicotte said she hoped the event would help students broaden their knowledge of their own sexuality.
"This is a chance for students to explore their own sexuality and their own sexual identity," Mexicotte said.
At the event, storyteller Badria Jazairi shared a story about a young woman's disastrous - but educational - attempt at romance in New York City.
Jazairi said the event was an "incredible opportunity" to share sensuality that is under appreciated.
"We live in a culture that puts the 'rot' in erotica," Jazairi said. "Let's take that out."
LSA first-year student Meg Erlewine said she attended the event with her group of friends to see how daring the stories would be.
"We wanted to see how sketchy it would get," Erlewine said.
Mark "Mountain Man" LeJarret encouraged the audience to use the event's sensual stories as an impetus for their own Valentine's Day celebrations.
"We hope you leave truly inspired for later events," LeJarret said.
LSA first-year student Andrew Goodman said he has attended storytellings before and found the program to be "very entertaining" because of the diversity.
Goodman said the tunes of WDET Blues Radio host Robert Jones were a highlight for him.
"I didn't find (the program) erotic, but it was handled very well," Goodman said.
02-15-99
| Previous Article | Next Article |
should be sent to: daily.letters@umich.edu | should be sent to: online.daily@umich.edu |