For our last meeting of the semester, Conversio Virium’s going out swinging—not literally, but equally fun. Kate Bornstein will be presenting at 9 PM, preceded by a potluck dinner at 8 PM (we’ve got utensils, water, and salad, so bring entrees and dessert!). Like all our regular meetings, this event is free and open to the public. Bring your friends!

Kate Bornstein is a gender theorist, author, playwright, and performance artist. She has toured at over 120 colleges giving presentations on sex, gender, and alternatives to teen suicide.

This meeting will not be in our usual location, but rather in 202 ALTSCHUL on Barnard College campus (view a map of Barnard’s campus). Kate Bornstein will be presenting “Hello, Cruel World”:

“Sometimes, whatever it is that gives you the most joy, pleasure or relief also gets you into the deepest trouble, especially when you try to explain it to other people. Like when you love someone you’re not supposed to love. Or when the way you express yourself makes other people queasy. As harmless as you feel you’re being, people may still think you’re bad, wrong or immoral. This is a workshop in which Kate suggests irreverent alternatives to suffering as a 21^st Century outlaw. The workshop is based on Kate’s shiny new book, ‘Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws’.”

Help us promote Kate’s presentation! RSVP on the Facebook event and send it to your friends. (You do not need to RSVP on Facebook to attend.) You can also print out this poster and stick it up around the city.

This event brought to you in conjunction with Q and GendeRevolution.

CV is joined by Rob, who will be presenting on consent as it functions in BDSM. How do you define and maintain consent in a context where pushing limits is often the goal? How can you maintain consent when the idea of a scene is to imitate non-consent? Join us as we address these and other questions.

CV is joined by Lady Arielle, presenting on erotic hypnosis and its amazing potential to expand the mind and the world of kink play.
302 Hamilton on Columbia University’s main campus.

Dominants, do you want to exercise control over your submissives merely by using your words? Do you desire to see your subs experience the full measure of your power without lifting a finger? Then come to see this demo. Submissives, would you like to deepen your dedication to your masters and explore your fantasies in way that you never have before? Would you like to break down the barriers and inhibitions that are preventing you from experiencing the pure and deep submission that you so crave? Do you dare to turn yourself over to a mercilessly erotic and manipulative Domina? Then participate in my demonstration.

In this demo, I will show how hypnosis could be used in BDSM Scenes. I will also discuss subspace, rope-space and other subconscious phenomena. Participation will be rewarded… with the sensations of pain, extreme pleasure, tickles, taste and anything in between. Volunteer… if you dare.

“Lady Arielle is a Natural Born Dominatrix, originally from Moscow, Russia. She is both a Lifestyle Domme as well as an independent Pro Domme, currently practicing in Manhattan. Lady Arielle is a Glamour Domina with a Mensa IQ and a sense of strong Russian Discipline. She is a Queen of textures and uses many ‘pervertables’ in her BDSM art. Lady Arielle had presented BDSM demos at most of the Jeff Mach’s Wicked Faire Events, at Paddles (the only NYC S&M club), at club openings, and The Baroness’ parties. She was invited to teach 2 classes at the next DomConLA in Los Angeles in May 2009.”

We are joined this week by Dark Teddy Bear, who will be blaspheming (maybe) for our pleasure.

The connections between kink and spirituality are legion. The Christian monks of the middle ages, flagellating themselves in penitence; the woman in a latex nun’s outfit, threatening her naughty students; the kinkster marveling at how his first experience of subspace reminds him of his favorite moments from synagogue; the scene so powerful it opens spiritual doors, making the scene itself a chance for connection with the divine. Take part in a presentation and conversation on the ways in which kink and spirituality intersect.

Our presenter is an ordained minister with many years in the scene who has studied the interconnections of sexuality, religion and kink. Some of the topics to be covered include: intersections between religion and kink; religious play & religious fetish scenes; pro-kink viewpoints within different religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Paganism, historically and in modern practice; parallels in the nature and ethics of power between pastor and congregant and dominant and submissive.

The presentation will include time for questions and discussion.

This week we’re joined by Mina Meow in learning about polyamory for fun and pleasure. As always, Monday night at 9 PM in room 302 Hamilton Hall.

Survival tips on how to do it safely, sanely, and just have more fun!

Interested in exploring more sexual partners or opening up a current relationship, but don’t know where to start? Curious about polyamory or swinging, but don’t know how to talk about it with your partner? Come to this presentation, explore alternative sexual relationships and avenues of loving and relating, and walk away with skills for venturing into the world of unlimited love and pleasure.

Handouts now available: Mina put together two fantastic handouts for her presentation, which she has been generous enough to share with us digitally. If you missed the presentation, and or if you didn’t but just want a reference, you can download her “So you want to be a slut” handout (PDF), as well as a supplemental “Safer Sex Info” handout (PDF) as well. Thanks, Mina!

Join CV and Jeff Mach this Monday in 302 Hamilton, 9 PM.

Alternatively titled: “Nobody Told Me My Dangerous And Taboo Life As A Slave Would Come With So Many Harry Potter References”, this presentation will be about how humor can work in scenes, deliberately or accidentally, and how it can be used to enhance the overall scene experience.

]]> http://conversiovirium.org/2009/03/25/humorous-roleplay-in-serious-ds/feed/ 0 http://conversiovirium.org/2009/03/20/strategies-for-upping-your-mean-factor-working-with-physical-limitations/ http://conversiovirium.org/2009/03/20/strategies-for-upping-your-mean-factor-working-with-physical-limitations/#comments Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:47:21 +0000 Elizabeth B. http://conversiovirium.org/?p=654 March 23, 20099:00 PMto11:00 PM

CV cracks back into the semester with some deliciously vicious presentation goodness, courtesy Corey Alexander.

Despite the image of the all-powerful-never-tiring Top, most of us work with physical limitations: height, strength, size, disability, stamina. This interactive workshop will offer you concrete tools and strategies for upping the level of pain and psychological distress that you cause, within your own set of physical limitations. This workshop unabashedly celebrates sadism, and is for all who are interested in upping the mean factor in their play.

Location: 302 Hamilton on Columbia’s campus.

]]> http://conversiovirium.org/2009/03/20/strategies-for-upping-your-mean-factor-working-with-physical-limitations/feed/ 0 http://conversiovirium.org/2009/03/07/cv-meeting-behavioral-status-as-a-scene-tool/ http://conversiovirium.org/2009/03/07/cv-meeting-behavioral-status-as-a-scene-tool/#comments Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:28:12 +0000 kenneth http://conversiovirium.org/?p=635 March 9, 20099:00 PMto11:00 PM

Conversio Virium’s own Maja will be presenting this week about Behavioral Status as a Scene Tool. Using ideas yoinked from theater games, we’ll explore how to method-act your way into an empowered role.

]]> http://conversiovirium.org/2009/03/07/cv-meeting-behavioral-status-as-a-scene-tool/feed/ 0 http://conversiovirium.org/2009/02/28/cv-meeting-play-piercing-with-rob/ http://conversiovirium.org/2009/02/28/cv-meeting-play-piercing-with-rob/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:32:50 +0000 kenneth http://conversiovirium.org/?p=629 March 2, 20099:00 PMto11:00 PM

This week, we will be talking about the joy of temporary play piercing!

Are you tired of your current topological configuration? Is being isomorphic to a genus four surface boring you to tears? Then join us Monday as Rob discusses the basics of temporary topological modification (play piercing).

For those of us who are less mathematically-inclined, Rob will be discussing the fine art of sticking needles in people safely and effectively! No experience necessary. Join us!

]]> http://conversiovirium.org/2009/02/28/cv-meeting-play-piercing-with-rob/feed/ 0 http://conversiovirium.org/2009/02/17/cv-meeting-the-physical-takedown-in-ds-a-lecture-demonstration-and-optional-mini-training/ http://conversiovirium.org/2009/02/17/cv-meeting-the-physical-takedown-in-ds-a-lecture-demonstration-and-optional-mini-training/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:53:19 +0000 Elizabeth B. http://conversiovirium.org/?p=625 February 23, 20099:00 PMto11:00 PM

Conversio Virium is joined this week by TD, who will be teaching us how to very literally dominate a partner.

Some submissives want to be “forced” to the floor and physically dominated. This can be a challenge. The submissive may be physically sensitive so brute force may be unwise. On the other hand, the submissive may be relatively big and strong so technique is essential. We discuss the gentle art of physical domination culled from jujitsu, aikido, mixed martial arts, submission grappling and wrestling. A man or a women can learn approaches to safely control the body of their lover, take the partner from standing to helpless on the floor, ready for “use” by the dominant partner.

There will be a discussion of why and when to use these approaches followed by a demonstration and, for all who are interested, a short training in the basics of the art form. All are invited to participate or simply to watch.

]]> http://conversiovirium.org/2009/02/17/cv-meeting-the-physical-takedown-in-ds-a-lecture-demonstration-and-optional-mini-training/feed/ 0