pillow talk

​First conceived and performed in 2014, then restaged and performed again in 2018, pillow talk is an ongoing personal exploration of what it means to be a sexual being versus a sexual object in today's social climate. Utilizing text derived from personal stories and various short stories and poetry, the all female casts' whispers of sexual desire and abuse augments the already haunting sound score created by renowned dance accompanist Shamou. The audience bears witness to confessions made within an intimate and vulnerable space, while the use of flashlights, both revealing and erasing the female form throughout the piece, shifts between inviting and exploitive.

Perhaps at the heart of the piece is the questioning of consent, specifically the confusion young people face in regards to consent, and the psychological impact these blurred lines can have on young women attempting to be free, independent sexual beings while still adhering to the societal expectations and molds set for them. How does the persistent and restrictive culture of sexual objectification hinder both men’s and women’s ability to enjoy sexual relationships in a healthy manner? How does rape culture, still prevalent on college campuses and beyond, affect dating norms and our ability to relate to one another in both sexual and platonic ways? Perhaps most simply: why is the issue of consent still an issue?