Students wondering what sexuality in Europe was like during the course of the 20th century are in luck.
“Sexuality in Europe: A 20th-Century History and a History of the Present” is the title of the upcoming lecture by Professor Dagmar Herzog. The lecture will be presented at the McClung Museum from 4 to 5 p.m. today.
Herzog, a distinguished professor from the City University of New York, will base much of the lecture on her recently published book, “Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History.” The book covers events such as the decline of the Victorian era, the end of Communism and the rise of Islam, and how events such as these affected sexuality. It also analyzes topics such as sexual violence in war, contraception, the idea of sexual satisfaction in different societies, the commercialization of sex and many more.
Monica Black, an assistant professor in history, was a coordinator for the event. She further explained that Herzog’s lecture would cover the conflict between the “sexual liberation” of the 20th century and those that were opposed to it.
“One of the most interesting arguments in that book … is that we tend to associate the 20th century with the liberalization of sex … the greater acceptance of various kinds of sexualities,” Black said. “And what I think Dr. Herzog is going to underscore in her lecture is as much of the 20th century can be said to be one of liberalization, it can also be said to be one of contestation or friction … over that liberalization.”
She added, “On one hand we see greater freedom and on the other hand we see greater, rounder arguments about what that freedom means.”
While some of Black’s graduate students initially suggested inviting Herzog to UT, Black was the one who requested the funds from the Distinguished Visiting Scholars program and got in contact with Herzog.
“Our application was approved and we invited her,” Black said, “and she very delightfully accepted our invitation and after (today) the rest will be history.”
Planning for Herzog’s lecture started as far back as March, when Black’s graduate students first approached her about inviting Herzog. Part of the reason it took so long for Herzog to arrive at UT was due to Herzog’s already packed schedule. Black said that Herzog’s lecture could have occurred earlier this semester except that her schedule only permitted her to arrive this week.
“Professor Herzog is an extremely busy person and she’s all over the world giving talks all the time,” Black explained. “So we were very lucky that she was able to kind of squeeze us into her schedule.”
Black expects that anyone attending the lecture will be greatly informed and entertained, citing Herzog’s ability as a gifted lecturer.
“She is a really wonderful speaker,” Black said. “Very engaging, very funny, very charming and obviously brilliant. I think this is the kind of lecture that could appeal to lots of different people.”
One of those people could be Jennifer Dobbins, a senior in policital science. Dobbins finds the topic very interesting.
“It’s a very provocative topic and something I would want to learn more about,” Dobbins said. “It’s not something you hear about in your normal history class.”
Jennette Alexander, sophomore in education, also thinks Herzog’s lecture would be fascinating.
“There’s a lot of, frankly, filth in the media and everywhere nowadays,” Alexander said. “Modesty is sort of dead, so is any form of decency really in music and clothing and just the way people act in general. So I think it would be interesting to hear (Herzog) analyze all of that.”
The lecture is part of the “Distinguished Visiting Scholars in the Humanities” series. It is free and open to the public.
