M
ASDENXNA
By Kris Belden
Kansan staff writer
f"Sex" sells. Madonna will make millions.
Here's Madonna hitchhiking naked. There's Madonna pumping gas topples. Here she is eating pizza naked. There she is masturbating over a mirror.
The book, which officially went on sale yesterday at the suggested price of $49.95, is a 131-page steamy photographic collection by Steven Meisel of Madonna's sexual fantasies. Inside the book is a recorded CD version of her newest video "Erotica." A MTV will only show the video late at night. Like the video, "Sex" also is creating a stir.
Madonna writes in the book's introduction that the events portrayed inside are not true. Nonetheless, Lawrence booksstore are divided on the issue of whether to sell the book. Stores that do not sell the book say it is either too racy or too expensive.
Hastings Books, Music & Video, 2000 W. 23rd St., received a shipment of 30 books yesterday and sold out.
But people are buying the book despite the price.
"We expected it to sell, but I don't know that we expected it to sell as well as it did," said John Myers, customer service coordinator.
Hastings ordered more copies of the book. They are scheduled to arrive today.
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Roxanne Hall, Hastelling's book department manager, said that Hastings decided to stock "Sex" because it regularly stocks products by Madonna and other pop artists. The book would be no exception.
"We don't want to promote the banning of books," Hall said.
She also said that only those more than 18 years old can purchase the book. Hall said that Hastings displays the book behind the front counter.
In Hum Mugger, manager of Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Cress Rd., said that the Jayhawk Bookstore would not
"We have the feeling that we can carry things at a little more of an appropriate level," he said.
Bill Getz, assistant manager of the Kansas Union Bookstore, said that the bookstore would stock 5 to 10 copies of the book because it was projected to be a fall-trade book with good sales potential.
Getz said that the bookstore would not market the book any differently than it markets its other books.
"We don't want to market the book as if it were scandalous," he said. "I haven't seen it but from what I've heard, it has all of the marks of a Madonna publication—it's expressive and shocking, just like any of her videos."
"Everything she has ever been connected with has quality," he said. "She has an intelligent and keen eye and makes references to other artists and other styles. It is particularly appropriate and appreciated in the University community."
Getzalso said that he respected Madonna's message and said that the book was appropriate to be sold on campus.
Getz said that he expected the books to arrive in about a week.
"I can't say that my customers will want it if they can't see it," said Pat Kehde, co-owner of The Raven Bookstore, 8 E. Th St. "I think that's all a gimmick Madonna's a very shrewd marketer."
Other bookstores that would not sell Madonna's book said that it was because the book was sealed in a silver, plastic bag that could not be opened or looked at before purchasing.
"A lot of people are just going to look at it and not buy it," she said.
Kris Learned, assistant manager and book buyer for Town Crier, 930 Massachusetts St., agreed.
Both Raven Bookstore and Town Crier will specially order the book for customers who want it, but will not order any copies for regular stock.
By James J. Reece Kansan staff writer
ossibly just a gaudy attempt to stir the controversial soup of censorship, Madonna's "Sex," a book of sexual fantasies, was unleashed on the world yesterday.
The 131-page book of photographs and essays pans Madonna's deepest sexual fantasies.
Billed by Madonna as simple sexual fiction, the book mirrors the strange, often harsh realities of her own life.
ty or nunum sexhunny itt in labe.
As a sample of her farties, the book includes photographic images of Mature in the mute with nude men and women in different sexual scenarios. Some of those men and women include rappers Vanilla Ice and Big Daddy Kane and models Isabella Roselini and Naomi Campbell.
"Sex," something of a sexual themebook, approaches Madonna's fantasies from several angles.
Madonna's haunted house features themes fill about one-third of眩晕 pseudo-musical videos. One series of photographs features Madonna with two mostly bald women who tie up the star and fondle and kiss her. The women have tat-
tooled and multiply paper. Use large Numbers in their multiples crosses and ones. One of the numbers is interrupted by a pierced yyebrow.
The sequence, featuring all three women in various leather attire, seems all too superficial even for Madonna.
And the climactic finish looks almost like some kinky, group hug with Madonna, in trademark fashion, with tossed-back head and lustfully nips lined.
Masochistic props such as whips, masks,
chains, harnesses and collars, riddle
much of the book. In one picture,
Madonna, dressed as a dominatrix,
is shown scourging a woman held in a
naded, steel kneeler.
Another theme the book addresses is public nudity. Madonna parades nude while hitchhiking in scenes with Vanilla Ice. Another picture shows her totally nude eating a piece of pizza in a restaurant. She also pumps gas with bare breasts.
Madonna attempts to cross lines of color and sexuality with her pictures. In several of the pictures, men share men and women share women, while Madonna either watches or is not present. In these incidents the book seems less a fantasy and more a statement about sexual inhibition and taboos.
In one spread, Madonna, Kane and Campbell trade passionate swoops and strokes. Though Campbell seems comfortable in the nude with the star, Kane appears ill at-ease and never removes his bikini briefs. But whether Kane retainin his shorts is another fantasy of Madonna, she still succeeds in sending a message of equality, at least a fictional, sexual one.
agraph, more that' uneudo,
and kiss each other. I also
isabella Rosellini, Malma anda
and autora woman trade bugs and
kisses.
Madonna also tests the limits of bisexuality and homosexuality. In one photo, she is smiling.
The book includes essays as well. Written by the star, they basically show why Madonna has made her career in singing and acting. Most of the writing, crude and sexual, is short stories and quips. The essays are written by Madonna through the assumed perspective of a character named Dita.
The book, touted as an artistic expression of sex but not love, partially was aimed at debunking the theory of the '90s that sex no longer can be fun. But neither Madonna, nor any of her collaborators, is
Illustration by Courtney Cook
sex no longer can be fun. But neither Madonna, nor any of her collaborators, is
Whether "Sex" is an artistic portrayal of sexual fantasies or just another attempt to tweak the interests and wallets of the world, it may be a small, yet important step toward revamping worldwide sexuality.
pictured in the book wearing condons. But at the beginning of the book, Madonna addresses the issue, saying that her fantasies occur in a perfect world without AIDS.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
OCTOBER 22,1992
Real KU Life begins on the weekend.
calendar
Nightlife
Benchwarmer's
1601 W. 23rd St.
Tonight - Turquoise Soul
Friday and Saturday - Soul
Food Cafe
Monday - Monday Night Football
Wednesday - Jeff-n-Jeff
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St.
Tonight - L.A. Ramblers
Friday - Material Issue, Mighty Lemon Drops,
Too Much Joy
Saturday - Love Squad with Leatherwoods
Sunday - Groove Alley
Monday - Open mike
The Brass Apple
Congo Bar
3300 W. 15th St.
Features 10 TV's with satellite dish & Monday
Night Football
520 N. Third St.
Friday - Wood Band
Saturday - Excairlun
Dos Hombres
815 New Hampshire St.
Tonight - Jeff n-Jeff
Down & Under
801 New Hampshire St.
Tonight - Hangdog Willie
Friday - The Cherubs with Crust, Dracom magnet
Saturday - Chubby Smith and his Orchestra
Gusto's
925 Iowa St.
Friday - Keely Zoo
Saturday - Carnival of Souls and Joe Worker
Henry T's Bar & Grill 3520 W. Sixth St. Karaoake every Thursday night
Hockenbury Tavern
Hockenbury Tavern
1016 Massachusetts St.
Tonight - Monterrey Jack
Friday - The Barn Burners
Saturday - Common Ground
International Club 21
International Club 21
106 N. Park St.
Tonight - Groove Academy
Friday - Big Bill's Party and DNA
Saturday - Brazilian Impeachment Party
Jazzhaus
926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
Tonight Disappear Fear
Friday and Saturday- Mango Jam
Johnny's Tavern
Johnny's Tavern
401 N. Second St.
Friday and Saturday - Fast Johnny's
Continued on Page 9.