Eight Ohio University students tangled tongues onstage as part of a kissing demonstration Monday.
The Art of Kissing author Michael Christian, who uses the pen name William Cane, presented a lecture and demonstrated a step-by-step process of how to kiss a romantic partner Monday evening. University Program Council organized the event.
About 100 students, mostly female, attended the event.
Kissing is a recreational but also intimate process between partners, Cane said.
“Kissing is a great way to get you to know your partner,” Cane said. “It expresses intimacy, and you can express how you feel toward your partner without words.”
There are three main reasons why humans kiss, Cane said.
“First off, kissing is an expression of love,” he said. “The second reason is that many see this in their culture. They see it in the media, and they expect to see it in their personal relationships. The third reason is that it’s just fun and it is pleasurable.”
Four OU student couples helped Cane demonstrate different kissing methods by acting out different scenarios.
One scenario simulated a party, and the couples ventured out into the audience and tried to “find” their partners within the crowd.
There was also a comedic simulation of “French kissing,” where two students wrapped themselves in red fabric to dress up as “tongues” while Cane described the process.
“Only in the human species is kissing romantic,” he said. “What is more romantic than romance?”
Seeing the couples begin to kiss on stage was unexpected, sophomore Shannon Ferralli said.
“I was surprised by what happened,” Ferralli said. “But I was excited, and the whole presentation was very funny and well done.”
Although some would consider the exhibition of kissing uncomfortable, the atmosphere was lighthearted, said Jennifer DeLuca, a sophomore studying family studies.
“It was really funny, and everyone was laughing,” DeLuca said. “(Cane) really knows how to work with the audience, and the atmosphere was never uncomfortable, and things with (the kissing) never went too extreme.”
The lecture’s memorable and comedic effect helped attendees learn about kissing and how to enjoy the activity, said Samantha Caulfield, a sophomore studying art.
“The demonstrators were really brave to kiss on stage,” Caulfield said. “Everyone was a really good sport about it. It was just a really fun time.”
hy135010@ohiou.edu
