青青河邊草

The Amora Sex Academy recently opened in Berlin, featuring interactive exhibits designed to increase sexual knowledge and skill. Despite the name, Amora isn’t a kind of “Marital Arts Academy,” where a stern sensei instructs students on various holds and breathing methods. Amora is more like the Bodies exhibit; however, instead of the cadavers of derelict prostitutes Amora features life-size nude mannequins set in sexual positions and wired to respond to human touch. These mannequins are similar to the same department store variety whose skirts you looked up as a kid, but with one key difference: you’re encouraged to fondle them. In fact, that’s the event’s slogan:

“Finally–an exhibition for those who always have to touch everything,”

Two mannequins in particular light up and let out a “That’s it,” when you locate their respective g-spot and prostate. One can’t help but wonder why the event’s creators didn’t make these mannequins as life-like as statues in a wax museum, allowing visitors to fondle replicas of Sarah Palin and Barack Obama. Maybe the people running Amora got tired of cleaning up after the cleaning crew.

In addition to the naught mannequins, Amora offers over 50 hands-on displays, guiding visitors through the wonders of sex. Exhibits provide how-to instructions on everything from strip teases to sex positions. A fetish section even offers a submissive mannequin outfitted with a “Spank-O-Meter,” which rates the pleasure visitors provide with a leather whip (undoubtedly similar models will soon replace the punching bag game in bars and the sledge hammer strength contest at carnivals). A “Sensorium” provides tips on stimulating all of your partner’s senses with things like aphrodisiacs and aroma therapy.

Like all museum exhibits, this one ends in a gift shop. However, buying a sex toy in this setting is considerably less creepy than going to the counter of a sex shop lit up with neon lights, unless you’re surrounded by a gang of attractive women.

Amora was started in London by a Frenchman, who else, and will soon travel to Barcelona. It’s unclear if the mannequins’ accents will be changed to match their setting, or if Amora will ever make it to Tampa. We can only hope that a local entrepreneur (attention Joe Redner) will see the potential and open a similar sex exhibit in Tampa, though with a few upgrades, like replacing the mannequins with real life models from Mons Venus. Of course then, you’d have to contend with a bunch of greasy guys in sweat pants and rain coats.

Read more about Amora at reuters.com