The Art of the Kiss
February 9, 2009 • By Karlyn Williams, Contributing Writer
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UPB brings smooch guru to Memorial Hall
HARRISONBURG, Va. — Whether it’s upside down, in a car or to the beat of music, the art of kissing exists universally.
Michael Christian, pen name William Cane, showed the students who packed Memorial Hall auditorium on Friday night that there are at least 35 ways to kiss. He wrote the book titled “The Art of Kissing” in 1991, which has been translated into 19 languages. When the book was released it sparked interest in the college community and the hype hasn’t stopped.
“It wasn’t even my idea to start the college show,” Cane said. “Colleges wanted me to come speak, and there were always people willing to demonstrate the kisses.”
The University Program Board brought the show to campus as a late-night program.
“It gives students the opportunity to do something on campus rather than going to party somewhere else,” said senior Sean Santiago, vice president of marketing for UPB.
The Art of Kissing show allowed students to collectively share and express their interest in kissing. Cane made it a point to mention that the show was a unique demonstration that will only come once in a lifetime.
“You will have a life-long advantage over any other kissing partner because you are here,” Cane said jokingly.
With the help of four student couples as visual aids, he was able to fully describe the kisses, causing the packed auditorium to echo with laughter. The couples were either pre-selected by the club they were involved in or volunteered themselves. Before the show the couples had an hour rehearsal to become familiar with Cane’s show.
Senior Patrick White was coaxed to participate by junior Annie Blewett, UPB director of special events, because he was a member of the organization.
“When we had a meeting, I said ‘If no one signs up to be a part of the demonstration, I was just going to pair people up on exec’,” Blewett said.
White said he was nervous before the show but calmed himself by realizing that a lot of people in the audience knew him. On the other hand, Dayne Mauney, White’s girlfriend of more than a year, felt more comfortable on stage because she is a singer and used to being under the lights. However, she had one reservation.
“The boots I’m wearing make me taller than him,” said Mauney, a senior.
One of the kisses demonstrated was the fantasy dentist kiss, which was the most physical and over-the-top kiss during the show.
“Once people get on stage they become a different animal,” Cane said. “Something clicks and they become more extroverted and even do things that I didn’t tell them to do.”
The song, “Kiss” by Prince, accompanied the music kiss. Cane explained that kissing upside down felt “like you were kissing a stranger, it’s kind of exciting.” The different angle makes each person view the other in a fresh way.
“I want to try the upside-down kiss,” junior Nicole Sanders said. “It reminds me of Spiderman.”
One of the most awkward kisses was when the couples had to kiss other participants on the neck during a demonstration.
“The changing of couples was shocking,” Sanders said. “Who knew ‘Joe’ could be some much fun?”
Members of Madison Equality Club, Tiffany Sprague, a fifth-year senior, and senior Melissa Brown were one of the couples on stage, yet both are in other relationships.
Sprague and her girlfriend Samantha Smingler started dating after Sprague agreed to do the show.
“I told her to do it and have fun, but I was really nervous right before the show started,” said Smingler, a senior.
This was not Cane’s first time having same-sex participants, but it did present a challenge. Cane’s use of pronouns that included all types of relationships bothered Smingler. Cane said during the show that he was working on improving his pronouns when there are same-sex couples on the stage.
Through all of the demonstrations, Cane was educating the audience of the types of kisses preferred by men and women. According to Cane women prefer kisses on the neck 10 times more than men, but 96 percent of both men and women enjoy the French kiss.
Sophomore Ryan Witmer, attended the show with his girlfriend and appreciated the tips.
“I learned to think more about thinking from the girl’s perspective and trying to do what she wants to make the experience better,” Witmer said.
One student said it best when leaving the auditorium: “Only in college.”
Mix it Up with These Fresh Kissing Moves
FANTASY DENTIST KISS
To set the scene, Partner A, “the dentist,” sporting a white lab coat, stood behind a seated wide-mouthed “patient,” Partner B.
When Cane said the magic words, “kiss, make that person yours,” they put the scene in action. Partner B grabbed the others neck and pulled with lust. Gradually all couples ended up on the floor sprawled out; some were on top of one another others were stripping off the lab coat while flinging the dental mirror prop off the stage.
MUSIC and UPSIDE-DOWN KISS
Cane counted the couples in with a “five, six, seven, eight” so they began pecking on the lips, alternating from side to side, dodging each other’s noses. This then transitioned to the upside-down kiss, which had a similar stance as the fantasy dentist kiss.
Cane explained that kissing upside down felt “like you were kissing a stranger; it’s kind of exciting.” The different angle makes each person view the other in a fresh way.
NECK KISS
In the neck kiss demonstration, Partner B was dreaming about Partner A being an ex-partner, named “Joe.” So Partner B stayed stationary while Partner A rotated to the other Bs seated on stage, becoming “Joe.”
Click here to view the slideshow.
Contact Karlyn Williams at willi2kr@jmu.edu
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