Sex is funny

Sex is natural, great, embarrassing... and funny. The essential chemical processes in the brain may be the same for all of us (read Claudine Weber-Hof's illuminating article on the science of sex in Spotlight 6/2009), but the way we deal with all of that chemistry clearly differs from person to person and from culture to culture. Any American coming to Europe is surprised to find Beate Uhse shops smack dab in the middle of the pedestrian zone. Don't Europeans understand that sex shops scare children? OK, so we are just a bit prudish and have our troubling secrets. But if you want to experience gay pride, or any of the other free and brave sexual liberation movements, you can always head over to sunny California.

A great release from the chemical barrage is humour, or at least many Americans think so. To Levni Yilmaz, author of the Tales of Mere Existence comics, it's all about a dialogue between head, heart and penis:

A surprising number of funny quotes relating to sex come from the United States. We've collected our favourites for you on the next page. And guess what! You can practise your grammar while you smile into your coffee cup.

Anne Hodgson