The History of the Condom

We're betting that you don't spend much of your time pondering the history of the condom. But University of Illinois cultural historian Paula Treichler does, and her ongoing research has led her in fascinating directions. Her research on condoms grew out of her work on AIDS and its meanings, work that established her as a leading thinker on the body. Much more than an account of technological advancements, this program invites us, together with Treichler, to use the condom as a prism to reconsider the history of sexuality and its representations, including cartoons, jokes, lore, legends, and references to pop culture.

This program is presented in partnership with the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.