It was a daring but effective tactic, for humour is the best way to tackle a subject many people would otherwise find shocking.
Teenage French comic strip character Titeuf serves as a guide to this exhibition at the Cité des Sciences, providing funny yet sensitive and detailed answers to all the awkward questions that 9-14-year-olds tend to ask on the ever-fascinating subjects of love and sexuality.
The exhibition provides serious answers to sexual queries without indulging in either “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” insinuations or too-realistic films or photos. This instructive approach to sex makes the exhibition an excellent outing with the family, friends or schoolmates.
Exhibition ‘host’ Titeuf and his girlfriend Nadia appear all along the itinerary to encourage visitors to use ‘instruments’ such as an ‘amouromètre’ to check if you’re in love, a ‘pubertomatic’ to demonstrate all the changes wrought by puberty and a ‘rallye des spermatos’ (rally of sperm) engaged in a ‘course à l’ovule’ (race to the ovule), as well a number of animations and quizzes.
After a visit to “Zizi sexuel l’expo”, children will have acquired the knowledge they will require when their big moment comes along. The exhibition also provides many reminders of the need for mutual respect. An educational and entertaining outing.

FHR

Photo D.R.