Fetishized Futures: Reclaiming Erotic Capital and Cultural Identity in the Colonial Gaze

Fetishized Futures: Reclaiming Erotic Capital and Cultural Identity in the Colonial Gaze

Public talk with Dr. Corrinne Sullivan and Dr. Percy Lezard, hosted by the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing.

Please join us for the hybrid public talk “Fetishized Futures: Reclaiming Erotic Capital and Cultural Identity in the Colonial Gaze” with Dr. Corrinne Sullivan and Dr. Percy Lezard, hosted by Dr. Karen Soldatic, Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing. This event is free of charge and open to the public.

Abstract: Indigenous people are habitually subjected to the colonial gaze, often exoticized and fetishized. This presentation will explore the complex intersection of Indigenous fetishism and erotic capital, dissecting the socio-cultural dynamics underlying these phenomena. The exploration will delve into the ways in which representations of Indigenous cultures as exotic and hypersexualized contribute to the fetishization of Indigenous bodies and cultural artifacts. An examination of the commodification of Indigenous eroticism in various forms of media, art, and popular culture, will emphasise the role of colonial legacies, racial stereotypes, and sex market demands in shaping representations of Indigenous sexuality. Drawing from a research project with Indigenous sex workers to delineate the ways in which Indigenous peoples navigate and exploit intricate power dynamics where their cultural representations and identities are commodified as fetishes - the notion of erotic capital emerges, encapsulating the tangible and intangible assets individuals possess, including physical appearance, humour, sexuality and cultural (in)authenticity, which are leveraged for social and economic gains. Further, the presentation will highlight the ways in which Indigenous peoples resist and reclaim their erotic capital, negotiate their agency, challenge hegemonic narratives and navigate between the appropriation and assertion of their cultural identity.

Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Time: 11 AM to 12:30 PM EDT

Format: Hybrid 

Location: DCC-705, Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, 288 Church Street, Toronto Metropolitan University and online (Zoom)

Register: Registration is not required for in person attendance. If you plan to attend virtually, please register here: https://torontomu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vTuGg6uqR-aStq9znaWcyg (external link) 

Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible; auto-captioning will be provided on Zoom. 

For questions and access inquiries, please contact Tarndeep Pannu, tarndeep.pannu@torontomu.ca by July 30, 2025.