coupledom

Editorial – Sexuality and Coupledom
A colourful mosaic of human limbs and random geometric shapes

If we are to reimagine coupledom and sexuality, we need to expand and challenge our ideas about togetherness, romance, love, intimacy, desire, sex, attachment, and so on.

By TARSHI
February 15, 2022
Editorial – Sexuality and Coupledom
On the Sustainability of (Non) Romance
A photograph featuring two women with their backs to the camera and their arms entwined, looking at a blurred scenery of a neighbourhood.

Contemporary and predominant imaginations of intimacy focus primarily on a sex-centric (romance-centric?) model which assumes that sexual desire exists and holds the same value for every person and every relationship regardless of their subjective positions. Sexual intent and desire are often the cruces of how relational aspects such as intimacy are socially constructed.

By Fariha Sameen
February 15, 2022
On the Sustainability of (Non) Romance
Friendships, or, That in which we decouple coupledom from the economies of marriage
An abstract image of colourful silhouettes of multiple dancing people with squiggly lines around them

I was not simply stuck within the binaries of “same-sex” or “opposite sex,” assuming that any reference to “same-sex” is in itself already revolutionary. But the call to recognise friendship, is a call to recognise so many forms of community that are made invisible by the emphasis within a liberal or conservative framework on “marriage” as the only path to family making.

By Shweta Krishnan
February 1, 2022
Friendships, or, That in which we decouple coupledom from the economies of marriage
The Falsity of ‘Happily-Ever-Afters’: Examining Coupledom in ‘Lust Stories’
A poster of the anthology which depicts a night time illustration of a car, with its headlights making an illuminated circle with ‘Lust Stories’ written inside it. There are buildings with lighted windows in the background

The anthology’s pull rests in its sincere and frank portrayal of male and female desires cutting across the divides of age, sexuality, and socioeconomic position. In terms of romance, the idealistic, till-death-do-us-part fantasy peddled by our movies and mainstream literature has been replaced by a realistic portrayal of modern relationships.

By Srishti Gupta
February 1, 2022
The Falsity of ‘Happily-Ever-Afters’: Examining Coupledom in ‘Lust Stories’
On Looking for Love
An illustration which depicts three heart-shaped pieces of wood suspended from wires, one of them clearly in the foreground, the other two a little smaller and in the background

I wanted to be one of those people who decide to never date again and actually follow through. Indeed, I decided that a lot. A resolution that was broken so many times that it became a running joke in my head.

By Wesley D'Souza
February 1, 2022
On Looking for Love
Three Poems: ‘Untitled’, ‘Alchemy’ & ‘Third date’
A photograph depicting two hands reaching towards each other, but not touching, in a darkened backdrop

He said ‘tender’ today/in such a way/I thought/I’d definitely like him saying/dirty things to me

By Carol D'Souza
February 1, 2022
Three Poems: ‘Untitled’, ‘Alchemy’ & ‘Third date’
Conceptualising Love on the Aromantic Spectrum
An image of a vintage-style round mirror with brown frame and a pink-white dahlia with stem lying on the mirror

I now feel comfortable entertaining the thought that my ease with my selfhood does not necessarily have to be threatened by the possibility of love in coupledom. Indeed, comfort with one’s self can actually evolve into healthier forms of love towards the other(s).

By Shivani Rajan
February 1, 2022
Conceptualising Love on the Aromantic Spectrum
Video: Alternatives to a Standard Relationship
A simple purple flower with a ring peeking out from its bottom is located at the top left corner of the image. The text “The Menu of Love” with a large rectangular border is at the center of the image, and the text “The School of Life” in bold yellow is located at the bottom right corner

Is a monogamous long-term romantic relationship the only kind of relationship available to us? This School of Life video explores alternative modes of relationships through “The Menu of Love” and prods us to rethink the notion of monogamous romantic love and coupledom.

By Curated Content
February 1, 2022
Video: Alternatives to a Standard Relationship