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A-Resonances: Visual Representations of the Asexual Experience | discoverygarden
Renrong Guo
discoverygarden·2025
The most adopted definition of asexuality is simple — does not experience sexual attraction. In reality, however, people who identify as asexual are a very heterogeneous group, and more recognition and
representation of this variety is needed. Through the analysis of existing asexual visual representations, this
thesis proposes that new opportunities are arising for more nuanced representations that acknowledge the
diversity of the asexual experience and help others further understand what asexuality can be.
A small-scale qualitative visual study was conducted to extract symbolic visual elements of online asexual
communities. Drawing from those elements, two projects and one experiment were undertaken to explore
how visual communication tactics can be used to bring forth more nuanced asexual representations. Two
projects propose to associate a broadened understanding of asexuality with the diverse asexual experience
in visual representations: Andy Warhol is Aro Ace situates asexual possibilities in a broader cultural and
historical context through visual storytelling; and #intimAces interprets common physical interactions
from an asexual perspective, linking asexual/nonsexual intimacy with symbols of asexuality. An
experiment of symbol-making for asexual spectrum identities seeks clarifications of the specific
definitions, leading to a discussion around identity segmentation and the role of design to bring more
fluidity. This thesis concludes by suggesting an inclusion of more nuances and possibilities of asexuality for
future asexual visibility and education.
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View paper →Asexual romance in an allosexual world: how ace-spectrum characters (and authors) create space for romantic love - Archive ouverte HAL
Ellen Carter
hal.science·2024
Recent years have seen a surge in contemporary romance novels with ace-spectrum main characters who, despite not experiencing sexual attraction, still yearn for romantic and emotional connection and their happily ever after (HEA). They must navigate as outsiders an allosexual (non-asexual) world where sexual attraction is deemed normal, and where ace-individuals are pitied, assumed to be unwell, or suspected of having survived sexual abuse.
This corpus study of sixty-five novels explores four approaches adopted by ace characters when negotiating romantic space in an allosexual world: an open relationship with an allosexual; a closed relationship with an allosexual; a polyamorous relationship with two (or more) allosexuals; or pairing up with another ace-spectrum character. Except for ace-ace relationships, these novels therefore tread unfamiliar territory in romance fiction because the sexual desires of the main characters are not aligned. In allosexual romance novels, a libido mismatch signifies an underlying physical or emotional problem to be overcome by one or more characters. However, in asexual romance fiction, non-aligned libidos are the norm and the characters must work together to understand each other’s sexual and romantic desires, and to co-create a new space in which all can thrive.
In analyzing how ace romance fiction achieves HEA and how this can inform the lenses through which allosexual romance fiction is read, I look at several factors, including the co-occurrence of other queer orientations and identities; the authors’ orientation, especially those who identify as #ownvoices; how characters with different sexual desires handle consent; and discourses of romance versus intimacy.
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