Saunders, who said that he has heard rumors of the show being called "a back-flip on top of a dildo," added that it provokes "interesting and powerful conversations."
Arthur L. Loeb, senior lecturer in visual and environmental studies and a member of the Harvard Council on the Arts, said he thinks the decision not to fund the performance was correct.
"Don't forget that we also have to deal with public statutes. We're doing it in public space," he said. "There are certain restrictions in Cambridge about what you can and cannot do in public."
But Jeffrey A. Masten, Cowles associate professor in the humanities, said he was surprised that Arts First did not fund a pioneering program such as Talusan's.
"Monitoring the content of art--especially the content of art that takes up questions of sexuality--is a dangerous business," said Masten, who advised Talusan on his senior thesis.
"I wish Arts First had chosen to fund this event--I hope that Arts First will continue the great work it does by promoting the widest variety of arts events....Art that makes people nervous should be high on the funding list," Masten said