BDSM
Parents: human sexuality - sadomasochism
Related: bondage - discipline - domination - erotic horror - fantasy - female domination - feminism and sadomasochism - fetishism - flagellation - sadomasochism - humiliation - masochism - master - mistress - paraphilia - perversion - pain - pleasure - power - punishment - sadism - slave - spanking - submission -
The Velvet Underground (1963) Michael Leigh
By medium: sadomasochism in literature - sadomasochism in film - SM pornography -
Definition
BDSM is a term which describes an number of related patterns of human sexual behaviour. The major subgroupings are described in the acronym "BDSM" itself — "bondage & discipline" (B&D), "domination & submission" (D&S) and "sadism & masochism" (S&M).
Many of the specific practices in BDSM are those which, if performed in neutral or nonsexual contexts, are widely considered unpleasant, undesirable, or disadvantageous. For example, pain, physical restraint and servitude are traditionally inflicted on persons against their will and to their detriment. In BDSM, however, these activities are engaged in with the mutual consent of the participants, and typically for mutual enjoyment. Because of this, those who practice BDSM see it as entirely different from sexual abuse.
This emphasis on informed consent and safety is also known as SSC (safe, sane and consensual), though others prefer RACK (Risk Aware Consensual Kink), which places the emphasis more on informed consent, and acknowledges the fact that all activities are potentially risky. http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM[Aug 2004]
BDSM fashion
BDSM fashion is typically very revealing fetishistic black leather or metallic plastic or PVC outfits with high-heeled boots and fishnet tights, derived from costumes worn in the BDSM scene.
Fashion designer Malcolm McLaren created many items of BDSM-inspired clothing for the 1970s punk rock scene, in particular bondage trousers that connected the wearer's legs with straps. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM_fashion [Apr 2005]
Erotic humiliation
In BDSM, humiliation is one psychological technique a top may use on a bottom. It is generally considered edgeplay because it touches strong emotional buttons.
Humiliation is a highly subjective issue, and depends greatly on context. While in a dominant-submissive scene or relationship, the submissive takes a subordinate role and may be called "slave", "boy", "dog" or something similar. The submissive may also make displays of subservience, such as lighting cigarettes, walking a pace behind the dominant, only speaking when spoken to, etc.
However, a dominant generally does not call his or her submissive "fat", "ugly", "stupid" or "worthless" or otherwise insult the submissive; this would be considered abuse. Insults and other forms of humiliation should only be used when the top and bottom have negotiated the issue and are prepared to add this kind of play to their scene.
Depending on the roles and persons involved, terms like "slut", "tart", "bitch" and "whore" may or may not be considered humiliation. For some people, such names are a way of achieving ego reduction or getting over sexual inhibitions.
Sexual roleplaying may or may not involve humiliation. For example, one bottom who plays the part of a dog may enjoy being mock-forced into it and the top will emphasize the lowness of the bottom's status as an animal. Another dog-player would rather play the role of the dog without any element of humiliation.
One such form of sexual roleplaying is erotic objectification, where the bottom is cast in the role of an object. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erotic_humiliation, Apr 2004
List of historical BDSM artists
Don Brennus Aléra - Beloti - Jim Black - Helga Bode - Carlo - Carman - Dagy - Dumoulin - Esbey - Fontana - Galton - Giffey - Giglio - Hata Deli - Hegener - Herric - Jčo - Jim - Kirchner - Malteste - Milewsky - Montorgeuil - Pierre - Prött - Reunier - Smit - Soulier - Tiusty - Topfer - VillotMeanwhile, at Amazon