|
LadyHugs -> RE: Watered down BDSM (9/19/2006 8:07:12 AM)
|
Dear ScooterTrash, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Lovely topic--thank you for raising the topic up for thought or consideration.
In my mind's eye, I think the historical references of what we do under the title of debauchery was the true umbrella for all the kinks and fetishes that did not always include the D/s exchange, S&M, and or bondage. It was "loving" outside the religious straight jacket of the times.
What we are doing, has be done for a very long time indeed. We have paintings of the Mistress Phyllis riding the pony boy, Aristotle. Yes, the same Philosopher we know who shaped civilization's reasoning. Two paintings survive of this, by Hans Baldung or Grien and Lucas de Lyde. Although Emperor Nero from 37-68 AD was a sadist, he took it to the extremes as he killed those he savaged. But, we have S&M tacted onto Leopold von Sacher Masoch (Marquis de Sade) who really was a SWITCH, as he loved giving pain as much as receiving pain and, this is often over looked in the modern BDSM community. Women's ability to be sadistic was documented by a Roman satirical poet Juvenal, writing; "..women rules her home more savagely than a tyrant." We have spanking clubs in England, where everybody took turns spanking each other, absent of Top/bottom, D/s and or M/s elements and or bondage in Victorian England. The Spanking horse, known then as the Berkley Horse, invented by Madame Berkley who had a spanking club in the era of Queen Victoria; the 1792 Bon Ton Magazine described female flagellation clubs, which William Shakespeare wrote calves to butt were flogged and the skin went milky white to red. In France such debauchery houses were then renamed "houses of tolerance" after 1870 in which it describes rather close as to what happens today, such as Lesbian sex, S&M, leather straps and dildos, false nuns for rape scenes, electric shock and sex with critters. Although it was for disciplinary reasons, the 'peticoat' of a male was for punishment, not pleasure. Peticoating was dressing men from skin level to layers of women's garments, everything to wigs to shoes as to humiliate boys and men into behaving better towards women in the Victorian age. From the pictures, they didn't enjoy it one bit!
BDSM is a modern term. It merely describes the elements to which constitutes a understanding of what we do but, not a rigid standard. Bondage can be invisible yet encompass to heavy, such as mummification. Discipline can include punishment but, also a work and or play ethic that is disciplined or artful, it may also include the dominance and submissive partnership in an established role. Sado-masochism can describe anything that gives or receives pain, in the mental, emotional, physical and or spiritual realms. How we (in general terms) achieve it departs from formal description or class, into individualizm.
That said, by the standards I came into the scene in the 1970's, it is indeed watered down and the uniformity in some ways that were helpful have deminished. Perhaps this is why there is a revival of sorts within the heterosexual community, to get back some sense of protocols that promoted less confusion, as it has gotten to 'loose' as far as 'doing your own thing.' Too many people get offended because there isn't a standard in protocols in social settings. As an example, it would be like inviting your guests to a formal dinner, your best china and service is out and a fine meal has been prepared. Your guests, in their mindset 'doing their own thing,' come in rag like shorts, sneakers and less than clean, another pair of guest may come in a tuxedo or formal leather. It detracts from the dining experience as a whole. If people were to show up to a formal dinner that way in my circles in the 1970's, they would not be allowed entry and, that included Leather bars and dungeons. So, yes by my reference points--BDSM has been watered down.
In my mind's eye, I cannot control others but, I can control myself and those I have near and dear to me in service. I think regardless of how I view things, civilization and BDSM, S&M, D/s, M/s will continue to change, develop, reinvent itself and improve and at times disappear.
In my mind's eye, if people were exposed to the higher protocols they would look on with awe and be inspired. Until standards of behavior are raised, we'll all see casual and 'do your own thing' attitudes. After all, we unconsciously package ourselves for public consumption by, how we dress, how we behave and how we do what we do.
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
Lady Hugs
|
|
|
|
