Editing BDSM (section)

== Cultural aspects ==
{{See also|BDSM in culture and media}}
Today, the BDSM culture exists in most Western countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwidebdsm.com/Club-&amp-Munch-Directory |title=Worldwide Club and Munch Directory |access-date=11 December 2007 |website=worldwidebdsm.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227032451/http://www.worldwidebdsm.com/Club-%26amp-Munch-Directory |archive-date=27 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This offers BDSM practitioners the opportunity to discuss BDSM relevant topics and problems with like-minded people. This culture is often viewed as a [[subculture]], mainly because BDSM is often still regarded as "unusual" by some of the public. Many people hide their leaning from society since they are afraid of the incomprehension and of social exclusion.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bezreh |first1=Tanya |last2=Weinberg |first2=Thomas S. |last3=Edgar |first3=Timothy |date=January 2012 |title=BDSM Disclosure and Stigma Management: Identifying Opportunities for Sex Education |journal=American Journal of Sexuality Education |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=37–61 |doi=10.1080/15546128.2012.650984 |issn=1554-6128 |pmc=3382736 |pmid=22754406}}</ref>

In contrast to frameworks seeking to explain sadomasochism through psychological, psychoanalytic, medical or forensic approaches, which seek to categorize behaviour and desires and find a root "cause", Romana Byrne suggests that such practices can be seen as examples of "aesthetic sexuality", in which a founding physiological or psychological impulse is irrelevant. Rather, sadism and masochism may be practiced through choice and deliberation, driven by certain aesthetic goals tied to style, pleasure, and identity. These practices, in certain circumstances and contexts, can be compared with the creation of art.<ref>Romana Byrne (2013) [https://books.google.com/books/about/Aesthetic_Sexuality.html?id=uccTAgAAQBAJ Aesthetic Sexuality: A Literary History of Sadomasochism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922015035/https://books.google.com/books/about/Aesthetic_Sexuality.html?id=uccTAgAAQBAJ |date=22 September 2015 }}, New York: Bloomsbury, pp. 1-4.</ref>

=== Symbols ===
One of the most commonly used symbols of the BDSM community is a derivation of a [[triskelion]] shape within a circle.<ref name=Luminais>{{cite book|last1=Luminais|first1=Misty|title=In the Habit of Being Kinky: Practice and Resistance in a BDSM Community, Texas|date=May 2012|publisher=Washington State University|page=121|url=https://research.wsulibs.wsu.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2376/4093/Luminais_wsu_0251E_10404.pdf?sequence=1|access-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110081425/https://research.wsulibs.wsu.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2376/4093/Luminais_wsu_0251E_10404.pdf?sequence=1|archive-date=10 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Various forms of triskele have had many uses and many meanings in many cultures; its BDSM usage derives from the ''Ring of O'' in the classic book ''[[Story of O]]''. The BDSM Emblem Project claims copyright over one particular specified form of the triskelion symbol; other variants of the triskelion are free from such copyright claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emblemproject.sagcs.net|title=Emblem Home Page|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924193411/http://emblemproject.sagcs.net/|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[triskelion]] as a BDSM symbol can easily be perceived as the three separate parts of the acronym BDSM; which are BD, DS, and SM (Bondage & Discipline, Dominance & Submission, Sadism & Masochism). They are three separate items, that are normally associated together.

[[File:Leather, Latex, and BDSM pride - Light.svg|150px|thumb|The [[leather pride flag]], a symbol of the BDSM and [[leather subculture]]]]
The [[leather pride flag]], shown to the right, is a symbol for the [[leather subculture]] and also widely used within BDSM. In continental Europe, the ''[[Ring of O]]'' is widespread among BDSM practitioners.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Piontek|first1=Wolf|title=über den "Ring der O": Der Ring der O als Fetish und BDSM Symbol|url=http://www.fetish-jewels.com/ueberdenringdero/index.html|website=Fetish Jewels|access-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912080452/http://www.fetish-jewels.com/ueberdenringdero/index.html|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:BDSM-rights-flag-Tanos.svg|150px|alt=BDSM Rights Flag colour|thumb|The BDSM rights flag with [[triskelion]]-type emblem]]
The BDSM rights flag, shown to the right, was designed by Tanos, a [[Master/slave (BDSM)|Master]] from the [[United Kingdom]]. It is partially loosely based on the design of the [[leather pride flag]], and also includes a version of the BDSM Emblem (but not similar enough to fall within Steve Quagmyr's specific copyright claims for the Emblem). The BDSM rights flag is intended to represent the belief that people whose sexuality or relationship preferences include BDSM practices deserve the same human rights as everyone else, and should not be discriminated against for pursuing BDSM with consenting adults.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.informedconsent.org.uk/bdsmflag|title=Informed Consent: BDSM rights flag|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502055320/http://www.informedconsent.org.uk/bdsmflag|archive-date=2013-05-02}}</ref>{{Clear}}

The flag is inspired by the leather pride flag and BDSM emblem but is specifically intended to represent the concept of BDSM rights and to be without the other symbols' restrictions against commercial use. It is designed to be recognizable by people familiar with either the leather pride flag or BDSM triskelion (or triskele) as "something to do with BDSM"; and to be distinctive whether reproduced in full colour, or in black and white (or another pair of colours).<ref name="bdsmrights">{{cite web |title= BDSMrights.com |url= http://www.bdsmrights.com/ |access-date= 30 March 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110510022233/http://www.bdsmrights.com/ |archive-date= 10 May 2011 |url-status= live }}</ref>

BDSM and [[Fetish fashion|fetish items and styles]] have been spread widely in Western societies' everyday life by different factors, such as [[avant-garde]] fashion, [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[goth subculture]], and science fiction TV series,<ref>Fuentes Rodríguez, César: ''Mundo Gótico''. (Quarentena Ediciones, 2007, {{ISBN|978-84-933891-6-1}})</ref> and are often not consciously connected with their BDSM roots by many people. While it was mainly confined to the [[Punk subculture|punk]] and BDSM subcultures in the 1990s, it has since spread into wider parts of Western societies.

=== Film and music ===
* In music: The Romanian singer-songwriter [[:ro:NAVI]] featured BDSM and [[Shibari]] scenes in her music video "Picture Perfect" (2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libertatea.ro/detalii/articol/navi-picture-perfect-videoclip-bondage-bdsm-shibari-511725.html|title=Videoclipul Care Nu Te Poate Lăsa Indiferent! Navi, Târâtă Pe Jos, Trasă De Păr, Pălmuită Cât Se Poate De Adevărat şi Biciuită, în scene crunte de BDSM|language=ro|date=22 October 2014|website=libertatea.ro|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> The video was banned in Romania for its explicit content.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shibaridojo.blogspot.ro/2015/04/navi-picture-perfect-video.html|title=Navi - Picture Perfect - Video|date=2015-04-29|website=shibaridojo.blogspot.ro|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128194943/http://shibaridojo.blogspot.ro/2015/04/navi-picture-perfect-video.html|archive-date=28 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, [[Rihanna]]'s song "[[S&M (song)|S&M]]" and [[Christina Aguilera]]'s single "[[Not Myself Tonight]]" appeared, both full of BDSM imagery. [[Madonna]] has acted in the BDSM-themed movie ''[[Body of Evidence (1993 film)|Body of Evidence]]'' (1993).<ref>{{cite news |last=Walters |first=Barry |title=Madonna’s ‘Erotica,’ ‘Sex’: Why Musical Masterpiece, Defiant Book Still Matter |date=19 October 2017 |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonnas-erotica-sex-why-musical-masterpiece-defiant-book-still-matter-200685/ |access-date=16 April 2025 |archive-date=17 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417023309/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonnas-erotica-sex-why-musical-masterpiece-defiant-book-still-matter-200685/ |url-status=live}}</ref> 
* In movies: While BDSM activity appeared initially in subtle form, in the 1960s famous works of literature like ''[[Story of O]]'' and ''[[Venus in Furs]]'' were filmed explicitly. With the release of the 1986 film ''[[9½ Weeks]]'', the topic of BDSM was transferred to mainstream cinema. From the 1990s, cinematic representation of alternative sexualities, including BDSM, increased dramatically, as seen in documentary productions such as ''[[Graphic Sexual Horror]]'' (a 2009 film based on the website [[Insex]]), ''[[Kink (film)|Kink]]'' (a 2013 film based on the website [[Kink.com]]), and movies such as ''[[Fifty Shades of Grey (film)|Fifty Shades of Grey]]'' (2015) and its two sequels ''[[Fifty Shades Darker (film)|Fifty Shades Darker]]'' (2017) and ''[[Fifty Shades Freed (film)|Fifty Shades Freed]]'' (2018).
** The ''Fifty Shades'' movies have been criticised for conflating abusive activities with consensual BDSM activities. "A lot of what happens in the main relationship of Fifty Shades of Grey is domestic abuse, both physical and emotional, and for people whose entire understanding of BDSM now comes from jiggle balls and rooms of pain this is a dangerous misconception to foster."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/25/fifty-shades-submissive-sophie-morgan |title=I like submissive sex but Fifty Shades is not about fun: it's about abuse |date=2012-08-25 |work=Sexuality |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2021-06-24 |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914133729/https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/25/fifty-shades-submissive-sophie-morgan |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Theater ===
Although it would be possible to establish certain elements related to BDSM in classical theater, not until the emergence of contemporary theater would some plays have BDSM as the main theme. Exemplifying this are two works: one Austrian, one German, in which BDSM is not only incorporated but integral to the storyline of the play.
* ''Worauf sich Körper kaprizieren'', Austria. Peter Kern directed and wrote the script for this comedy which is a present-day adaption of [[Jean Genet]]'s 1950 film, {{Lang|fr|[[Un chant d'amour]]}}. It is about a marriage in which the wife (film veteran Miriam Goldschmidt) submits her husband (Heinrich Herkie) and the butler (Günter Bubbnik) to her sadistic treatment until two new characters take their places.<ref>[[Der Standard]], edición del 3 September 2006</ref>
* ''Ach, Hilde'' (''Oh, Hilda''), Germany. This play by Anna Schwemmer premiered in Berlin. A young Hilde becomes pregnant, and after being abandoned by her boyfriend she decides to become a professional dominatrix to earn money. The play carefully crafts a playful and frivolous picture of the field of professional dominatrices.<ref>[[BILD]]-Zeitung, Berlín, 15 March 1998</ref>

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Sadism and masochism in fiction}}
{{See also|List of BDSM authors}}
[[File:Leopold von Sacher-Masoch with Fannie.jpg|thumb|Fanny Pistor (with whip) and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. ''Venus in Furs'' was inspired by the author's own life where he was dominated by a woman.]]
Although examples of literature catering to BDSM and fetishistic tastes were created in earlier periods, BDSM literature as it exists today cannot be found much earlier than [[World War II]].

The word ''sadism'' originates from the works of [[Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade]], and the word ''masochism'' originates from [[Leopold von Sacher-Masoch]], the author of ''[[Venus in Furs]]''. However, it is worth noting that the Marquis de Sade describes non-consensual abuse in his works, such as in ''[[Justine (Sade novel)|Justine]]''. ''Venus in Furs'' describes a consensual dom-sub relationship.

A central work in modern BDSM literature is undoubtedly ''[[Story of O]]'' (1954) by [[Anne Desclos]] under the pseudonym [[Pauline Réage]].

Other notable works include ''[[9½ Weeks (book)|9½ Weeks]]'' (1978) by [[Elizabeth McNeill]], some works of the writer [[Anne Rice]] (''[[Exit to Eden]]'', and her ''[[The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty|Claiming of Sleeping Beauty]]'' series of books), [[Jeanne de Berg]] (''[[The Image (novel)|L'Image]]'' (1956) dedicated to [[Pauline Réage]]), the [[Gor]] series by [[John Norman]], and naturally all the works of [[Patrick Califia]], [[Gloria Brame]], the group [[Samois]] and many of the writer [[Georges Bataille]] (''Histoire de l'oeil-Story of the Eye'', Madame Edwarda, 1937), as well as those of [[Bob Flanagan (performance artist)|Bob Flanagan]] (''Slave Sonnets'' (1986), ''Fuck Journal'' (1987), ''A Taste of Honey'' (1990)). A common part of many of the poems of [[Pablo Neruda]] is a reflection on feelings and sensations arising from the relations of EPE or erotic exchange of power. The ''[[Fifty Shades trilogy|Fifty Shades]]'' trilogy is a series of very popular erotic romance novels by [[E. L. James]] which involves BDSM; however, the novels have been criticized for their inaccurate and harmful depiction of BDSM.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2015/02/consent-isnt-enough-in-fifty-shades-of-grey/385267/ |title=Consent Isn't Enough: The Troubling Sex of Fifty Shades |last=Green |first=Emma |date=February 10, 2015 |website=The Atlantic |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413231913/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2015/02/consent-isnt-enough-in-fifty-shades-of-grey/385267/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 21st century, a number of prestigious university presses, such as [[Duke University]], [[Indiana University]] and [[University of Chicago]], have published books on BDSM written by professors, thereby lending academic legitimacy to this once taboo topic.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Scholars-in-Bondage/139251|title=Scholars in Bondage|journal=The Chronicle of Higher Education|date=20 May 2013|access-date=11 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214359/https://www.chronicle.com/article/Scholars-in-Bondage/139251|archive-date=26 August 2018|url-status=dead|last1=Paglia|first1=Camille}}</ref>

=== Art ===
{{See also|List of BDSM artists|List of BDSM photographers}}
* In photography: [[Eric Kroll]] and [[Irving Klaw]] (with [[Bettie Page]], the first well-known bondage model), and Japanese photographer [[Araki Nobuyoshi]], whose works are exhibited in several major art museums, galleries and private collections, such as the Baroness Marion Lambert, the world's largest holder of contemporary photographic art. Also [[Robert Mapplethorpe]], whose most controversial work is that of the underground BDSM scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s of New York. The homoeroticism of this work fuelled a national debate over the public funding of controversial artwork.
* Comic book drawings: [[Guido Crepax]] with ''Histoire d'O'' (1975), ''Justine'' (1979) and ''Venere in Pelliccia'' (1984); inspired by the work of [[Pauline Réage]], the [[Marquis de Sade]] and [[Leopold von Sacher-Masoch]]. [[John Willie]] and ''The Adventures of Sweet Gwendoline'' (1984) which was the basis for the film ''[[The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak]]''. The ''[[Sunstone (comics)|Sunstone/Mercy]]'' (2011-ongoing) books by [[Stjepan Šejić|Stjepan Sejic]] have become very popular and are found in many conventional bookstores around the world.
* In graphic design: [[Eric Stanton]] and his work on dominance and female bondage, as well as [[Hajime Sorayama]] and Robert Bishop.
* In [[art deco]] sculpture: [[Bruno Zach]] produced perhaps his best known sculpture—called "The Riding Crop" ({{circa|1925}})—which features a scantily clad [[dominatrix]] wielding a [[Crop (implement)|riding crop]].<ref name=Bonhams>{{cite web |title=Bruno Zach's 'Riding Crop Girl' hits World Record $150,602 at Bonhams art auction |url=https://www.justcollecting.com/miscellania/bruno-zachs-riding-crop-girl-hits-world-record-150-602-at-bonhams-art-auction |date=June 26, 2015 |website=Just Collecting |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630174111/https://www.justcollecting.com/miscellania/bruno-zachs-riding-crop-girl-hits-world-record-150-602-at-bonhams-art-auction |archive-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref>