Rituals in BDSM

[ebullient]

I'm writing a paper for a special topics class on rituals in contemporary culture, and the topic is rituals within a modern subculture. For some completely random reason completely unknown to my classmates, I chose rituals in BDSM... "because it was interesting." >.>

I'm figuring that my best bet would be primary sources, as I haven't found many scholarly articles on the subject. I greatly admire you folks here, and I learn a ton from just lurking.

My specific focal point is ritualized instances that reinforce the exchange of power between partners. Any info. you might be able to share with me about you and your partner(s) would be greatly appreciated. I'm also just really interested on a personal level to see how others' rituals might differ from mine with my dom.

Also, if anyone wouldn't mind taking time to do an interview with me over Lit messasing or email, that would be supremely helpful.
Thank you!

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I'm writing a paper for a special topics class on rituals in contemporary culture, and the topic is rituals within a modern subculture. For some completely random reason completely unknown to my classmates, I chose rituals in BDSM... "because it was interesting." >.>

I'm figuring that my best bet would be primary sources, as I haven't found many scholarly articles on the subject. I greatly admire you folks here, and I learn a ton from just lurking.

My specific focal point is ritualized instances that reinforce the exchange of power between partners. Any info. you might be able to share with me about you and your partner(s) would be greatly appreciated. I'm also just really interested on a personal level to see how others' rituals might differ from mine with my dom.

Also, if anyone wouldn't mind taking time to do an interview with me over Lit messasing or email, that would be supremely helpful.
Thank you!

You might check out the Library for threads dealing with collaring and collaring ceremonies... that would, at least, be a start.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

You might want to google 'Gorean Lifestyle.' It's a bit or a BDSM niche lifestyle/community and it's very ritualistic and structured.

 

[Homburg]

It might help to provide an example of the level of ritual you are referring to. It is one thing to look at ceremonies and strongly orchestrated subcultures such as Gor, but it is another to speak of simple daily rituals. Are those also in the range you are looking for?

 

[SlaveNano]

I am willing to consider sharing my experiences with you if you want to send me a private message explaining what you want to do and what questions you would like to ask. Don't know how valid any of this will be as evidence for a paper on the subject though. If you read my posts on the ongoing Femdom, Tantric Ritual and Kali thread or any of my stories you will get some idea of where I am coming from and if it is of any interest to you.

 

[Primalex]

Don't know how valid any of this will be as evidence for a paper on the subject though.

Usually somewhere between null and zero.

What did students do before the internet?

 

[SlaveNano]

Usually somewhere between null and zero.

What did students do before the internet?

Yeah, I'm sure you're right. I don't see how anyone's going to get a valid piece of academic research out of anything I'm likely to say to them! But, if I can help.....

 

[A_Kefka]

Usually somewhere between null and zero.

What did students do before the internet?

I think there used to be these huge buildings that had books and people who knew what was in the books. But the last one was in Alexandria and burned down about 2000 years ago. lol

 

[Homburg]

I think there used to be these huge buildings that had books and people who knew what was in the books. But the last one was in Alexandria and burned down about 2000 years ago. lol

They had books in Alexandria? I thought they just had bureaucrats and govt agents?

 

[CutieMouse]

They had books in Alexandria? I thought they just had bureaucrats and govt agents?

You do realize I think in waaaay black and white terms, and my initial reaction to that was to start typing a mini-thesis on the library's destruction [that no one would really want to hear], right?

I'm figuring that my best bet would be primary sources, as I haven't found many scholarly articles on the subject.

You might try contacting The Society of Janus or The Eulenspiegel Society - two of the oldest BDSM organizations in the US. They might be able to point you in the direction of articles, authors, etc for research purposes.

The Loving Dominant (Warren) discusses ritual to a certain extent; Radical Ecstasy (Easton/Hardy) discusses BDSM in tantric terms - also somewhat ritual heavy. Partners in Power (Rinella) discusses D/s M/s relationships/negotiations - including contracts/etc if memory serves me right. I'm currently working my way through The Mistress Manual (Mistress Lorelei), and am [again] finding Domme/sub based BDSM to be far more theoretically ritualized than Dominant/submissive based BDSM.

 

[Homburg]

You do realize I think in waaaay black and white terms, and my initial reaction to that was to start typing a mini-thesis on the library's destruction [that no one would really want to hear], right?

Blame not the Muse for Inspiration. It is in my nature.

Right alongside Humility.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

You do realize I think in waaaay black and white terms, and my initial reaction to that was to start typing a mini-thesis on the library's destruction [that no one would really want to hear], right?

Actually, I'd probably find that interesting, because I don't really know as much about Alexandrian and immediate (next century or so, lol) post-Alexandrian times, especially in that part of the world, as I'd like. I've just never seemed to get around to doing much reading about it, only catching bits and pieces in passing in reading about other topics. But I tend to think more in blue and white.

 

[the captians wench]

Actually, I'd probably find that interesting, because I don't really know as much about Alexandrian and immediate (next century or so, lol) post-Alexandrian times, especially in that part of the world, as I'd like. I've just never seemed to get around to doing much reading about it, only catching bits and pieces in passing in reading about other topics. But I tend to think more in blue and white.

I was thinking something simular.

 

[CutieMouse]

Actually, I'd probably find that interesting, because I don't really know as much about Alexandrian and immediate (next century or so, lol) post-Alexandrian times, especially in that part of the world, as I'd like. I've just never seemed to get around to doing much reading about it, only catching bits and pieces in passing in reading about other topics. But I tend to think more in blue and white.

I was thinking something simular.

[hijack]
Bless y'all for tolerating my odd little mind.... but I've derailed the thread enough.


[/hijack]

 

[ZRT]

[hijack]
Bless y'all for tolerating my odd little mind.... but I've derailed the thread enough.


[/hijack]

Please start a thread on the topic?

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Please start a thread on the topic?

Bwahahaha! I think this may be a first, at least in my 4.x years here: A thread on BDSM ritualization leading (almost) directly to a request for someone to start a thread on the destruction of the Library of Alexandria. I know we've had threads lead to the initiation of other threads, but from point A to point X in one swell foop? I don't think so.

 

[A_Kefka]

[hijack]
Bless y'all for tolerating my odd little mind.... but I've derailed the thread enough.


[/hijack]

can't be that odd, its not like you were the first to mention is Cutie

 

[myinnerslut]

i dont mind answering some questions, as long as its through PM.

send me a PM and we can work out an interview.

~mis