Help with defining primal

[Ginlover]

This is the kinkly summary


Primal play is a form. of BDSM practice that displays raw, emotional, sexual feelings. Being primal includes fighting and animalistic tendencies. Subsequently, it is important that the dominant and submissive are communicative with one another to ensure comfort with the situation. The primal state is purely instinctual. Reason and learned behavior are tossed out when practicing primal play with a partner. As long as there is a high level of trust between the two partners, primal play can be a very intimate and explosive BDSM and sex practice.

As a term primal is relatively new in BDSM. This can be seen in porn or the lack of it. Search primal and you get wrestling videos on crash mats. In erotica the tag primal brings up two things regularly. A physical chase - ideally in a forest in the dark and / or a wolf.

Personally that’s not how I define primal. Primal power exchange can happen in the confines of a bedroom. For me it’s far more about stripping away societal constraints and using your whole body - nails, teeth, weight, hair. It’s a raw honest mindset.

Anyway after that long opening I’ve written two 750 word short stories for the upcoming 750 word author challenge. Due to the word constraints they are both just sex scenes, there is no build up or character development. The stories are trying to capture the essence of real life primal dynamics.

I’m going to do an authors note to explain this and would really like to get some feedback on what your understanding or view of primal is and what you would expect in a primal story posted in the BDSM category on here?

 

[Primalex]

As a term primal is relatively new in BDSM. This can be seen in porn or the lack of it. Search primal and you get wrestling videos on crash mats. In erotica the tag primal brings up two things regularly. A physical chase - ideally in a forest in the dark and / or a wolf.

I'm not sure if I would support this conclusion. Terminology that is BDSM-specific generates better BDSM-specific search hits. Primal is just not BDSM-specific.

I’m going to do an authors note to explain this and would really like to get some feedback on what your understanding or view of primal is and what you would expect in a primal story posted in the BDSM category on here?

I guess I would start by thinking about "not primal" - my first association of "not primal" is "cultured". So, an Eyes Wide Shut masquerade ball is "not primal BDSM". The next association of "not primal" would be "restrained". Protagonists that exhibit particular restrain seem to not act primal in my opinion.

 

[KimGordon67]

Also, try this thread.
It is from a few years ago. I have to check back in with what I’ve said.

https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1388084

This is thread is great ... thanks Fara. I've really avoided the 'primal' label for so long, kind of like I avoid most labels, because I feel like as soon as something has a label stuck on it, people start making rules - 'this is *real* X ... that is definitely NOT *real* X'. Necro's description works for me though. I really fucking hope I get to find my way back into that space with someone again at some point ... I miss that.

 

[Ginlover]

Also, try this thread.
It is from a few years ago. I have to check back in with what I’ve said.

https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1388084

Perfect. I did a search but didn’t find/read this thread. There us loads of comments exactly what I needed, thank you.

I’m confident my - about to be published - stories are primal and sit in BDSM. I just need to get a feel for people personal understanding to write the authors note. I don’t want to sound patronising in it but at the same time I don’t want hate it’s a non consent story. The rawness could be misunderstood as not BDSM or authority exchange yet in my mind it’s 110% power exchange. Also I don’t think it has to be in a dark forest and primal can happen on a bed in a family house and still be totally primal.

 

[Lady2020]

IDK. I think one can have a primal relationship without it getting sadist/masochistic. Just saying.

 

[soltiera]

I miss Eva and Miles and Necro.

 

[Lady2020]

I think so, too. This was me 4 years ago in the thread I linked.

How do you see it?

You mean big, primal, sexy, & growly?. Yeah. It's really interesting how that comes across OL with someone you know. (You just meant that one comment on other thread, right?)

PS: it takes both people knowing who they are and what they want.

 

[ouchfeelsgood]

I’m going to do an authors note to explain this and would really like to get some feedback on what your understanding or view of primal is and what you would expect in a primal story posted in the BDSM category on here?

For me, primal forces are the raw impulses that drive "rough sex": hair pulling, scratching, and especially biting -- on the part of both partners. I would attribute it to the DNA descended from our primate ancestors, and is not unusual in mating behavior among many other species. In people, it's not only a way to "spice up" vanilla sex, but has a significant psychological aspect.

I personally get really turned on by a primal scene, and love to read stories with that particular element involved. Can't wait to read your upcoming stories!

 

[Ginlover]

For me, primal forces are the raw impulses that drive "rough sex": hair pulling, scratching, and especially biting -- on the part of both partners. I would attribute it to the DNA descended from our primate ancestors, and is not unusual in mating behavior among many other species. In people, it's not only a way to "spice up" vanilla sex, but has a significant psychological aspect.

I personally get really turned on by a primal scene, and love to read stories with that particular element involved. Can't wait to read your upcoming stories!

And I hope that’s the difference I’ve achieved between rough sex and primal. For example there is biting but instead of saying biting alone the character has an overwhelming need to taste the other. To consume them. To devour them.

The 750 word limit means no character development or plot/story. The characters don’t even get names. But I’m trying to capture the emotional rawness of their respective need for each other. One story is the female ‘prey’ the second is the exact same scene but the male ‘predator’ POV

Readers apparently really don’t like these very short stories, though for what I’m trying to achieve — showing a primal dynamic — the lack of character appearance or name shouldn’t be important, but I guess time will tell lol

 

[cookiecat]

Also, try this thread.
It is from a few years ago. I have to check back in with what I’ve said.

https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1388084

That was quite a walk through memory lane in many ways.

 

[cookiecat]

In looking back at the old thread I’m loving RA’s description about how hard it is to find a stronger man than many of us. I’m submissive, but I’m not weak. I’m prey to a strong predator.
I miss her voice here. Cutie Mouse as well.

Where did RA go?

There were lots of voices from the past in that thread.

I think it was one of CM's last posts.

 

[Lady2020]

I think primal must carry an honesty. A shamelessness. A baseness. I keep coming back to that term... a stripping away.

I agree. Although I have to say it seems easier for those without control issues?

 

[Lady2020]

Or, who have so many control issues they need to let it all go?

Totally.

 

[ouchfeelsgood]

And I hope that’s the difference I’ve achieved between rough sex and primal. For example there is biting but instead of saying biting alone the character has an overwhelming need to taste the other. To consume them. To devour them.

I think you hit the "primal nail" on the head when you used the adjectives "consume" and "devour". Sex and food are two of our basic needs, so it's not surprising that biting during sexual encounters fulfills the food desire, at least psychologically. Also, the act of biting conjures up the predator/prey dynamic, no matter which gender is the predator. In nature, having pursued, pounced on, and then physically dominated it's prey, the predator then proceeds to literally consume it. The ultimate example of biting and sex is of course the Black Widow spider, who consumes her mate after he inseminates her. (I personally subscribe to a less lethal form, like leaving --or receiving -- temporary toothmarks on sensitive areas )

 

[Lascivity]

Raw and animalistic are the two things which really define primal sex for me - but it's interesting to see how different people have different (but complimentary) reads on it. The idea of it being a dynamic built around consuming to meet a need really appeals to me.

 

[Orchidea73]

I agree with Primalex. Primal is not BDSM-specific. It's about early stages in evolutionary development. It's about origins of things, something basic that all human have. In some people this is more accentuated and in others less, but we all have it in us. Primal fears, primal urge. Jealousy is a primal emotion, rage, anger, love etc. etc.

 

[Ginlover]

I agree with Primalex. Primal is not BDSM-specific. It's about early stages in evolutionary development. It's about origins of things, something basic that all human have. In some people this is more accentuated and in others less, but we all have it in us. Primal fears, primal urge. Jealousy is a primal emotion, rage, anger, love etc. etc.

Would you say a ‘primal dynamic’ is a better term? I used the term primal on its own in the BDSM category in the same way D/s said in a BDSM setting wouldn’t automatically be thought to represent a computer game type.

I’m trying to word my author note at the start of the stories to set the scene without sounding patronising but at the same time also wanting it to be clear it’s a consensual power dynamic. The reason being is if you knew nothing about primal dynamics it could read as a rape and I don’t have the words to explain the relationship in the actual story. It goes straight in to a primal sex scene with no build up, plot or character development.

I understand from other authors feedback 750 word stories are not popular on lit so I’m at least trying to negate the potential dislike for the stories as being non consensual or rape.

 

[Orchidea73]

Would you say a ‘primal dynamic’ is a better term? I used the term primal on its own in the BDSM category in the same way D/s said in a BDSM setting wouldn’t automatically be thought to represent a computer game type.

I’m trying to word my author note at the start of the stories to set the scene without sounding patronising but at the same time also wanting it to be clear it’s a consensual power dynamic. The reason being is if you knew nothing about primal dynamics it could read as a rape and I don’t have the words to explain the relationship in the actual story. It goes straight in to a primal sex scene with no build up, plot or character development.

I understand from other authors feedback 750 word stories are not popular on lit so I’m at least trying to negate the potential dislike for the stories as being non consensual or rape.

Ah, got it. I will never understand why longer stories are not popular here. Setting the scene is half of the enjoyment for me. I do that with my fantasies, in my head.

Anyway, primal dynamic seem okay to me. But English is not my mother tongue, so don't take my word for it.

 

[Ginlover]

This is not my story but I just read it as it was published today. It is not tagged as primal but I think the author has done an excellent job of describing a raw primal interaction. Well worth a read if you like primal play or are interested in it
https://www.literotica.com/beta/s/may-it-please-the-court

 

[Ginlover]

For anyone interested my first 750 word primal story has just been published https://www.literotica.com/beta/s/primal-prey-1

 

[Ginlover]

And here is the male predator view in my attempt to explore primal play
https://www.literotica.com/beta/s/primal-predator