Tag: Artwork

The insidious shades

Ragging on 50 Shades of Grey is nothing new. I’ve done it often enough in the past, the mainstream press has done it, and over at Pervocracy Cliff has turned mocking it into something of an art form. Yet it wasn’t till I read this article by Jennifer Hanks that I realized how insidious its influence was.

She worked as a editor on erotic romance novels when 50 Shades first took off, and the article describes how it set a new template for that genre. Suddenly every hero was an abusive asshole with no idea of consensual play and every heroine an insecure virgin with no experience of BDSM. My job has its fair share of less than fun moments, but having to spend 8 hours a day reading endless 50 shades knocks offs that are actually worse than the original, well that must be hell. Particularly when the publisher doesn’t allow any variation on the theme…

By the time I leave my job — I’ve gotten into graduate school — we explicitly don’t accept books with female Dommes for any of our regular imprints. I imagine making a t-shirt that says DOMME on it in all caps and wearing it to work every single fucking day I have left.

I never realized how much that one book had influenced erotic fiction. Eventual its effect must wane, but until then we’re left with not just a horribly written trilogy, but a distorted marketplace for all kinky writing.

For an accompanying image I thought I’d go with something fun, sexy and clearly consensual. i.e. The opposite of 50 shades. This beautiful artwork by Yumine Guo is a perfect fit.

Artwork by Yumine Guo

Oh Joy Sex Toy

Fans of comics, sex and humor should enjoy the Oh Joy Sex Toy site. As its new reader page states, it’s a weekly comic that reviews all sorts of things related to sex, sexuality and the sex industry. Example comics include guides to cunnilingus and bondage, interviews with amazing porn stars like Stoya and Jizz Lee, a guide to strap-on harnesses and the artist’s experiences with pegging. It’s sadly low on kinky toys, with little for the S&M crowd, but it’s an informative and entertaining read all the same.

The image below is the first part of the aforementioned comic on pegging, featuring Erika (the artist) and her husband Matthew. The original is far longer and more descriptive. So consider this a small taster and click through to read the rest.

OhJoy

Vanity’s Price

Continuing the vintage theme, here’s a movie poster from a 1924 Italian feature entitled Vanity’s Price. I couldn’t track down a detailed background for it, but I was amused to discover this original review in the New York Times. It was written by Mordaunt Hall, who was the first ever movie critic for that paper. Given he performed that role from October 1924 to September 1934, and that the review is dated to October 8th 1924, I have to assume this was one of the very first movies he and the NY Times ever reviewed. The review features mention of scoundrels, thrashing, startling gowns and charming of the opposite sex. So clearly nothing much has changed in films over the last 90 or so years.

Vanity's Price

 

The Institute of Sexology

My British readers may be interested to know there’s a major exhibition on sex due to launch in November from the Wellcome Collection. The exhibition title – The Institute of Sexology – is an excellent one. I’d love a laminated FBI style badge with that on it. There actually was an institute of sexology in Germany from 1919 to 1933. That end date should give you a pretty good hint which particular group of assholes put an end to it.

The postcard below is part of the new exhibition. It was originally sent from Paris to the Austrian psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing. He’s famous for his studies of sexual behavior, published in his book Psychopathia Sexualis. He didn’t coin the terms sadism and masochism, but it was his book which popularized them. Unfortunately he’s hardly a poster child for kink, as he considered any form of recreational sex to be a perversion. That’s kind of amusing to look back on, given that 99% of sex these days is recreational.

Presumably he didn’t approve of the behavior shown in the postcard. It’s hard to get pregnant while riding a man like a horse and beating him with a rod. At least I hope that’s the case, as I wasn’t wearing a condom the last time I tried it.

Woman seated upon a man like a horse

Trouble for the Duke

When someone fitting the description of ‘evil fairytale queen’ calls for her guards, you know trouble is in store for a hapless hero. When said queen has their genitalia in her hands at that moment, things are really looking bad.

Trouble For The Duke

This artwork is in the distinctive style of Hanz Kovacq, and is taken from his Hilda series. I originally spotted it on the Lunar Black tumblr.

Artwork, video and an apology

Apologies for the lack of posts in the last couple of days. It turns out that while I can usually balance blogging, work and a social life, I can’t also squeeze watching the World Cup into that schedule. Hopefully normal service will now be resumed.

While I’m on the subject of the World Cup, I feel I should point my readers at this Kia advertisement for it starring Adriana Lima. It’s not strictly femdom, but I’m fairly certain a decent percentage of my audience will enjoy it.

If Ms Lima in high heels doesn’t do anything for you, let me offer this drawing as an alternative. It’s by the artist Blacksmith. If you like it then you’ll be happy to know there are a number of similar pieces on the artist’s tumblr.

Artwork by Blacksmith

The bionic woman

Fans of strap-on play may be interested in this article on (allegedly) the worlds first bionic strap-on. Fortunately this isn’t a device designed to jackhammer someone at hundreds of thrusts per minute. Instead it translates squeezing or stroking actions on the dildo into different types of vibration to the wearer. I know a lot of women enjoy wielding a strap-on and having their partners suck or caress it. This would seem to be a great way to enhance that experience.

The company name – Orgasmatronics – is a little ridiculous, and I don’t think their resident inventor does himself any favors by wearing a pink bow-tie. However, they’ve already raised over $32,000 via crowdfunding, and the product itself certainly seems like an interesting concept. If any of my readers get an opportunity to try it out I’d love to hear what they think.

tumblr_ms2rhrLR6g1rf84szo1_500
I don’t think this image was originally based on the idea of a bionic dildo, but whatever she’s holding, it does seem to have a life of its own. I found it on the Showcase of Male Submissives tumblr. I’m afraid I’ve not been able to track down who the original artist was.

Venus in Furs (cont)

While I’m on the subject of the classic book, it would be remiss of me not to mention the new illustrated edition of it by the immensely talented Sardax. I have a kindle edition, which for reasons that escape me has become hard to track down. Isn’t one of the selling points of electronic books that they don’t go out of print and are always in stock? Anyway, if you’re interested in a copy, Sardax has a collection of links to places carrying the hard copy edition.

I have to admit I’m not the biggest fan of the original story. I’m glad I purchased the Sardax illustrated version, as it’s a book I feel I have to own and his artwork is always a pleasure, but unfortunately I find the primary character and narrator whiny and annoying. The writing is also very much of its time, which means its verbose, meandering and very formal in its language. David Ives was undoubtedly wise to avoid a straight translation of the book, and instead do a play with a play, letting him take the theme but put his own modern twist on it.

Of course, mentioning Sardax gives me an excuse to feature some of his brilliant artwork. This is from his illustrated version of the book.

Venus in Furs by Sardax