I wish to acknowledge the assistance and sincere friendship of the following persons: Paula K

MASOCHISM, SEXUAL FREEDOM, AND RADICAL DEMOCRACY:

A HERMENEUTIC STUDY OF SADOMASOCHISM IN PSYCHOANALYTIC, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND

CONTEMPORARY TEXTS

By

Paul J. Ramsour

Dissertation

Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

in Religion May, 2002

Nashville, Tennessee Approved:

Professor Victor Anderson, Chair Professor Howard L. Harrod

Professor Volney P. Gay Professor Sheila Smith McKoy

Professor James A. Epstein

©Copyright 2002 by Paul J. Ramsour All Rights Reserved

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many people have been helpful and encouraging in furthering the excitement and advancement of my scholarly and personal adventures. I wish to acknowledge the assistance and sincere friendship of the following persons: Paula K. R. Arai, Ted Brooks, Anthea D. Butler, Jeffrey Currey, Armando De Sousa, Denise M. Dudzinski, Darlene M. Ehinger, John Estrada,

Denise M. Gyauch, Sally S. Holt, Michael Jarrett, Suzette M.

Lemrow, Jeffrey K. Mann, Andrew Risinger, Ira R. Rogers, Michael Stoltzfus, Ian L. Thompson, Steven D. Thompson, Andrew P. Todd IV, M. Minette Watkins, Vincent W. Wynne.

I am also profoundly grateful for the efforts and input of my dissertation committee members: Victor Anderson, Howard L. Harrod, Volney P. Gay, Sheila Smith McKoy, James L.

Epstein.

The staff of the Jean and Alexander Heard Library made it possible for me to undertake and complete this project. I am especially grateful to Yolanda Campbell at Central

Circulation who always had a smile and a kind word for me, and Lynn Hartridge Harbaugh of the Divinity Library who unfailingly obtained obscure materials in a timely manner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page DEDICATION ... iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ... iv

Chapter

I. INTRODUCTION: MASOCHISM AND CULTURAL STUDIES... 1

II. HOW SADISM AND MASOCHISM BECAME ONE PHENOMENON:

MEDICAL AND JURIDICAL REGULARIZATION ... 24

III.SOCIOLOGY JOINS THE FRAY: PUSHING THE LIMITS ... 54

IV. TOWARD A SOCIOLOGICAL THEMATIZATION OF MASOCHISM... 83

V. THE MIGRATION OF S/M FROM THE ANALYST’S COUCH TO THE OPEN ROAD ... 107

VI. CONCLUSION: UNTYING THE KNOT, OR,

CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSIONS OF MASOCHISM AND THE ETHICS OF DEMOCRATIC SEXUAL FREEDOM... 145

APPENDIX A. A BLACK ROSE DM'S GUIDE ... 165

BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 182

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION: MASOCHISM AND CULTURAL STUDIES

This dissertation is a study in sexual ethics.

I t e x a m i n e s a p a r t i c u l a r s e t o f s o c i a l p r a c t i c e s , w h i c h a r e u s u a l l y t a k e n u p i n s e x u a l e t h i c s ,

i d e n t i f i e d a s m a s o c h i s m .¹ M o s t c o m m e n t a t o r s , o b s e r v e r s , a n d t heorists have already made a

d e c i s i o n a b o u t t h e m e r i t o f t h e s e p r a c t i c e s f r o m a v a r i e t y o f p e r s p e c t i v e s . T h e y o r d i n a r i l y o f f e r

e v a l u a t i o n s w i t h a s t r o n g l y n e g a t i v e p e j o r a t i v e slant. This study will take a closer look at

masochism to open up the possibility of fulfillment i n h e r e n t i n h u m a n s e x u a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s .

S a d o m a s o c h i s m a s a s e t o f s e x u a l p r a c t i c e s c a m e t o b e i n t e r p r e t e d c h i e f l y t h r o u g h l i t e r a t u r e , b e g i n n i n g w i t h p s y c h o p a t h o l o g y a n d p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r y .

S i n c e i t w a s n o t i c e d a n d m a d e p r o b l e m a t i c i n t h e l a t e 1 9^th century, masochism has been and remains a c r e a t i o n o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d t h e l i t e r a r y i m a g i n a t i o n . N o t o n l y i s m a s o c h i s m i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m l i t e r a t u r e , but literature plays an ongoing role in the

p r a c t i c e s o f t h e m a s o c h i s t . T h i s h a s b e e n o b s e r v e d b y a l most every group of psychopathologists who have

1 Terminological disputes over masochism, sadism, sadomasochism, S/M, abound. I argue throughout this work that the signs of what is referred to as sadomasochism in contemporary culture operate under the aegis of masochistic subjectivity. When I use the terms masochism, sadism, or sadomasochism, or S/M it is with that presupposition in mind.

examined it. This is partly explained by the

literary quality of psychopathology itself, which is a type of writing after all, and which draws on and l i t e r a t u r e f o r i t s i m a g e r y a n d e v i d e n c e .

I n s o m e s e n s e , “ m a s o c h i s m ” i s a l m o s t e n t i r e l y a f i c t i v e c r e a t i o n , s t y l e d t h r o u g h t h e d e c a d e s b y

i n d i v i d u a l s u t i l i z i n g m a n y t y p e s o f d i s c o u r s e ( b o t h d i s c u r s i v e a n d n o n-discursive practices) to develop a n d f u r t h e r t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r s e t o f g o a l s . I u s e t h e t e r m d i s c u r s i v e t o refer to socially produced groups of ideas or ways of thinking that can be tracked in i n d i v i d u a l t e x t s o r g r o u p s o f t e x t s . F o r e x a m p l e , F r e u d ’ s d i s c u r s i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n s i n c l u d e “ T h e

E c o n o m i c P r o b l e m o f M a s o c h i s m , ”² “ A C h i l d I s B e i n g B e a t e n : A C o n t r i b u t i o n to the Study of the Origin of Sexual Perversions,"³ a n d “ B e y o n d T h e P l e a s u r e

P r i n c i p l e . ”⁴ A f u r t h e r , b r o a d e r i n s t a n c e o f d i s c u r s i v e p r a c t i c e i s t h e o n g o i n g t h e o r e t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d a n a l y s i s o f m a s o c h i s m w i t h i n t h e p s y c h i a t r i c / p s y c h o a n a l y t i c c o m m u n i t i e s . These ideas a l s o d e m a n d t o b e l o c a t e d w i t h i n w i d e r h i s t o r i c a l

2 Freud, Sigmund, “The Economic Problem of Masochism,” (1924) In Standard Edition of the Complete Works of Sigmund Freud, trans.

and ed. James Strachey et al., 24 vols. (London: Hogarth Press, 1953-1974), 19: 159-70.

3 Freud, Sigmund, “A Child Is Being Beaten”(1919). In Standard Edition, 17:175-204.

4 Beyond The Pleasure Principle, (1920) In Standard Edition 18:

36-38.

and structural relations to explicate their

d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d c h a n g e s o v e r t i m e . T h e p r o d u c t i o n of these literary works succeeded in broadening and often confusing the definition of just what is

s a d i s m , m a s o c h i s m , o r t h e h y b r i d i z e d a n d s o m e w h a t i n e x a c t d e s i g n a t i o n , s a d o m a s o c h i s m . L i k e m a n y

d e l i b e r a t i o n s a b o u t l i t e r a t u r e a n d w h a t i t c o n n o t e s , t h i s o n g o i n g c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u t t h e m e a n i n g o f

m a s o c h i s m h a s n o t c o m e t o a n y f i r m c o n c l u s i o n .

I n d e e d , t h e t h r u s t o f t h i s s t u d y o n m a s o c h i s m w i l l b e t o s h o w t h a t i t i s a c u l t u r a l f o r m a t i o n

i n h e r e n t l y s u b j e c t t o a m b i g u i t y a n d c o n t i n u a l s h i f t s in its expression and in its meaning.

M a s o c h i s m w i l l b e e x a m i n e d b y i n t e r p r e t i n g

t r a d i t i o n a l l i t e r a r y t e x t s ( n o v e l s a n d w o r k s o f n o n- f i c t i o n , a r t i c l e s , a n d p l a y s ) a s w e l l a s b y

e x a m i n i n g w h o l e s e t s o f s o c i a l a c t i o n t y p i c a l l y i n t h e f o r m o f n o n - d i s c u r s i v e p r a c t i c e w h i c h a r e

s u b j e c t t o s i m i l a r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a s t e x t s . N o n - d i s c u r s i v e m o d e s o f r e p r e s e n t i n g m a s o c h i s m h a v e t a k e n m a n y f o r m s a n d s t r u c t u r e s o v e r t h e p a s t d e c a d e s a s w e l l . I n i t i a l l y , t h e r e a l m o f t h e

“pervert” and the social pariah who visited brothels t o s e e k s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e d e s i r e f o r c o r p o r a l

p u n i s h m e n t w a s d e p i c t e d a s a d e p r a v e d a n d i n i q u i t o u s s p a c e w h e r e o n l y trouble and vice could abound.

I n m o r e r e c e n t t i m e s t h o s e i n s e a r c h o f p a r t n e r s f o r m a s o c h i s t i c s e x u a l p l a y n e e d o n l y c o n s u l t t h e Yellow Pages or the back section of any newspaper to l o c a t e t h e n e a r e s t “ d u n g e o n ” o r p l a y s p a c e i n w h i c h to enact their fanta s i e s . A n e x a m p l e o f n o n-

h a s d e v e l o p e d o v e r t h e l a s t t h i r t y y e a r s a m o n g g a y m e n i n t h e S a n F r a n c i s c o B a y A r e a . I n c r e a s i n g l y , n o n - d i s c u r s i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f m a s o c h i s m i n t h e l a t e 2 0^th c e n t u r y h a v e t a k e n shape as various kinds o f “ p e r f o r m a n c e ” , f r o m t h e p r i v a t e p e r f o r m a n c e o f i n d i v i d u a l S / M s e x u a l s c e n e s t o p u b l i c p e r f o r m a n c e by such practitioners as Bob Flanagan and Ron

A t h e y .⁵

M a s o c h i s m a n d s a d o m a s o c h i s m h a v e b e e n

a p p r o p r i a t e d a n d u t i l i z e d b y m a n y i n t e r p r e t e r s . W h i l e t h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s h a v e a f a m i l y

r e s e m b l a n c e , t h e i r d i s a g r e e m e n t s a n d i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s o p e n u p t h e p r o b l e m “ W h a t m a s o c h i s m i s a n d w h a t i t m e a n s ” t o a n e n l a r g e m e n t o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . I n

e f f e c t , w h i l e m a n y o f t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s o f

“ m a s o c h i s m ” s h a r e l a r g e a r e a s o f c o h e r e n c e , t h e r e a r e e n o u g h d i v e r g e n c e s o f a p p e a r a n c e t o w a r r a n t a t r i p t o t h e a r c h i v e s f o r a t h o r o u g h i n s p e c t i o n o f the creation and deployment of these discursive and n o n - discursive practices. The key to the kind of c o n t e n t a n a l y s i s of these practices is

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n. I will proceed by looking into the g e n e a l o g i c a l d e s c e n t o f m a s o c h i s m . I n t e r p r e t i v e

a n a l y s i s w i l l b e p e r f o r m e d o n t h e f o l l o w i n g t y p e s o f l i t e r a t u r e .

5 Flanagan is the author of The Pain Journal. (Los Angeles:

Semiotext(e), 2000). He and his partner Sheree Rose collaborated on a documentary film about Bob’s life entitled “Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan Supermasochist,” which won the special grand Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997. Athey’s

performance art has been documented in a video entitled “Four Scenes From a Harsh Life.”

T h e f i r s t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t o b e e x a m i n e d i n o u r e x h u m a t i o n o f m a s o c h is m ’ s g r a y a n d f u z z y b e g i n n i n g s w i l l b e t h e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c . T h e l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e p i o n e e r i n g s e x o l o g i s t s i s t h e f i r s t s i t e o f

m a s o c h i s m ’ s a p p r o p r i a t i o n . I t i s t h e r e t h a t t h e

s t o r y b e g i n s t o g r o w . F r o m t h i s a u g u s t a n d s c h o l a r l y s i t e , I w i l l p r o c e e d t o s o c i o l o g i c a l l i t e r a t u r e ,

which during the mid - 2 0^th century begins to take n o t i c e o f t h e s o c i a l c o m p o n e n t s o f m a s o c h i s m . F i n a l l y , a c l o s e r l o o k a t t h e h i s t o r i c a l a n d

c o n t e m p o r a r y l i t e r a r y a p p r o p r i a t i o n s o f m a s o c h i s m will show that contests over the meaning and im port of masochism are far from any general terms of

a g r e e m e n t .

T h e p r o b l e m w i t h t h e s e t h r e e f i e l d s o f

d i s c u r s i v e p r a c t i c e ( p s y c h o a n a l y t i c , s o c i o l o g i c a l , h i s t o r i c a l / c o n t e m p o r a r y ) i s t h a t e a c h t e n d s t o b e r e d u c t i o n i s t i c . T h e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c f i e l d r e d u c e s c o m plex behaviors and cultural practices to

p a t h o l o g i c a l c a u s e s a n d s t a t i c i m a g e s o f h u m a n

f l o u r i s h i n g . W h i l e i l l u m i n a t i n g a n d c o g n i z a n t o f t h e s o c i a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l u n d e r p i n n i n g s o f

sadomasochism as practiced, sociological analysis of s a d o m a s o c h i s m o f t e n fails to take notice of the

i m p l i c i t i m a g i n a t i v e p o t e n t i a l a n d t h e s h i f t i n g c o n t e n t o f s a d o m a s o c h i s t i c i m a g e r y . T h e

h i s t o r i c a l / c o n t e m p o r a r y a p p r o p r i a t i o n s t e n d t o b e t o o n a r r o w a n d p o l e m i c a l i n t o n e , o f t e n m i s s i n g t h e b r o a d e r p o l i t i c a l i m p o r t o f s a d o m a s o c h i s m . I w a n t t o m a k e e a c h o f t h e s e a p p r o a c h e s p r o b l e m a t i c . I w a n t t o t a k e a c l o s e r l o o k a t t h e s e r e d u c t i o n i s t a p p r o a c h e s

f a n t a s y - generating, and fictive contexts. This will b e a h e r m e n e u t i c a l p r o j e c t . I wi l l s e e k t o a v o i d a r e d u c t i o n i s t a p p r o a c h t o t h e s e p r a c t i c e s , i n s t e a d f a v o r i n g a k i n d o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t i s o p e n- ended a n d c o n n e c t i v e r a t h e r t h a n r e s t r i c t i v e . T h i s t y p e o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a l l o w s f o r t h e v i e w o f t h e s e

practices to remain flowing and crea tive rather than b e c o m i n g s t a t i c a n d r e i f i e d .

T h e h e r m e n e u t i c a l e v a l u a t i o n w i l l b e b a l a n c e d b y m y p l a c e m e n t o f t h e s e p r a c t i c e s w i t h i n t h e p u r v i e w o f t h e l i b e r a l h u m a n i s t i c d e m o c r a t i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f f r e e d o m , s p e c i f i c a l l y s e x u a l f r e e d o m . A l o n g t h e w a y , I will offer a provisional judgment on the

moral worth of these practices. The balance between t h e l i t e r a r y i m a g i n a t i o n , w h e r e s e x u a l a n d p e r s o n a l f r e e d o m i s e n g e n d e r e d a n d w h i c h c o n t r i b u t e s r i c h n e s s a n d d i f f e r e n c e t o i n d i v i d u a l l i v e s , i s b a l a n c e d b y t h e l a r g e r n o t i o n o f l i b e r a l d e m o c r a c y , n o w o f t e n c a l l e d “ r a d i c a l d e m o c r a c y ” .

R a d i c a l d e m o c r a c y i s a b l e n d o f l i b e r a l i s m a n d n e o - M a r x i s m t h a t e m a n a t e s o u t o f a c r i t i q u e o f 1 9 3 0 s a n d 4 0 s f a s c i s m a n d t o t a l i t a r i a n i s m . I t t r a c e s i t s d e s c e n t f r o m t h e t h o u g h t o f A n t o n io Gramsci in which the problem of democracy is the bureaucratization of c a p i t a l i s t s o c i e t y . G r a m s c i w a s k e e n l y i n t e r e s t e d i n e x p o s i n g f o r m s o f d e m o c r a c y t h a t n e g a t e o r u n d e r m i n e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f c i t i z e n s i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e k i n d s o f s o c i e t i e s t h e y w a n t a n d t h e i r l e v e l o f

p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h o s e s o c i e t i e s . T h e t a s k o f

c u l t u r a l c r i t i c i s m i s t o a d v a n c e r a d i c a l f o r m s o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n o n b e h a l f o f o r d i n a r y c i t i z e n s . F r o m

i n t e l l e c t u a l ” t a k e s i t s p o i n t o f c r i t i c i s m f r o m the site of the populace, in popular culture in

advancing their interest in participation in radical d e m o c r a c y . T h u s , w h i l e r a d i c a l d e m o c r a c y m a i n t a i n s traditional liberal interest in representative civic d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n , i t a l s o c a l l s f o r a

r a d i c a lization of structures for the promotion of g r e a t e r p a r t i c i p a t o r y a c t i o n a m o n g i t s p o p u l i s t o r o r d i n a r y c i t i z e n s .

I n t h e A m e r i c a n c o n t e x t i t h a s p r i m a r i l y b e e n n e o - p r a g m a t i s t s w h o h a v e r e v i v e d t h i s c o n c e p t i o n .⁶ Seyla Benhabib insists that it is the “publi c sphere w h i c h i s t h e c r u c i a l d o m a i n o f i n t e r a c t i o n t h a t

m e d i a t e s b e t w e e n m a c r o p o l i t i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s o f a d e m o c r a t i c p o l i t y a n d t h e p r i v a t e s p h e r e . ”⁷ I n concert with Benhabib, what I envision is a

redrawing of the space of the public sphere. This is a “ r a d i c a l l y p r o c e d u r a l i s t m o d e l o f t h e p u b l i c

s p h e r e , n e i t h e r t h e s c o p e n o r t h e a g e n d a o f w h i c h can be limited a priori and whose lines can be r e d r a w n b y t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n . ”⁸

6 Among the best examples are works by Richard Rorty, Jeffrey Stout, Cornel West, Victor Anderson, Anthony Cook, and Seyla Benhabib.

7Benhabib, Seyla, Situating the Self: Gender, Community and Postmodernism in Contemporary Ethics, (New York:

Routledge, 1992), p. 12.

8 Ibid.

W h a t i s r e q u i r e d i s a l e g a l c o n s t i t u t i o n a l f r a m e w o r k g u a r a n t e e i n g e q u a l c i v i l , p o l i t i c a l r i g h t s a s w e l l a s r i g h t s o f c o n s c i e n c e a s p r e c o n d i t i o n s f o r

c i t i z e n s h i p p a r t i c i p a t i o n . T h i s d e m o c r a t i c s o c i a l i s t v i s i o n b a l a n c e s a s e a r c h f o r “ e x i s t e n t i a l m e a n i n g s o f d e a t h , s u f f e r i n g , a n d l o v e w i t h a t r a d i t i o n a l Marxist concern with s o c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s u n d e r w h i c h p e o p l e p u r s u e l o v e r e v e l i n f r i e n d s h i p , a n d face death.”⁹ It could almost be called it a mode of b e i n g - i n - the world, a way of life.

If these points are a vital and constitutive p a r t o f d e m o c r a t i c c u l t u r e , ( a s w e s t r i v e t o

u n d e r s t a n d t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f n o t j u s t g e n e r a l i z e d o t h e r , b u t c o n c r e t e o t h e r s ) t h e n i t f o l l o w s t h a t

m u t u a l i t y o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g ( i . e . c o n s e n t ) ,

r e c i p r o c i t y ( o f e x c h a n g e ) , a n d n o n-c o e r c e d b o d i l y exchange are also part of this. These formal

c a t e g o r i e s¹⁰ t h a t I b r i n g t o l i f e t h r o u g h s t u d y o f c o n c r e t e e x a m p l e s w i l l b e m o r e f u l l y e x p l i c a t e d

b e l o w . T h e i n c r e a s e o f t h e e x c h a n g e o f i d e a s i n t h e p u b l i c s p h e r e p r o m o t e s t h e g o a l o f m o r e i n v o l v e m e n t o n t h e p a r t o f c i t i z e n s . T h e f i r s t ( c o n s e n t )

p r o m o t e s r e a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i n t e r e s t s o f

individuals and communities. The second (reciprocity

9 West, Cornel, “The Making of an American Radical Democrat of African Descent,” in The Cornel West Reader, (New York: Basic Civitas Books, 1999), p. 13.

10 These are derived from lectures and conversations with Victor Anderson.

of exchange) is relative to promoting greater

p a r t i c i p a t i o n , a n d t h e t h i r d ( n o n- coerced exchange) e n c o u r a g e s a c c o r d o n t h e g o o d s a n d e n d s o f

d e m o c r a t i c s o c i e t y . M y t e x t d e m o n s t r a tes concretely various instantiations of these formal principles or

“ r e g u l a t i v e i d e a l s . ” T h e s e a b s t r a c t p r i n c i p l e s s e r v e as a warrant to investigate the ethical character of S/M practice. In addition I offer critiques of

v a r i o u s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f t h e s e s e e m i n g l y e n d l e s s l y c o n t r o v e r s i a l p r a c t i c e s .

T h e r e c e i v e d t r a d i t i o n o f m o r a l w i s d o m r e g a r d i n g s e x u a l i t y ( p r e d o m i n a n t l y h e t e r o s e x u a l a n d m a l e i n orientation) is now being questioned and challenged.

My work suggests what it means when these norms t r a v e l i n t o d ifferent realms. The norms and their c o r r e l a t e s a r e s o d e e p l y i n g r a i n e d t h a t t h e y c r y o u t t o b e s h a k e n u p , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e l i g h t o f

globalism and plurality etc.

I f o n e g r a n t s t h a t t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f l i b e r a l d e m o c r a c y i s p r e d i c a t e d o n p r i n c i p l e s , a n d w e

s p e c i f y t h a t t h o s e p r i n c i p l e s i n c l u d e c i v i c

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , t h e r u l e o f l a w , a n d t h e r i g h t t o p u r s u e h a p p i n e s s , t h e n i t f o l l o w s t h a t t h e f r e e d o m i m a g i n e d u n d e r a n d e n g e n d e r e d b y s u c h a p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m w i l l a l w a y s b e e x p a n s i v e a n d f i l l e d w i t h p o s s i b i l i t i e s for difference. Radical democracy ought to be open to the principle of inclusion r a t h e r t h a n h i n d e r e d a n d h e m m e d i n b y t h e

l i m i t a t i o n s o f e x c l u s i o n .

Not only do democratic principles provide for t h e o p e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f p e r s o n s i n t h e p u b l i c

enlargement of possibilities for the appreciation of r a n g e s o f t r a d i t i o n s a n d p r a c t i c e s w h i c h p e r s o n s

b r i n g t o t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n c u l t u r a l l i f e a s

individuals. Radical democracy is a civic as well as a c u l t u r a l i de a l . T h e e n l a r g e m e n t o f t h i s

a p p r e c i a t i o n e x t e n d s t o d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f f a m i l i e s ( n o n - n u c l e a r , s a m e -sex couples, etc.) and to a

m u l t i p l i c i t y o f r e l i g i o u s a n d n o n - religious c o m m u n i t i e s . N o t o n l y d o e s i t e x t e n d t o t h e s e f o r m a t i o n s o f c o m m u n i t y ; i t e x t e n d s t o t h e

understanding and appreciation of sexual and gender d i f f e r e n c e . L e s b i a n , g a y , t r a n s g e n d e r , a n d o t h e r s t i g m a t i z e d s o c i a l g r o u p i n g s a n d s e x u a l p r a c t i c e s c o m e u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g o f t h e “ p o s s i b l e ” w i t h i n t h e r e a l m o f r a d i c a l d e m o c r a t i c f r e e d o m .

T h i s c o n c e p t i o n o f r a d i c a l d e m o c r a c y a s a c o n s t r u c t t h a t f o s t e r s b o t h c i v i c a n d p e r s o n a l f r e e d o m f o l l o w s t h a t o f p h i l o s o p h e r J o h n D e w e y a s e x p r e s s e d b y A n t h o n y E . C o o k : “ D e w e y p l a c e d h i s trust …in a democratic culture in which life is

g u i d e d b y t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l m e t hod and inspired by a c o m m i t m e n t t o a m u t u a l l y r e i n f o r c i n g c o n c e p t i o n o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y a n d c o m m u n i t y . ”¹¹

A c c o r d i n g t o t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n b o t h i n d i v i d u a l i t y a n d c o m m u n i t y m u s t b e v i t a l a n d c o n s t i t u t i v e p a r t o f t h e d e m o c r a t i c c u l t u r e . W h i l e s e x u a l m a t t e r s a r e

p r i v a t e a n d i n d i v i d u a l , t h e y a r e a l s o p a r t o f t h e l a r g e r f i e l d o f d i f f e r e n c e w i t h i n t h e g r e a t e r

11 Cook, Anthony E, The Least of These: Race, Law, and Religion in American Culture, (London: Routledge, 1997), p. 27.

c u l t u r e a n d c o m m u n i t y a n d a s s u c h a r e o p e n t o e t h i c a l j u d g m e n t s . T h i s c o n s t i t u t e s t h e e t h i c a l

f i e l d t h a t w i l l b e o p e n e d t o a m o r a l a n a l y s i s o f s o- c a l l e d “ s a d o m a s ochistic” practices. The backdrop for the discussion of S/M is the overarching ideology of a l i b e r a l , h u m a n i s t , d e m o c r a t i c r e p u b l i c , w i t h i t s attendant ideals of liberty, individual choice, and a u t o n o m y .

H o w w i l l s u c h a h e r m e n e u t i c a l p r o j e c t b e

a c c o m p l i s h ed, covering as it does a wide variety of t e x t s a n d s o c i a l p r a c t i c e s , w h i c h a r e d e l i b e r a t e l y i n t e r p r e t e d a s t e x t u a l m a t e r i a l ? S o c i a l a c t i o n , a s w e l l a s m o r e t r a d i t i o n a l f o r m s o f l i t e r a t u r e , w i l l a l s o b e t r e a t e d a s a t e x t , i n o r d e r t o b r i n g o u t i t s c o n f i g u r a t i o n s o f v a l u e s , d o m i n a n t p a t t e r n s o f

i m a g e r y , r h e t o r i c , r h y t h m s a n d f o r m s . T h e B i r m i n g h a m S c h o o l o f C u l t u r a l S t u d i e s p r o v i d e s a s u i t a b l e

m e t h o d o l o g i c a l s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r t h i s e x a m i n a t i o n of masochism as a series of texts subject to

o n g o i n g , o p e n - ended a n a l y s i s .¹² T h e e f f o r t w i l l b e o n e o f o b s e r v a t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f

h e r m e n e u t i c s t h a t h a v e r a n g e d o v e r t h e c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s d e s c r i b e d a s s a d o m a s o c h i s m s i n c e i t s

“ d i s c o v e r y ” i n t h e l a t e 1 9^{t h} c e n t u r y .

T h e B i r m i n g h a m S c h o o l o f C u l t u r a l S t u d i e s

c h i e f l y developed under the aegis of Stuart Hall, R a y m o n d W i l l i a m s , a n d E . P . T h o m p s o n , b e g i n n i n g i n

12 For a concise and thorough exposition of the genealogy of this field, see Fred Inglis, Cultural Studies, (Oxford: Basil

Blackwell, 1993).

t h e 1 9 5 0 s , p u t s i t s f o c u s o n “ e v e r y d a y l i f e ” r a t h e r t h a n t h e p r e d o m i n a n t e l i t i s t i n t e r e s t t h a t h a d

formerly concentrated on high art or “culture”. Fred Inglis, a co n t e m p o r a r y s c h o l a r a n d i n t e r p r e t e r o f t h e C u l t u r a l S t u d i e s o r i e n t a t i o n , r e c o m m e n d s

“conversation” about meaning as the underpinning of t h e p r a c t i c e o f i n t e l l e c t u a l l i f e .¹³ T h i s

d i s s e r t a t i o n i s l e s s a f i e r c e c r i t i q u e o f i d e o l o g y t h a n a d e s c r i p t i v e i n q u i r y i nto the near and

f a m i l i a r a s p e c t s o f a c o n t e s t e d s e g m e n t o f c u l t u r e b y w a y o f i n t e r p r e t i v e a n a l y s i s .¹⁴ I t i s a

c o n v e r s a t i o n m e a n t t o m a k e p r o b l e m a t i c a s e r i e s o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f a c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e t h a t h a s n e v e r q u i t e y i e l d e d f i n a l l y t o a n y o f i t s

i n t e r l o c u t o r s .

Important to the Cultural Studies method of i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i s t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t w o c r i t i c a l

13 Inglis, pp. 23, 142, 228.

14 Raymond Williams carves out a place for Cultural Studies thusly: “Culture is a description of a particular way of life, which expresses certain meanings and values not only in art and learning but also in institutions and ordinary behaviour. The analysis of culture, from such a definition, is the

clarification of the meanings and values implicit and explicit in a particular way of life, a particular culture.” Williams, Raymond, Culture and Society 1780-1950, London: Penguin, 1958).

This definition is in the background of Graeme Turner’s

discussion of culture as the basic material of Cultural Studies.

He succinctly defines “Culture as the site where meaning is generated and experienced, becomes a determining, productive field through which social realities are constructed,

experienced, and interpreted.” Turner, Graeme, British Cultural Studies: An Introduction, (London: Routledge, 1996), p. 14.

c a t e g o r i e s . T h e f i r s t i s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a l f o r c e o f p r a c t i c e s . W h a t t h i s m e a n s i s s i m p l y t h o s e

cultural practices have, over time, been “re - p r e s e n t e d ” a g a i n a n d a g a i n w i t h i n d i f f e r e n t

c o n t e x t s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e s a m e a c t w i l l n o t s i g n i f y p r e c i s e l y t h e s a m e m e a n i n g f o r a m a s o c h i s t i n t h e 1 9 4 0 s a n d a n S / M p l a y e r i n t h e p o s t m o d e r n 2 0 0 0 s . T h e o b j e c t o f m y s t u d y i s t h e p r o c e s s t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e s i g n s ( r e - prese n t a t i o n s ) o f m a s o c h i s m h a v e b e e n

j o i n e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r s i g n i f i e r s . T h e s e

p r a c t i c e s a r e a l w a y s o p e n t o r e - presentation and

t h u s n e v e r q u i t e r e s o l v e i n t o s y m b o l s . T h e s i g n s a n d s i g n i f i c a t i o n s o f s a d o m a s o c h i s m a r e a l w a y s j u s t a l i t t l e b i t o u t o f r e a c h , they remain in a realm that r e s i s t s r e i f i c a t i o n . S a d o m a s o c h i s m h a s n e v e r b e e n e a s i l y s e t t l e d i n t o t h e c a t e g o r y o f e i t h e r a r t o r s c i e n t i f i c i n q u i r y . I t s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s c u t a c r o s s many boundaries and are never firmly fixed. They are o n g o i n g , o p e n - e n d e d , a n d never quite complete.

T h o u g h t h e p s y c h i a t r i c a n d s e x o l o g i s t c o m m u n i t i e s a t t e m p t e d t o f i x a p r e c i s e m e a n i n g f o r m a s o c h i s m a n d s a d o m a s o c h i s t i c p r a c t i c e , t h e r e r e m a i n s a f a i r

a m o u n t o f s o m e t h i n g “ m o r e ” t h a t h a s n o t b e e n

c a p t u r e d b y t h e s e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s . T h is study shows h o w t h e s e c y c l e s o f m e a n i n g g e n e r a t i o n , u t i l i z i n g h e r m e n e u t i c a n a l y s i s o f t h e f i e l d s o f

s i g n / s i g n i f i c a t i o n , d i s c l o s e t h e i r m e a n i n g b y w a y o f d i s c o u r s e . I n t h e c a s e o f m a s o c h i s m , a n a l y s i s o f d i s c o u r s e i n c l u d e s b o t h d i s c u r s i v e a n d n o n-

d i s c u r s i v e p r a c t i c e s . I a r g u e t h a t t h e a n a l y s i s o f m a s o c h i s m m a y w e l l p r o f i t f r o m c o n t r i b u t i o n s f r o m

A n y e x p l i c a t i o n o f d i s c o u r s e b r i n g s u s t o t h e s e c o n d c r i t i c a l a r e a o f i m p o r t a n c e i n o u r C u l t u r a l S t u d i e s i n q u i r y . T h e s e e xplications of discursive a n d n o n - d i s c u r s i v e p r a c t i c e s o p e n u p t h e “p r i o r i t y o f d i f f e r e n c e” . T h i s n o t i o n o f t h e p r i o r i t y o f

d i f f e r e n c e i s a n i n f e r e n c e t h a t f o l l o w s f r o m t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f r a d i c a l d e m o c r a c y . I n t h i s a p p r o a c h t h e a c c e n t i s o n t h e p r i o r i t i z a t ion of difference o v e r s a m e n e s s . T h i s i s t h e n o n- reductive approach of t h e B i r m i n g h a m S c h o o l . I n o t h e r w o r d s , w h i l e t h e r e h a v e b e e n m a n y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f m a s o c h i s m o v e r t h e l a s t o n e h u n d r e d y e a r s , i t i s s t i l l a s o c i a l p r o c e s s t h a t i s d i f f e r e n t l y

a p p r e h e n d e d d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e c o n t e x t i n w h i c h i t is theorized, imagined, dressed up, and brought out f o r p u b l i c v i e w i n g . S / M m a k e s v i s i b l e t h e p r e s e n c e o f “ d i f f e r e n c e a n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n a s e s s e n t i a l

c o n s t i t u e n t s o f c u l t u r e a n d i d e o l o g y ”¹⁵. S / M i s a c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e a n d f o r m t h a t a l w a y s d i s r u p t s t h e h o m o g e n e i t y o f a c u l t u r e . I t p e r f o r m s t h i s

d i s r u p t i o n w i t h i n t h e w i d e r c o n t e x t o f h e t e r o s e x u a l c u l t u r e a s w e l l a s w i t h i n t h e f i e l d o f g a y a n d

l e s b i a n s e x u a l c u l t u r e . T h i s s t u d y i s a l o o k a t t h e c o n t r a dictions, taboos, erasures, and displacements g e n e r a t e d b y m a s o c h i s m t h a t f r a c t u r e t h e f r a g i l e , always provisional, and temporary picture of

h o m o g e n e i t y w i t h i n m o d e r n a n d p o s t m o d e r n c u l t u r a l c o n t e x t s .

15 Turner, Graeme, British Cultural Studies: An Introduction, (London: Routledge, 1996), p.197.

S / M i s a p o l y s e m i c t e x t t h a t w i l l b e e x a m i n e d f o r t h e d i f f e r e n t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s , d i f f e r e n t

e x p e c t a t i o n s , a n d d i f f e r e n t p l e a s u r e s i t g i v e s t o i t s v a r i o u s a u d i e n c e s . N o t o n l y i s t h e t e x t o f S / M p o l y s e m i c i n i t s e l f , b u t i t s m u l t i t u d e o f

i n t e r t e x t u a l r e l a t i o n s i n c r e a s e i t s p o l y s e m i c p o t e n t i a l . T h a t i s p e r h a p s t h e reason why the l i t e r a t u r e a n d i m a g i n a t i o n s u r r o u n d i n g m a s o c h i s m r e m a i n s s o r i c h a n d o p e n- ended. S/M practitioners d e r i v e p l e a s u r e t h a t r e s i s t s d o m i n a n t i d e o l o g i c a l p o s i t i o n s . T h e n o t i o n o f p l e a s u r e h a s i n c r e a s i n g l y b e e n p l a c e d i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h a t o f i d e ology, notes G r a e m e T u r n e r¹⁶. T h e e f f e c t o f m u c h o f t h e

theorization of pleasure suggests that communication m a y h a v e m o r e c o n s e q u e n c e s t h a n t h e g e n e r a t i o n o f m e a n i n g . T h i s w o u l d s q u a r e q u i t e w e l l w i t h t h e p o s t m o d e r n r e l e g a t i o n o f m e a n i n g t o a s e c o n d a r y

l e v e l o f i m p o r t a n c e . C o m m u n i c a t i o n m a y t h u s p r o d u c e a kind of pleasure. It is this connection to the

aesthetic possibilities inherent to the practices of i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e c o m m u n i c a t i o n , u t i l i z i n g S / M a s a w a y t o a c c e s s e r o t i c p o t e n t i a l , t h a t s t a n d o u t a s w o r t h y of consideration. In other words, the generic i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e d u c i n g t h e a e s t h e t i c ,

i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e m e a n i n g o f S / M t o a t h e o r y s u g g e s t t h a t t h e p r o p e r r e a l m f o r a n a l y s i s o f S / M i s n o t e m p i r i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c , b u t r a t h e r i t b e l o n g s i n t h e r e a l m o f a r t .

16 Turner, p. 110.

Art is disconcerting. It does not fit neatly i n t o a n y o t h e r c a t e g o r y o f e x p e r i e n c e , t h o u g h i t o f t e n c o m m u n i c a t e s e x p e r i e n c e . T h e a e s t h e t i c / e r o t i c s i d e o f S / M i s a l t e r n a t e l y a p p e a l i n g a n d d i s t u r b i n g . A r t ’ s f i r s t u s e , a c c o r d i n g t o C l i f f o r d G e e r t z , i s t o r e n d e r “ o r d i n a r y , e v e r y d a y e x p e r i e n c e c o m p r e h e n s i b l e b y r e n d e r i n g i t i n t e r m s o f a c t s w h i c h h a v e h a d

t h e i r p r a c t i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e s r e m o v e d a n d b e e n … raised to … the level of sheer appearances.”¹⁷ T h e a e s t h e t i c s p a c e o f t h e S / M d u n g e o n o r p l a y r o o m i s t h u s r e n dered comprehensible by way of a description o f w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g w i t h i n t h e s p a c e s . T h e t h e m e s o f m a s c u l i n i t y , f e m i n i n i t y , p o w e r , e r o t i c

e x p e r i e n c e , g e n d e r r o l e s , a n d i d e n t i t y a r e t h e things that are ordered into an encompassing

s t r u c t u r e . S / M m a y b e , f o r i t s d e v o t e e s , a w a y t o r e n d e r c o m p r e h e n s i b l e t h e i r e v e r y d a y e x p e r i e n c e o f a w o r l d t h a t i s i n c r e a s i n g l y f r a g m e n t e d a n d o f t e n

d e v o i d o f t r a d i t i o n a l m o d e s o f a c c e s s t o t r a n s c e n d e n c e .

S a d o m a s o c h i s t i c e x p e r i e n c e , f o r i t s d e v o t e e s , presents this cultural mater i a l i n a w a y t h a t m a k e s sense of it to participants. Its function is neither to aggravate sexual politics nor to duck contentious i s s u e s . R a t h e r , i t i s t h e f u n c t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m t o d i s p l a y t h e m w i t h i n a m e d i u m o f l e a t h e r w e a r i n g , r o l e - p l a y i n g , f a n t a s y , d r a ma, and imagination.

T h r o u g h t h e l i t e r a r y a n d t h e a t r i c a l a s p e c t s o f

17 Geertz, Clifford, The Interpretation of Culture, (New York:

Harper Collins, 1973), p. 443.

s a d o m a s o c h i s m t h e s e t h e m e s a r e s u b j e c t e d t o c l o s e r a s s e s s m e n t a n d t e n d t o l o s e t h e i r r e i f i e d a n d

immutable character. They are brought to some s i g n i f i c a n t l y a p p r e h e n s i b l e v i e w b y t h e m e a n s o f

“ p l a y ” u n d e r w h i c h t h e y a r e a p p r o a c h e d a n d d i s p l a y e d .

B y p l a y I m e a n b o t h t h e s t r u c t u r e d a d h e r e n c e t o r u l e s t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a n y

c h i l d r e n ’ s ( o r a d u l t ) g a m e , a s w e l l a s t h e m o r e l o o s e a n d u n f e t t e r e d c o o p e r a t i v e e f f o r t u t i l i z e d d u r i n g m o r e o p e n - e n d e d g a m e s w h o s e s t r u c t u r e

d e v e l o p s w h i l e b e i n g p l a y e d a n d h a s a m o r e

improvisational character to it. Play is used in the sense of actors “playing” their part. Inglis

continues this line of reasoning: “Art gives form to a s t o r y a b o u t o u r s e l v e s in which we can try out how things might have been otherwise if only we had been o r h a d m e t t h e h e r o i n e i n t h e m o v i e o r t h e n o v e l , ”¹⁸ I argue that this is precisely what S/M “players” do when they adopt costumes, props, roles, and set the s t a g e t o a c t o u t their representations of ideologies of power, domination, and sexual expression.

T h e c o n c e p t o f i d e o l o g y i s a r i c h a n d

m u l t i f a c e t e d f i e l d t h a t h a s b e e n e x p l o r e d s i n c e t h e time of Marx. While there is no single adequate

definition of ideology, a few prelim i n a r y r e m a r k s w i l l h e l p s e t t h e s t a g e . T h e f o l l o w i n g d e f i n i t i o n s a r e c u l l e d f r o m a b o o k l e n g t h s t u d y e n t i t l e d

18 Inglis, p. 166.

I d e o l o g y by literary critic Terry Eagleton ¹⁹ a n d

w i l l s e r v e t o o p e n t h e m a t t e r f o r d i s c u s s i o n i n t h i s study. Without entering into the ongoing dis c u s s i o n s o f t h e d e f i n i t i o n a n d i m p o r t a n c e o f i d e o l o g y , t h e following samples shed some light on the definition o f i d e o l o g y .

The process of production of meanings, signs, and values in social life;

A distorted representation of existing relations of power and domination;

A body of ideas characteristic of a particular social group or class;

That which offers a position for a subject;

False ideas which help legitimate a dominant political power;

Forms of thought motivated by social interests;

The conjuncture of discourse and power;

The medium in which conscious social actors make sense of their world;

The indispensable medium in which individuals live out their relations to a social structure; ²⁰

A l t h o u g h s u c h r e l a t i o n s t o s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e a n d s u c h d e s c r i p t i o n s o f p o w e r r e l a t i o n s o f t e n e m p o w e r o n l y c e r t a i n p e o p l e a n d p r o p u p t h e s t a t u s q u o , t h e y

19 Eagleton, Terry, Ideology, (London: Verso, 1991

20 Eagleton, p. 1-2 passim.

a r e p r e s e n t e d a s n a t u r a l a n d b e n e f i c i a l t o a l l .²¹ I n this particular context, the ideology under

e x a m i n a t i o n i s o n e t h a t s u s t a i n s t h e p o w e r r e l a t i o n s of male domi n a t i o n ( t o g e t h e r w i t h a n y r e l e v a n t

a s s o c i a t e d r e l a t i o n s o f c l a s s o r r a c e d o m i n a n c e ) . S u c h a r e a d i n g o f t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f m a s o c h i s m i n l i t e r a t u r e a n d c u l t u r e i n g e n e r a l m a y h a v e t o l o o k b e n e a t h t h e s u r f a c e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f s u c h g e n d e r e d n o t i o n s a s f e minine and masculine, passive a n d a g g r e s s i v e , a n d d o m i n a n c e a n d s u b m i s s i o n . T o e x p l o r e t h e i d e o l o g y , o n e m u s t s e a r c h f o r g a p s ,

p r e s u m p t i o n s , e r a s u r e s , o r e v e n w h a t i s “ r e p r e s s e d ” in it. It is important to look at what these

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f m a s o c h i s m m a y show as blocked, o m i t t e d , o r a v o i d e d i n s t a n d a r d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f g e n d e r a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e s e x e s . T h i s s t u d y p e r f o r m s d i s r u p t i v e r e a d i n g s o f m a s o c h i s m ’ s t e x t s . F o r c e s a s d i s p a r a t e a n d d i s s i m i l a r a s S i g m u n d F r e u d a n d P a t C a l i f i a p r o d u c e t h e s e t e x t s . I d o n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e s e s t r a t e g i e s o f r e a d i n g m u s t r e l y o n a n y s p e c i f i c p s y c h o s e x u a l a s s u m p t i o n s .

W h i l e c r i t i q u e o f i d e o l o g y i n f o r m s m a n y o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h i s e x a m i n a t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m ’ s

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , i t i s n o t t h e p r i m a r y m o d e o f o p e r a t i o n . F o r I d o n o t b e l i e v e t h a t c r i t i q u e o f

21 Inherent to the discussion of the relations between disco urse and ideology, but outside of the scope of this work is the

notion of power. For a discussion of some aspects of power as it relates to discourse see Foucault, Michel, The Essential Works of Michel Foucault 1954-1984, Volume 2. James Faubion, ed., (New York: New Press, 2000).

ideology alone is sufficient to disclose the

c o m p l e x i t y o f t h e o p e r a t i o n s a t w o r k . I t i s o f t e n too reductive to yield a rich enough picture of the c o m p l e x s e r i e s o f c u l t u r a l m o v e m e n t s a t w o r k o v e r t i m e a n d i n m a ny varied environments. The concept of i d e o l o g y i s c o n t r o v e r s i a l a n d o v e r u s e d . I w o u l d

e m p h a s i z e t h a t t h e c o r e n o t i o n o f i d e o l o g y h a s t w o aspects: an epistemological one (an ideology

presents false information) and a dominance one (the false information se rves the ends of a dominant

c l a s s o r g r o u p ) .

T o s h o w a d e q u a t e l y h o w a t y p e o f a e s t h e t i c

f o r m a t i o n s u c h a s m a s o c h i s m i s i d e o l o g i c a l i n t h i s s e n s e w o u l d r e q u i r e e m p i r i c a l s t u d i e s a n d s u p p o r t . W h i l e I d o n o t o p p o s e t h i s a p p r o a c h , i t i s b e y o n d t h e c a p a b i l i t i e s of my research. Moreover, it is my i n t e n t t o e x p l o r e h o w t h e g e n r e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f m a s o c h i s m m a p t h e i n t e n t i o n s o f t h e i r c r e a t o r s a n d g i v e r i s e t o c a p a c i t i e s f o r b o t h r a t i o n a l t h o u g h t and aesthetic feelings. While S/M may be productive o f b o t h p l e a s u r e and meaning, these two fields may w e l l c o u n t e r a c t o r c o n t r a d i c t e a c h o t h e r i n

i n d i v i d u a l i n s t a n c e s . I t i s t h i s a c t i o n o f h o l d i n g t w o m u t u a l l y c o n t r a d i c t o r y p o s i t i o n s a t t h e s a m e moment that often makes masochism quite puzzling to s t r i c t l y r a t i o n a l i s t i c d iscourse. That is why it r e m a i n s b e s t e x p l i c a t e d w i t h i n t h e r e a l m o f t h e a e s t h e t i c , w h e r e s u c h t e n s i o n s a n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a r e u n d e r s t o o d a n d e v e n w e l c o m e d . O n e c a t e g o r y o f a e s t h e t i c v a l u a t i o n t h a t m i g h t p r o v e u s e f u l i n

characterizing this ambiguous feelin g is that of the

n o t o f f e r t h e r e s o l u t i o n t h a t t h e m o v e m e n t b e t w e e n d i a l e c t i c p o l e s o f f e r s . I n t h e w o r d s o f c u l t u r a l c r i t i c V i c t o r A n d e r s o n :

The grotesque ought not to be thought of as an opposition between two diametrically opposed sensibilities such as would occur in binary dialectics. The grotesque does have to do with sensibilities that are oppositional, such as attraction and repulsion, and pleasure and pain differential. However, the grotesque seeks neither negation nor mediation between these sensibilities.

Rather, it leaves them in tension, unresolved by negation or mediation.²²

M a s o c h i s m p a r t a k e s o f t h i s a e s t h e t i c s e n s i b i l i t y a n d i s t o b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a f i c t i v e a n d i m a g i n a t i v e c a t e g o r y o f h u m a n endeavor. However, this does not r e n d e r t h e e t h i c a l q u e s t i o n m o o t . I n f a c t , t h e

q u e s t i o n o f t h e e t h i c a l w i t h i n t h e p a r a m e t e r s o f

s e x u a l p r a c t i c e a n d s e x u a l b e h a v i o r i s a l w a y s a r i c h field for the examination of relations between human p a r t n e r s . T h e a n a l y s i s of masochism and

s a d o m a s o c h i s t i c p r a c t i c e t h a t I p r e s e n t h i g h l i g h t s t h e m i n t h e i r b e s t f o r m u l a t i o n . W h i l e i t h a s o f t e n b e e n s u g g e s t e d t h a t s a d o m a s o c h i s m i s a l w a y s a n d e v e r y w h e r e i r r e d e e m a b l e a n d w i t h o u t a n y b a s i s t o c o m m e n d i t s p r a c t i c e , I m a i n t a i n t h a t the intention o f i t s p a r t i c i p a n t s i s , i n t h e m a i n , a i m e d a t

p l e a s u r e . P l e a s u r e i s c e r t a i n l y t o b e d e e m e d a

c o m p o n e n t o f t h o s e a s t o u n d i n g r i g h t s g u a r a n t e e d b y t h e f o u n d e r s o f t h e n a t i o n . I n t h e s a m e b r e a t h a s

22 Anderson, Victor, Beyond Ontological Blackness: An Essay on African American Religious and Cultural Criticism, (New York:

Continuum, 1995), p. 126.

life and liberty, they decreed “the pursuit of

h a p p i n e s s ” t o b e a n i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t . W i t h i n t h i s p a r t i c i p a t o r y a n d r a d i c a l i z i n g s c h e m a t h e

p a r t i c u l a r l y u s e f u l t e n e t s t h a t I d e r i v e a n d a r g u e f o r i n m y s t u d y a r e m u t u a l i t y o f c o n s e n t ,

r e c i p r o c i t y o f i n t e n t i o n o r e x c h a n g e ( p l e a s u r e , i n t i m a c y , a n d t h e l i k e ) , and non - coerced bodily e x c h a n g e . I n t h i s s c h e m e , a s w e l l a s i n t h e l a r g e r theoretical picture, both individuality and

c o m m u n i t y a r e v i t a l . I i n t e n d t o j u d g e w h e t h e r t h e p r a c t i c e s o f S / M d o c o n t r i b u t e t o i n d i v i d u a l a n d

communal fulfillment. In its best fo rmulations then, I f i n d t h a t m a s o c h i s m c o n f o r m s t o t h e f o l l o w i n g

p r i n c i p l e s .

M u t u a l i t y o f C o n s e n t Each partner in a

masochistic scene or situation agrees either tacitly o r e x p l i c i t l y t o p a r t a k e o f t h e p r a c t i c e s . W h e t h e r t h i s a p p l i e s t o a g r o u p s i t u a t i o n in w h i c h s o m e

p a r t i c i p a n t s m a y s i m p l y b e p r e s e n t a s w i t n e s s e s a n d may not actually “play”, or whether the scene

i n v o l v e s t w o p a r t n e r s i n p r i v a t e p l a y , t h e e l e m e n t o f c o n s e n t m u s t b e p r e s e n t . T h e f e a t u r e s o f t h e m a s o c h i s t i c c o n t r a c t w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r k .

R e c i p r o c i t y o f P l e a s u r e ( o r I n t i m a c y ) W h a t i s i n t e n d e d i s p l e a s u r e a n d f u l f i l l m e n t t h r o u g h p l a y . M u t u a l s a t i s f a c t i o n, however, is not always intended or expected. Fulfillment through participation alone m a y b e s u f f i c i e n t . A l l p l a y e r s i n a g iven S/M scene m u s t b e w o r k i n g t o w a r d t h e s a m e g o a l o f f u l f i l l m e n t .

N o n - c o e r c e d B o d i l y E x c h a n g e T h e r a n g e o f

b e n o n - coercive; otherwise it is enslavement, which I a l w a y s j u d g e t o b e m o r a l l y v i c i o u s . T h e im p o r t a n c e o f h u m a n a g e n c y i n t h e c h o i c e o f S / M s e x u a l p r a c t i c e c a n n o t b e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d . T h o s e w h o c h o o s e t o a d o p t S/M sexuality, even if only occasionally or briefly, a r e e x e r c i s i n g t h e i r p o w e r a s h u m a n a g e n t s a b l e

e f f e c t i v e l y t o c h o o s e t h e i r o w n d e s t i n y / destination.

These activities can engender fulfillment for their p a r t i c i p a n t s n o t o n l y b y p r o v i d i n g p l e a s u r e i n t i m e s o f l e i s u r e b u t a l s o b y m i t i g a t i n g a l i e n a t i o n a n d

s t r u c t u r i n g s p a c e s f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f e r o t i c a n d s e x u a l m e a n i n g .

M a s o c h i s m i s a f i c tive category. All of these a n a l y s e s a r e b a s e d o n t y p e s o f l i t e r a t u r e , d r a m a , p l a y f u l n e s s , p a r o d y , a n d s t a g i n g . T h e c a t e g o r y o f t h e “ t h e a t r i c a l ” u n d e r g i r d s a l l o f t h e

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f m a s o c h i s m . T h e l i t e r a r y imagination at play in sexual scenes begs for f u r t h e r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . T h e p s y c h i a t r i c ,

s o c i o l o g i c a l , a n d h i s t o r i c a l h e r m e n e u t i c s h a v e p r o v e n l i m i t e d a n d r e d u c t i v e . T h i s w o r k o f f e r s a n alternative genealogical reading of the construction of masochism throughout the course of the 20^{t h}

c e n t u r y a n d a t t e m p ts to make critical judgments a b o u t t h e m o r a l w o r t h o f t h e p r a c t i c e s .

CHAPTER II

HOW SADISM AND MASOCHISM BECAME ONE PHENOMENON:

MEDICAL AND JURIDICAL REGULARIZATION

I n t h i s c h a p t e r I t r a c e t h e c o u r s e o f t h e

d e s c e n t o f m a s o c h i s m a s t h e d i s c u r s i v e e fforts of s e x o l o g i s t s , p s y c h o l o g i s t s , a n d p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r i s t s d e p l o y e d f o r c e s o f r e g u l a r i z a t i o n a n d c o n t r o l a c r o s s t h e f i e l d s o f s e x a n d s e x u a l i t y . Masochism is a most troubling and perplexing p h e n o m e n o n t o F r e u d a n d h i s s u c c e s s o r s . T h e y c o n t i n u e t h e p r a c t i c e o f u t i l i z i n g t h e l i t e r a r y i d i o m a s b o t h s o u r c e a n d e x p r e s s i o n o f m a s o c h i s m . F r e u d a n d K r a f f t - Ebing both confuse and conjoin

s a d i s m a n d m a s o c h i s m , a n d y e t t h e p h e n o m e n a t h e y a n d others endlessly theorize resist such totalization.

E v e n i n t h e h a n d s of the successful scientist Freud, t h e p r o c e s s e s a n d c h a r a c t e r o f m a s o c h i s m e l u d e

satisfactory description. The taxonomic differences b e t w e e n t h e n o v e l s o f S a d e a n d S a c h e r- M a s o c h g o

largely unnoticed until well into the middle of the 2 0^{t h} c e n t u r y . P s y c h o a n a lytic theories reach no

c o n s e n s u s a b o u t w h a t m a s o c h i s m i s o r w h a t i t m e a n s a n d a s t h e c e n t u r y w e a r s o n , t h e c h o r u s o f v o i c e s g r o w s i n c r e a s i n g l y d i s c o r d a n t . D e s p i t e t h e b e s t e f f o r t s o f p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r e t i c i a n s , t h e y

r e l u c t a n t l y a d m i t t h a t m a s o c h i s t i c t en d e n c i e s a r e f o u n d t o e x i s t i n n o n - p a t h o l o g i c a l p e r s o n a l i t i e s . S c i e n t i f i c t h e o r i z a t i o n a b o u t m a s o c h i s m p r o v e s t o b e u n s a t i s f a c t o r y i n e x p l a i n i n g o r i l l u m i n a t i n g t h e

p r a c t i c e s , e v e n t o t h e t h e o r i s t s . O n l y w i t h t h e

u n c o u p l i n g o f t h e y o k e l i n k i n g s a d i s m a n d ma s o c h i s m a s b o t h l i t e r a r y a n d s o c i a l p r a c t i c e b y a

p h i l o s o p h e r w o u l d t h i s p r o b l e m a t i c l i n k a g e p o i n t t o t h e s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r o f t h e p r a c t i c e s . W h e n t h e

psychological community had all but exhausted their s t o r e o f a n a l y s i s t h e s o c i o l o g i s t s w o u l d j o i n i n t h e e f f o r t t o d e s c r i b e m a s o c h i s m . B u t t h e f i r s t a c t i n t h e s t a g i n g o f m a s o c h i s m ’ s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s b e l o n g s t o F r e u d a n d h i s f e l l o w s .

The point of origin for the first part of the g e n e a l o g y i s t h e 1 9^{t h} century. It is the historical e p o c h i n w h i c h “ s e x ” a n d “ s e x uality” emerge as

topics of scientific discussions. This scrutiny was o r i e n t e d t o w a r d e x a m i n a t i o n , d i s c u s s i o n , a n d

q u a n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h a n e y e t o w a r d r e g u l a r i z a t i o n a n d c o n t r o l . N o l o n g e r w a s s e x u a l i t y , i n a l l i t s

m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , p e r m u t a t i o n s , a n d d i s g u i s e s, simply a m a t t e r o f o n e a m o n g o t h e r t y p e s o f h u m a n a c t i v i t y . W i t h t h e a d v e n t o f s e x o l o g y , a t t h e e n d o f t h e 1 9^{t h} c e n t u r y , a l a n g u a g e o f s e x u a l i t y a n d p e r v e r s i o n w a s

“ t o r t u r e d , c o e r c e d i n t o e x i s t e n c e . ”¹ T h i s f o r m o f s p e e c h h a s f o u n d i t s w a y i n t o t h e p o p u l ar

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f s e x u a l l i f e , s o t h a t i n s t e a d o f simply enjoying this or getting pleasure from that, we impute to ourselves this “behavior” or that

“ t e n d e n c y ” . C u l t u r a l h i s t o r i a n V a l e r i e S t e e l e p u t s i t t h i s w a y :

1 Philips, Anita, A Defence of Masochism, p. 6.

The eighteenth century had been a transitional period, during which traditional attitudes and behaviors began to evolve toward the modern pattern. There was an

increasing preoccupation with explicit eroticism, as associations were drawn between free thought and sexual “libertinage”. Gradually, pe ople stopped

thinking in terms of sexual acts and began thinking of sexual identities. The development of capitalism and urbanization in Europe apparently provided an

environment within which “fetishists”² could begin to become aware of themselves and contact others with like interests.³

B y t h e c l o s e o f t h e 1 9^{t h} c e n t u r y , s e x u a l i t y h a d e m e r g e d u n s u r p a s s e d a m o n g o t h e r m o t i v a t i o n s v i e w e d a s d e t e r m i n i n g h u m a n a c t i v i t i e s . R i c h a r d v o n K r a f f t- E b i n g , H a v e l o c k E l l i s , a n d S i g m u n d F r e u d h e r a l d

s e x u a l i t y ' s n e w l y d e s i g n ated central mythological i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e p s y c h i c l i f e o f h u m a n b e i n g s . A m o n g t h e t y p e s o f s e x u a l b e h a v i o r e x a m i n e d a n d d e s c r i b e d b y F r e u d , t h e “ g r e a t e s t o f t h e m y t h m a k e r s , ”⁴ p e r h a p s n o n e w a s a s t r o u b l i n g a s t h e p e r v e r s i o n t h a t h e t e rmed masochism.

2 The terms ‘fetish’ and ‘fetishist’ are yet more contested and ambiguous terms that are multivalent and has been used in many contexts (anthropological, psychiatric, popular culture) since their invention in the 19^th century. In this context I will use them primarily to refer to the costumes, toys, regalia, styles of dress, and means of identification and those who utilize them within the communities.

3 Steele, Valerie, Fetish: Fashion, Sex, and Power, (New York:

Oxford University Press, 1996), p. 22.

4 I suggest that, along with Freud, the other most prominent mythmakers are Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Charles Darwin.

T h e e a r l i e s t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f s a d i s m a n d

m a s o c h i s m b e g i n t o t a k e s h a p e w i t h i n t h e d i s c i p l i n e s o f m e d i c i n e a n d c r i m i n o l o g y , c o n f o r m i n g t o t h e

d i s c u r s i v e p r a c t i c e s o f F r e u d a n d K r a f f t- Ebing,

r e s p e c t i v e l y . T h u s , t h e s e e a r l y r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s a re p o s i t i o n e d t o t r e a t a n d p u n i s h s a d i s m a n d m a s o c h i s m a c c o r d i n g t o t h e d i c t a t e s i n t e r n a l t o e a c h

d i s c i p l i n e . P s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r y s o u g h t t o

r e g u l a r i z e t h e s e e r r a n t i m p u l s e s , f i r s t u n d e r t h e l i b i d i n a l t h e o r i e s o f F r e u d . L a t e r , a s h i s t h o u g h t d e v e l o p e d a n d h i s o p i n i o n s c o n c e r n i n g m a s o c h i s m a n d s a d i s m u n d e r w e n t c o n s i d e r a b l e c h a n g e s , h e s o u g h t a p l a c e f o r t h e m w i t h i n t h e t h e o r i e s e n c o m p a s s e d b y

the drives, principally the ego and superego drives.

T h e d e p l o y m e n t o f d i s c u r s i v e p r a c t i c e s d e s i g n e d t o a r t i c u l a t e , explicate, regularize, and establish

“ n o r m a t i v i t y ”⁵ f o r s e x u a l i t y a n d s e x u a l p r a c t i c e a r e w h a t w a s n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t i n t h e l a t e V i c t o r i a n e r a . H u m a n s h a d b e e n e n a c t i n g m a n y o f t h e s a m e dynamics of behavior for millennia. What is d i f f e r e n t i s t h e w a y t h a t these behaviors were s u b s e q u e n t l y t y p i f i e d a n d r e p r e s e n t e d w i t h i n

s p e c i f i c r e a l m s o f c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t y . A c c o r d i n g t o

5 This term is derived from Foucault. It is a type of operation of power that establishes and promotes a set of norms (of

behavior, of being). While the “normal” might be statistical, norms tend to be morally established and have to force of

imperatives. Heterosexuality might be “normal” in terms of

statistics, but the normativity of current understandings of sex grants it the status of a norm, defined against ab-normal

practices and desires.

M i c h e l F o u c a u l t , t h i s t r a n s i t i o n w a s a l r e a d y w e l l u n d e r w a y a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e c e n t u r y :

Sadism is not a name given finally to a pract ice as old as Eros; it is a massive cultural fact which appeared precisely at the end of the eighteenth century, and which constitutes one of the greatest conversions of Western imagination: unreason

transformed into delirium of the heart, madness of desire, the insane dialogue of love and death in the limitless presumption of appetite.⁶

S a d o m a s o c h i s m e m e r g e s a s t h e m o s t p r o b l e m a t i c p e r v e r s i t y f r o m a m o n g t h e c a v a l c a d e o f d e s c r i p t i o n s o f s e x r e n d e r e d b y K r a f f t- E b i n g , F r e u d a n d m a n y

o t h e r s . F o u c a u l t g i v e s a s silent nod to Freud as his i n t e r l o c u t o r a s h e d e s c r i b e s t h e c o n v e r s i o n o f

i m a g i n a t i o n . L o v e a n d d e a t h a r e c a t e g o r i e s s u b s u m e d into Freud’s theorization regarding Eros and

T h a n a t o s . “ S e x ” i s r e n d e r e d p r o b l e m a t i c i n t h e 1 9^{t h} c e n t u r y . P r i o r t o t h i s p e r i o d s e x and sexuality were m e r e l y o n e o f m a n y h u m a n a c t i v i t i e s a n d w e r e n o t s o closely scrutinized for what they might reveal about t h e i n n e r c h a r a c t e r o f a n y h u m a n b e i n g .⁷

B o t h F r e u d a n d K r a f f t- Ebing rely on literature f o r t h e i r u n d e r s t a n d i n g s o f m a s o c h i s m . I n d e e d , t h e forms of this perversion are both named for

n o v e l i s t s , D o n a t i e n A l p h o n s e F r a n ç o i s d e S a d e a n d L e o p o l d v o n S a c h e r -M a s o c h , v a s t l y d i f f e r e n t i n

6 Foucault, Michel, Madness and Civilization, trans. Richard Howard, (New York: Random House, 1965), p.210.

7 Foucault avers succinctly, “In the space of a few centuries, a certain inclination has led us to direct the question of what we are, to sex.” Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality, Vol. I: