Subject: fetishist

Culture: Fetish / BDSM

Setting: dungeon

Event Photos

* Ortmann/Sprott 2013 p94

"People in the BDSM communities understand the power dynamic of exhibitionism and voyeurism very well. Many major cities have public dungeons, parties, or gathering places where BDSM scenes can be enacted in the presence of others. Not every kinky person enjoys this kind of public scene, but many do. There is an erotic thrill to watching others, and in being on display for other to view. Public play enhances the power exchange.

"For example, some cities have leather/kink street fairs, and perhaps the granddaddy of them all is the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco every September. People fly from all over the globe look at others [SIC], and to be on the 'stage' of the street so others can look at them, and Folsom is a 'stage' that draws 300,000 to 450,000 attendees. It is a ritual that celebrates exhibitionism and voyeurism."

* Bacon-Smith 2000 p156

"Valerie Steele, in her study on fetish clothing, points briefly to the goths, punks, and cyberpunks as fashion cultures that borrow the clothing of the fetishist as fashion. The use of fetish clothing as fashion does not necessarily indicate a fetishistic attachment to that fashion, nor does it necessarily indicate an adherence to the sexual practices, such as sadomasochism and bondage and domination, that make use of fetishistic clothing as part of sexual practice."

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources

Field Notes