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BDSM Dictionary : Sadism and masochism in fiction: history
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.
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In general, the depiction of sadism and
masochism in fiction tends to be portrayed from the viewpoint of
masochistic fantasy. "Note: the lists in this article are sorted in
chronological order."Novels
The Marquis de Sade's works, including "Justine" (1791) and "Juliette" (1797) are written from an extreme sadistic viewpoint. However, many readers have seen in de Sade more than mere S/M, but also a philosophy of freedom and coercion.
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's novel "Venus in Furs" (1870) is essentially one long masochistic fantasy, where the male principal character encourages his mistress to mistreat him.
The "Story of O" (1954) is another classic masochistic novel, this time written by a woman whose pseudonym was Pauline Réage. In this novel, the female principal character is kept in a chateau and mistreated by a group of men. It was translated into English by a very gifted translator.
"L'Image" (1956) is another classic sadomasochistic novel, written by another French woman, Catherine Robbe-Grillet, under the pseudonym Jean de Berg. It was made into a 1975 film, "The Image", also known as "The Punishment of Anne".
In 1993, Vanessa Duri*s wrote "The Ties that Bind (Le Lien)".
Outsider artist Malcolm McKesson published his novel, "Matriarchy: Freedom in Bondage," in 1997. It tells the story of a Harvard undergraduate dominated by his mistress and forced to dress in women's clothing.
The writer Anne Rice has produced a number of examples of well-written sado-masochistic fiction, including "Exit to Eden" and "Belinda" as well as a D/s retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale, "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" and its sequels, "Beauty's Punishment" and "Beauty's Release".
As of 2005, sado-masochistic themes have become common in much of mainstream erotic fiction, so much so as to be almost a cliché.
More literary sado-masochistic fiction includes the works of authors such as
The novel "Kushiel's Dart" by Jacqueline Carey and its sequels belong
both to the fantasy fiction and the BDSM fiction genres.Mainstream films
Consensual BDSM is not generally depicted accurately or sympathetically in mainstream films, to say the least. However, film-makers often find some way to incorporate BDSM imagery into many films. The following films feature BDSM as a major plot point, not just as an exploitative add-on.
Sado-masochism is featured as a central plot element in the following mainstream drama films:
Art movies:
Comedy:
Thrillers:
(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the Sadism and masochism in fiction article in Wipipedia.)
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