About two decades ago, BDSM was seen as something obscure and enigmatic, hidden and imperceptible. Sharing our intimate sexual fantasies and fetishes, particularly those seen as unconventional, was not commonly practiced. However, all that has now changed.
"EVANDER" RED HARNESS WITH GOLD CHAINS
Today, BDSM representations can be found everywhere. Since the past few years, kinky sexual practices and depictions have become increasingly prevalent in mainstream culture, permeating various aspects of pop culture. Songs, movies, books, and even morning talk shows openly address various aspects of bondage.
Even though Rihanna's popular song ‘S&M’ and E.L. James's Fifty Shades of Grey are often credited with boosting the popularity of BDSM, the reality is that BDSM, just like other sexual preferences, has existed for as long as man has desired sex. Today we’ll be discussing the evolution of BDSM in popular culture and how kink and bondage are depicted and perceived today.
BDSM in Popular Culture: A Depiction of Kink in the 90s
In the 1990s, Madonna achieved the status of being a top-selling author on the New York Times bestseller list. Many expressed surprise that the former Material Girl, who was at the peak of her musical career at the time, could so easily sell numerous copies of a book. The twist, however, was the content of the book: an unconventional, BDSM-inspired volume boldly named Sex.
Now, this wasn’t the first time Madonna had dabbled with the idea of intense and aggressive romance and kink. Her 1990s Blond Ambition World Tour showcased various bondage-inspired outfits, including the iconic ‘cone bra’. However, it was the singer’s Sex project that truly excited and allured the public to Madonna's fantasy life related to sexuality. Images in the book showed the singer and her close group in arousing levels of nakedness and closeness. Moreover, the book itself appeared to be designed specifically for a sex/kink dungeon, featuring elements such as leather, chains, bondage, and nudity.