No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Queen's University, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 224-239).

Le domaine de la psychologie procède actuellement à l’abandon partiel de la conception du BDSM en tant que psychopathologie. Pourtant, depuis le début des années 2000, on observe une augmentation considérable de la présence au cinéma de personnages neurodivergents et malheureux qui pratiquent le BDSM. Des coproductions transeuropéennes comme Nymp()manic (Lars von Trier, 2013) aux longs métrages indépendants australiens comme My Mistress (Stephen Lance, 2014), passant par les films américains grands publics comme Fifty Shades of Grey (Sam Taylor-Johnson, 2015) le BDSM au cinéma apparaît comme n’étant pratiqué que par des personnes à l’existence trouble et à la santé mentale fragile. L’objectif de cette thèse sera de définir les nombreux biais qui motivent cette mythologie du mal-être. Afin d’examiner de plus près le fossé entre la représentation du BDSM au cinéma et la recherche récente en sciences sociales qui se penche la population sadomasochiste, nous avons développé une étude de cas sur Nymph()maniac de Lars von Trier. Nous avons également récolté les réactions au film de personnes pour lesquelles la dominance ou la soumission ritualisée fait partie de leur expérience de la sexualité. Nous proposons donc un dialogue interprétatif entre la psychologie, la critique littéraire et les études culturelles féministes pour analyser le film de von Trier. / The formerly widespread view of BDSM as a psychological disorder is currently being abandoned by large portions of the scientific community; it has been almost completely removed from the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and a growing number of studies point toward the psychological and social normalcy of BDSM practitioners. Yet, since the early 2000’s, from trans-european productions like Nymph()maniac (Lars von Trier, 2013) to independent Australian features like My Mistress (Stephen Lance, 2014), or mainstream american films like Fifty Shades of Grey (Sam Taylor-Johnson, 2015), the onscreen portrayal of BDSM practitioners increasingly consists of characters with troubled lives and fragile mental healths. The aim of this thesis will be to investigate the many biases that motivate this mythology of unease surrounding BDSM in film. In order to take a closer look at the gap between current research in psychology and cultural representation of BDSM we developed a case study of Nymph()maniac, which features, among a wide array of sexual proclivities, a temporary D/s relationship. With the intention of gaining access to the perspective of women-identified people from the BDSM community on the way they are represented in movies, we generated a focus group and gathered their reactions. We therefore propose an interpretative dialogue between the BDSM community, literary criticism, sociology, psychology and feminist cultural studies.

There is an ongoing fascination with the Victorian era as well as the genre of horror, and the characters originating from the first 18th century Gothic tales still appear in our Western popular culture today. The Victorian Gothic novels contain elements of romanticism and violence which often results in strong undertones of heated sexuality. I argue that it is one of the reasons for the genre’s wide popularity. This thesis examines the representation of femininity and female sexuality within a Victorian horror context by a comparative analyse of illustrations from British 19th century Penny Blood publications with contemporary fashion photographs. The images are analysed by applying Erwin Panofsky’s method of Iconography and with the theoretical framework of feminist visual culture, and historical theories on sexuality, biology and violence. The thesis shows how Gothic visualisations are interpreted and appropriated photographically today, where the latter is darker and more exaggerated than the former. Symbols of sexuality, female agency, dominance and submission are equally found in the Victorian and the contemporary material. However, the Victorian aesthetic has become a platform where a nude, sexual female body in a S&M situation can offer a spectrum of meanings and even symbols of feminism. It is a visual culture where women can fight back, taking revenge on their oppressor and looking fierce when doing so.

The present doctoral thesis is focused on consensual forms of sexual violence. In both theoretical and empirical aspects, it is based on existing information available in Czech as well as foreign research. Furthermore, this thesis utilises general findings of research on partner violence, as this topic has a long tradition at the Department of Sociology of the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. The selected topic is understood as a social phenomenon that is gradually becoming a part of culture. It includes a number of medical, psychological and legal aspects; the sociological approach, however, is central, both in employed methodology and in the utilisation of partial sociological theories. This thesis endeavours to assess to what extent the issue of consensual sexual violence becomes a part of culture and to what extent there is a shift from the sphere of intimate relationships and communities to a more or less open market environment and the Internet. Given the breadth of scope and the highly specific nature of the topic, the present thesis makes use of several sources of both quantitative and qualitative data from 2015- 2019. The paper explores in detail especially the attitudes and the degree of tolerance in the Czech population towards selected forms of violence, including consensual...

No description available.

While the term sadomasochism might conjure cursory images of whips, chains, and leather-clad fetishists, this thesis delves deeper into sadomasochistic theory to analyze dynamics of power and powerlessness represented by a chosen sample of literary relationships. Using two contemporary works of vampire literature—Anne Rice's novel Interview with the Vampire and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series—I examine how power is structured by and between male and female characters (and vampires and humans), and particularly emphasize the patriarchal messages these works' regressive sexual politics engender. Psychoanalysis and feminist theory are employed to support my overarching argument following the gendered dynamics of male sadism and female masochism (and vampire sadism and human masochism), as this dyad reflects men's and women's "normalized" roles of power and powerlessness, respectively, in today's society. Sadomasochistic relationships as depicted in this literature are created through mutual contracts or, what I refer to as, sociocultural sadomasochism to reflect the gendered power imbalances inherent in patriarchy. By concluding with readers' responses to these franchises, this thesis further attempts to determine why such unequal and oppressive relationships are desirable. Since vampires as Gothic figures embody what specific cultures dread yet desire, this literature possesses frightening implications—gender roles are conservative and masculinity is privileged in fiction and, by extension, in twenty-first-century American culture.

La recherche, construction et révision de l’identité nationale ont très longtemps constitué les éléments propulseurs de la production littéraire et intellectuelle de Porto Rico. Pourtant vers le milieu des années 90, un nouveau consensus émerge entre les écrivains qui revendiquent massivement la fin de la littérature en tant que lieu d’où forger la conscience nationale et refuse le leadership intellectuel qui avait jusqu’alors définit le travail littéraire. Les auteurs qui commencent à se manifester à ce moment se désintéressent du nationalisme comme thème littéraire. Le militantisme politique et la volonté de confrontation, modes représentationnels caractéristiques de la génération antérieure, disparaissent pour laisser place à une écriture exploratoire, centrée sur ses propres procédés, et apparemment apolitique. Une telle perte d’ancrages nationaux et territoriaux est significative de la conscience exacerbée que possèdent ces écrivains de la complexité des dynamiques culturelles qui régissent le monde postmoderne et globalisé, ainsi que de la « valeur » et de la position « marginale » qu’on leur attribue dans l’écologie mass-médiatique culturelle actuelle. La production narrative de Mayra Santos-Febres est paradigmatique de ces changements. J’aborde dans son écriture une série de dispositifs métalittéraires, autoréflexifs, « érographiques », et historiographiques qui, bien qu’ils résistent à une catégorisation homogène, démontrent un même intérêt pour des phénomènes interstitiels. En me basant sur les concepts de liminalité, principalement depuis la perspective de Victor Turner et d’écriture auto-réflexive (Patricia Waugh, Linda Hutcheon), j’analyse le positionnement liminal qu’assume Santos-Febres dans la structure culturelle globalisée actuelle, et la façon dont sa prise de position, également liminale, c’est-à-dire, sa prise de parole et son engagement se traduisent par un rapprochement narcissique à l’exercice littéraire autant dans les formes qu’elle crée qu’au niveau sémantique, narratif et discursif. Le premier chapitre analyse les contes « Dilcia M. » et « Acto de Fe » (Pez de vidrio) comme témoignages de l’érosion du patriotisme et militantisme antérieur; « La escritora» (Pez de vidrio) qui marque pour l’auteure un passage vers une esthétique centrée sus ses propres procédés créatifs; et le roman Cualquier miércoles soy tuya qui dramatise le positionnement assumé par les écrivains dans la chaine culturelle globalisée actuelle. Le second chapitre aborde la configuration des corps, espaces urbains et de l’écriture dans El cuerpo correcto qui, à travers une exubérance sexuelle/textuelle, projette des variantes réactualisées de la traditionnelle dichotomie corps/écriture. Le troisième chapitre se penche sur la configuration du travesti dans Sirena Selena vestida de pena. J’y propose de voir le travestisme, le boléro et l’écriture comme un triple exercice métalittéraire. Le dernier chapitre aborde le procédé de re-signification littéraire des images sédimentées de subordination et d’infériorité de sujet « noir ». Nuestra Señora de la Noche se penche sur la re-signification de l’hyper-sexualisation et « exotisation » qui a cimenté la construction de « l’immoralité » de la femme noire. Fe en disfraz aborde le sadomasochisme comme espace de re-signification des schèmes de domination et soumission inscrits dans l’histoire esclavagiste de Porto Rico et du trauma qui origine, et subsiste, d’une telle hiérarchie. / For a long time, the construction and revision of national identity constituted the driving forces of literary and intellectual production in Puerto Rico. Around the mid 90s, however, a new consensus emerges among writers, which on a massive scale claims the end of literature as a space for forging national consciousness and rejects the intellectual leadership that had defined literary work until that time. At this point, emerging writers lose interest in nationalism as a literary theme. Political militancy and the desire for confrontation, representational modes that were typical of the previous generation, collapse to give way to exploratory writing, centered on its own processes, and apparently apolitical. This loss of territorial markers explains the heightened perception that those writers have of the complex cultural dynamics that govern the postmodern and globalized world, and of the “value” and “marginal” position that is attributed to them in the current mass-media cultural ecology. The narrative production of Mayra Santos-Febres is paradigmatic of these changes. I approach a series of meta-literary, self-reflexive, “erographic,” and historiographical devices in her writing, which, although they resist homogeneous categorization, share a concern for interstitial phenomena. Basing myself on the concepts of liminality, primarily from the perspective of Victor Turner, and of self-reflexive writing (Patricia Waugh, Linda Hutcheon), I analyse the liminal positioning that Santos-Febres adopts within the globalized cultural structure and the way in which her stance is equally liminal. In other words, her speech and commitment become a narcissistic approach to the practice of writing both in terms of the forms that it creates and with regard to semantics, narrative, and discourse. The first chapter analyses the stories, “Dilcia M.” and “Acto de Fe” (Pez de vidrio), as testimonies of the erosion of earlier forms of patriotism and feminist militancy; “La escritora” (Pez de vidrio), which for the author marks a transition toward an aesthetic centred on her own creative processes; and the novel Cualquier miércoles soy tuya, which dramatizes the stance adopted by writers in the current globalized cultural chain. The second chapter deals with the configuration of bodies, urban spaces, and writing in El cuerpo correcto, which, through a sexual/textual exuberance, project updated versions of the traditional body/writing binary. The third chapter focuses on the configuration of the transvestite in Sirena Selena vestida de pena and suggests viewing transvestism, the bolero, and writing as a triple meta-literary practice. The final chapter deals with the literary re-signification of the “sedimented” images of subordinated “black” subjects. Nuestra Señora de la Noche focuses on the re-signification of hyper-sexualization and exoticization, which cemented the construction of black women’s “immorality”. Fe en disfraz discusses sadomasochism as a space of re-signification of the dominant/submissive configuration inscribed in Puerto Rican slave history, and of the trauma that originates and survives in this hierarchy. / La construcción y revisión de la identidad nacional constituyeron, por un largo tiempo, los elementos propulsores de la producción literaria e intelectual en Puerto Rico. Hacia mediados de los años 90, sin embargo, emerge entre los escritores un nuevo consenso que reivindica masivamente el fin de la literatura como espacio de fragua de la conciencia nacional y rechaza el liderazgo intelectual que había definido el quehacer literario hasta el momento. Los escritores que empiezan a manifestarse en ese momento pierden el interés en el nacionalismo como tema literario. El militantismo político y la voluntad de confrontación, modos representacionales característicos de la generación anterior, se desmoronan para ceder paso a una escritura exploratoria, centrada en sus propios procesos y aparentemente apolítica. Tal pérdida de anclajes nacionales y territoriales traduce la percepción exacerbada que tienen esos escritores de las complejas dinámicas culturales que rigen el mundo postmoderno y globalizado, y del “valor” y de la posición “marginal” que se les atribuye en la ecología massmediática cultural actual. La producción narrativa de Mayra Santos-Febres es paradigmática de dichos cambios. Abordo en su escritura una serie de dispositivos metaliterarios, auto-reflexivos, “erográficos” e historiográficos que si resisten a una categorización homogénea comparten una misma preocupación por fenómenos intersticiales. Basándome en los conceptos de liminalidad, principalmente, desde la perspectiva de Victor Turner, y de escritura auto-reflexiva (Patricia Waugh, Linda Hutcheon), analizo el posicionamiento liminal que asume Santos-Febres en la estructura cultural globalizada y la manera en que su toma de posición igualmente liminal, es decir, su toma de palabra y compromiso se traducen en un acercamiento narcisista al ejercicio escritural tanto en las formas que crea como a nivel semántico, narrativo y discursivo. El primer capítulo analiza los cuentos “Dilcia M.” y “Acto de Fe” (Pez de vidrio) como testimonios de la erosión del patriotismo y militantismo feminista anterior, “La escritora” (Pez de vidrio) que marca para la autora una transición hacia una estética centrada en sus propios procesos creativos, y la novela Cualquier miércoles soy tuya que dramatiza el posicionamiento asumido por los escritores en la cadena cultural globalizada actual. El segundo capítulo aborda la configuración de los cuerpos, espacios urbanos y de la escritura en El cuerpo correcto que, a través de una exuberancia sexual/textual, proyecta variantes reactualizadas del tradicional binomio cuerpo/escritura. El tercer capítulo enfoca la configuración del travesti en Sirena Selena vestida de pena y propone ver el travestismo, el bolero y la escritura como un triple ejercicio metaliterario. El último capítulo se acerca a la re-significación literaria de las imágenes sedimentadas de subordinación del sujeto “negro”. Nuestra Señora de la Noche enfoca la re-significación de la hiper-sexualización y exotización que cimentó la construcción de la “inmoralidad” de la mujer negra. Fe en disfraz aborda el sadomasoquismo como espacio de re-significación de los esquemas de dominación/sumisión inscritos en la historia esclavista puertorriqueña y del trauma que origina y subsiste de tal jerarquía.

The thesis discusses the topic of bodily autonomy as a Human Rights related matter in connection to sexuality, specifically BDSM. In the realm of BDSM concerns regarding bodily autonomy, bodily integrity, perversion, physical and mental health can be found. Therefore the space of BDSM is analyzed in regards to aspects, such as medico-judicial institutions, social and personal perception factor in on the space of bodily autonomy and its transgression, with the aim of getting a deeper understanding of the concept of bodily autonomy. Three different countries, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Denmark are being analyzed and compared in a content analysis. Foucault’s theory of power, self-disciplining, transgression as well as Bataille's theory of transgression and eroticism are made use of. This shows how and which topics relate to bodily autonomy and each other and how bodily autonomy and its use changes depending on the factors relation to each other and their prioritization.

No description available.