BondageNexus (along with his submissive*) visited my HDFS 5440 classroom on The Ohio State University Main Campus (Psychology Building, Room 014) on October 5, 2018 from 11:10 am to 12:30 pm.
BondageNexus is a veteran in the local kink* community and rope scene* (and beyond) with decades of experience as a Rigger*. He demonstrated some basic ties, a single suspension*, and answered student questions about consent, negotiations, the love of rope, and how he (and his partners) explore their kink* with an eye to safety in their everyday lives. His candid responses are always welcome and this semester’s class had plenty of questions! It was a pleasure to have him in the classroom once more.
The rope bunny* (who is also submissive* to Bondage Nexus*) remains nameless in print in order to protect her privacy. In some semesters, the demo bottom* is a seasoned performer and their name is divulged because they are on a performance or teaching circuit. Other presenters wish to be anonymous or to use an alias.
These speaker days are open to my students only (unless guests are first cleared by me). These presentations are not designed to shock-and-awe, but rather to provide students with an opportunity to meet – and have conversations with – people who actually engage in these lifestyle activities.
Class note:
No nudity or sex acts take place in my classroom.
I am careful in setting parameters for my presenters so that no university regulations or local/state/federal ordinances or laws are violated.
Students in my class are never permitted to take part in the demonstration.
There are NO non-consensual activities permitted in my class.
Students are permitted to opt-out of these experiences if they believe they will be triggering to them and are given written assignments in place of the class experience if they choose to opt-out.
Bondage Nexus
BondageNexus has enjoyed incorporating rope bondage into his sex life since puberty. In the last ten years he has done bondage in the public kink scene mostly as an outreach to folks who are new to kink in hopes that they can be more comfortable in their love of bondage. If you’ve been to Trauma here in Columbus, you may have already caught one of his performances. He likes pie and he loves education. His desire to teach others about rope and rope safety is manifested in the group: C.O.R.G (Central Ohio Rope Group).
Anonymous Rope Bunny 😉
Our other presenter is a college student, active in the local scene, and interested in educating other young people about safety, consent, and diversity of sexual expression.
Readings:
In addition to normal class readings, students read two pieces in preparation for the Bondage presentation.
An excerpt from Steve Lenius’ Life, Leather, and the Pursuit of Happiness (Chapter 39, Bondage: the difference between black and gray)
An academic article by Sarah Stevens (Rope Sluts, and Bottoms, and Subs, Oh My:
50 Shades of Grey and the Shifting Discourse on Female Submission in Feminist Kink Porn). Abstract for that article:
To date, feminists have conflated (and continue to conflate)
historical understandings of bondage, discipline, dominance and
submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM) as pathological and representations
of BDSM in literature and popular media with the
lived experiences of feminist BDSM practitioners. Feminist BDSM
practitioner Madison Young’s pornographic film 50 Shades of
Dylan Ryan (2012) takes the recent resurgence of the ongoing
debate on women, submission, and popular literature as a starting
point for reconsideration and possibility. By adapting the
discourse surrounding 50 Shades of Grey, Young’s pornographic
film points to the ways in which feminism also contributes to that
which makes pleasure possible. Young’s film reimagines the dualities
that have traditionally dominated feminist cultural critique
through concepts the author calls “mediated authenticity” and “formal
simultaneity.” Beginning with a brief, rigorous examination of
the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon, this article analyzes Madison
Young’s 50 Shades of Dylan Ryan and seeks to provide a critical
intervention in feminist studies of pornography and popular
culture.
Music for this Class Meeting
I like to play music before classes begin. Today’s musical selection is one of my favorites for any Bondage Nexus presentation (as he is also into acro-yoga and other assorted psychically-demanding activities).
Try by Pink
*Terminology in this Post
While there are numerous definitions for terminology in the kink community, here are some simple definitions for terms used in this post.
BDSM = Used as a catch-all phrase to include a wide range of activities, forms of interpersonal relationships, and distinct subcultures.The term dates back to at least 1991; however, the exact origin of the term BDSM is unclear. While the term is newer, its associated practices have been clearly dated back to Mesopotamia at the earliest records, sometime between 4000 and 3000 BC and is consistently present throughout the rest of human history. It is often interpreted as a compound initialism from B&D (bondage and discipline), D&S (dominance and submission), and S&M (sadism and masochism).
Bottom= Someone who negotiates and consents to a specific activity or activities involving BDSM to be performed upon them by a Top.
Demo Bottom aka demo dolly = Person who bottoms for the purpose of a demonstration. This person is generally selected for their extensive experience and comfort with the activity being demonstrated as well as their comfort with the person performing the duty to ensure that nothing unexpected occurs to ruin the demonstration for those who are there to learn.
Kink = The use of unconventional sexual practices, fantasies, or concepts. It is a colloquial term for wide-ranging non-normative sexual behavior. This term is often used by those who practice sexual fetishism and has largely replaced more pejorative terms.
Rigger = Person who applies functional or artistic rope bondage to another person’s (or sometimes their own) body for photographic, performance, artistic, educational, spiritual, or sexual purposes.
Rope Bunny = Person who enjoys being bound with rope for sexual or nonsexual pleasure.
Scene or The Scene or A Scene = “The Scene” is a broad term often used to describe The Community (as in, the kink community). “A scene” is a BDSM activity or encounter involving one or more people; it may or may not involve sexual activity. A scene can take place in private or in a club where it can be viewed by an audience. In some cases a scene may also be referred to as play. A scene may also be referred to as a session to set a more professional context and tone, or a pro session to indicate a specific professional transaction.
Submissive aka sub aka s-type = Person who gives up some degree of authority and/or control to a Dominant for the duration of a BDSM scene or in everyday life. Submissive may also refer to the personality traits of a particular individual.
Suspension = Suspension bondage refers to a bound person being hung (via ropes/bindings around the body) from one or more overhead suspension points. This can be done as a form of BDSM play or for artistic purposes. Suspension bondage is considered to carry a higher risk than most other forms of bondage.
Anita Parker 