Ever heard of Fifty Shades Of Grey? It’s a recent cultural phenomenon loved (and hated) by people of all ages. And before I dive into it… Yes, the books are terribly written. Yes, the books were written as Twilight fan fiction. Yes, the books romanticize certain damaging relationship habits. And yes, the books represent a laughably unrealistic viewpoint of what kink/BDSM relationships look like. BUT… to not try and learn…

The third movie in the Fifty Shades saga—really, this is a saga—comes out February 9, just in time for ironic Valentine’s Day plans. Thus, I—an entertainment writer and self-respecting lover of terrible movies—have decided it’s high time to finally watch them, taking on Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker in the weeks before the finale comes to theaters so that I’ll be ready when things finally… climax. If you’re unfamiliar, Fifty Shades of Grey (based on…

Two years ago, I did all the sex from Fifty Shades of Grey in one weekend and now I’m back to do it again with Fifty Shades Darker, because apparently I hate myself and also my husband. These books really teach you things about yourself, you know?! I must note that we did not attempt some of the sex scenes, but that’s mainly because none of my friends would let me have sex on their boats, and,…

We all knew that the Fifty Shades of Grey movie would bring about a conversation regarding BDSM, non-vanilla relationships, and the nature of consent between adult sexual partners.  I read an article discussing the “impact” of the film, and it got me thinking. In the interests of full disclosure, I will tell you that I have read the books.  I read them before I learned about my submissive side.  Anastasia Steele’s character…

On February 13, the film version of E.L. James’ best-selling Fifty Shades of Grey was unleashed like a ill-lit beacon of kink upon the world. Fans of the books and new audiences alike will be lining up to get tangled in the naughty story of Anastasia Steele, virgin college student, and masochistic bazillionaire Christian Grey. God help us all. As you likely know by now, the lure of these books lies in the…

As a dominatrix who sometimes switches with her clients (and is strictly submissive in her personal life), I have desperately avoided Fifty Shades of Grey. All I heard from colleagues and other kinksters about the books was that they were a terrible representation of BDSM, written by an outsider with a dubious grasp on the concept of consent. I dismissed the books as irrelevant, but with the release of the movie…

The wildly popular Fifty Shades films are based on E.L. James’ erotic novels: Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, and Fifty Shades Freed. The story follows Anastasia Steele as she is introduced to the world of BDSM by wealthy businessman Christian Grey. But is Fifty Shades an accuratedepiction of BDSM? Does James’ representation of this complex lifestyle do it justice? For many people, the Fifty Shades franchise served as an introduction to the BDSM lifestyle. It’s clear that James…

For many, the world of restraints and floggers was a total mystery before E.L. James’ erotic sensation Fifty Shades of Grey was published in 2011. The mega-hit quickly introduced aspects of kink to a wider audience, and now the second film chronicling the story of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele is set to be unleashed this Friday. While the world of BDSM (bondage, domination, sadism and masochism) has hit the mainstream, Mistress Couple – the headmistress of La Domaine Esemar, a…