Rope on the Brain: Emotional Sadomasochism in Rope Bondage
Explore emotional sadomasochism in rope bondage!
Sadism and masochism come in a variety of forms, and many people who practice rope bondage have unique relationships with pain. But what about suffering that doesn’t come from physical sensations? What does it mean to identify as an emotional sadist or masochist, and how can we play with these desires in rope?
In this class, we will explore the myriad ways that rope can create emotional and/or mental stress, through shame, exposure, objectification, abandonment, disconnection, fear of failure and more.
We’ll also look at cultural context for some of these feelings and discuss negotiation and risk management for this type of play. Aftercare considerations will also be covered.
This is a discussion based class with demos, time allowing. All levels are welcome! Please note that some of the material in this class is considered edgeplay and may be uncomfortable for some.
Though DWL (he/him) has been shooting various subjects casually and professionally for more than a decade, he found a new world of creative opportunity when he discovered fetish photography. Upon entering the kink scene eight years ago, he found new artistic opportunities and challenges in kink photography, as well as a passion for capturing the unique energy of a scene. DWL is known for his journalistic style of documenting play, chasing moments of emotion, connection, joy, and pain. His rope style is centered around controlled suffering and connection through creativity, and his artistic aesthetic is evident in his ties. He also enjoys collaborating with other creative minds to bring ideas and visions to life in front of his lens. He and his camera have appeared at various conventions, events, and workshops, and he continues to grow as a photographer, rigger, and educator. DWL is constantly trying new things and believes there is always more to learn. His favorite photo? “The one I haven’t taken yet."
EbiBex (she/her) is a queer, masochistic bottom advocate and educator who first discovered rope bondage when she was a wee baby kinkster, but in the last decade has been able to fully immerse herself in the rope scene alongside her partner, DWL. She, along with DWL, has participated in and taught at various North American events such as FIRE, Dark Odyssey events, NARIX, Snowbound, and RopeCraft, as well weekend intensives and workshops across the US and internationally. She considers herself very lucky to have learned from, tied and collaborated with some of the best rope people around the world, and is constantly striving to grow as a rope bottom, submissive, and community member. Bex primarily approaches rope as a type of intimate connection and partnership, as well as a form of artistic expression and exploration of suffering. She firmly believes rope bottoming should be accessible to everyone, and hopes sharing her experiences and knowledge will help others on their rope journeys in risk-aware, inclusive, enjoyable ways.
