Marique Schimmel | Driu & Tiago | Wonderland Sept/Oct 2011 | 'Of Human Bondage'

Wonderland September/October 2011 artfully positions an erotic Marique Schimmel in a larger context editorial ‘Of Human Bondage’. Styled by Grace Cobb, the images by Driu & Tiago are focused on female bondage — by now one of our passionate themes.

Yet the title ‘Of Human Bondage’ resonates with us, because several AOC readers are contributing to a larger essay that I’m working on the subject of dominance and submission, inspired by Taryn Andreatta’s images and interview. A male reader left a comment this morning on the article, one that just fascinates me:

Anne, I happened upon your site from a link from afriend who is a friend of Taryns. While I find the images of Taryn at first arrousing and sexual I took a moment to reflect on her answers and the pics included. You may find it interesting, but I am most intrigued by the first photo (non-nude) and the full bodied palm frond a close second. Taryns answers regarding the struggles of a male female universe are reflected well in the images. The two I mention best fit the conversation in that that they exemplify the old world view of femininty while not revealing the whole woman. An aura of mystery if you will. The other bondage type pics reflect a more modern controlled woman of this day and age. Perhaps women of the old world had more control over men. They realized the power of their sensuality and without being overly sexual controlled men with with their ability of desire. And they knew it. Women give too much away these days. In an effort to be like men they regress to a level that even alarms the male psyche itself and face rejection based on the threat. Cudos to Taryn bring back the old world!

Everyone knows, I’m not for bringing back the old world in a literal sense. And to be fair, I doubt the reader was suggesting that either — that women no longer have the vote, as we didn’t in the old world.

Given the times we live in here in America — where Republicans are determined to turn back the clock on women’s rights — I’m real careful what I write and say.

Female Sexuality & Human Bondage

Yet, the comment is so meaty and thoughtful — especially “In an effort to be like men they regress to a level that even alarms the male psyche itself and face rejection based on the threat.”  I will be thinking and researching the psychology books for more insights on that concept. I read a lot of science and am already a believer in Ernest Becker’s theory about the psychological relationship between men and women.

Bottom line — pushing out on the concept of bondage as a cultural statement, and using a model like Marique Schimmel as the erotic symbol, is a new idea in this season’s editorials. To say that men are also in bondage sexually by today’s woman is very interesting.

Note, the downside of the argument is that even under burqas, women are seen as vixens and are blamed for seducing men. Only when we are ‘nothings’ and cease to exist does the temptation stop for men. To be continued … and perhaps in a new direction. Anne

via Newsl