The following Newsweek article by Katie Roiphe posted in the Daily Beast proposes that with the recent success of Fifty Shades, spanking has indeed gone mainstream. And they say the reason is because Christian Grey, "who is extremely solicitous and apologetic for a sadist (always asking Anastasia Steele about every minute gradation of her feelings, and bringing her all kinds of creams and lotions to soothe her after spanking her) is, in other words, the easiest difficult man of all time."
Interesting thought. The article goes on to ask, "Why have masses of women brought the book to the top of the New York Times bestseller list before it even hit the stores? Most likely it’s the happy convergence of the superficial transgression with comfortable archetypes, the blushing virgin and the whips. To a certain, I guess, rather large, population, it has a semipornographic glamour, a dangerous frisson of boundary crossing, but at the same time is delivering reassuringly safe, old-fashioned romantic roles. Reading Fifty Shades of Grey is no more risqué or rebellious or disturbing than, say, shopping for a pair of black boots or an arty asymmetrical dress at Barneys." Hmm.
Let's see. Because the book offers a tantalizing glimpse into sadomasochism using safe, old-fashioned romantic roles, the women of the world are eating it up in the millions. I hadn't thought of it quite that way, but it is possible. I guess it's the same reason why people like me enjoy riding roller coasters. You get the rush that comes with an element of danger in a totally controlled and safe environment. You get off the coaster feeling braver for the experience. You flirted with death and survived. But did you? Did you really flirt with death? No. Not anymore than reading Fifty Shades gives you true insight into the world of BDSM. It doesn't. I knew that, but I still enjoyed the story, despite the book's many faults.
So, what about spanking? Since Christian Grey is so solicitous of Ana after he's spanked her, which isn't an entirely bad thing in my opinion even if it is unrealistic, does that mean it's okay for women to purchase gray silk ties for their husbands and ask for a little domestic discipline in the bedroom? An over the knee, bare butt spanking, just like Ana received from Christian? Sure. Why not? But don't be surprised, ladies, if he just rolls over and falls asleep afterwards. Even E.L. James's husband would remark, "Oh, it's going to be one of those nights again," whenever she asked him to help her with a bit of home research. So, reality and fantasy don't often play well together. Not even in the romance-publishing world.
For many years now, NY publishers did not want heroes spanking heroines for fun or punishment in the novels they published. When Judith McNaught's "Whitney My Love" was republished, the original spanking scene in the book was "tamed down" considerably. But even in the original version, the scene was pure punishment with no sexual undertones. The hero did hold Whitney afterwards, and comfort her. He may have even kissed her, but I don't think he did since he was so angry, and he was not a man who got over his anger easily. She was fully dressed and the instrument he used was the same riding crop she'd hit his horse with. No sex resulted from the punishment though there was a deeper understanding between the two characters afterwards.
So keep your eye on the bookshelves of your favorite internet or brick and mortar book store, spanking romance lovers, to see what comes down the publishing pike next. There may be a new era dawning, and we'll have E.L. James to thank.
The following links provide more information on the topic.
Heck, Fifty Shades was in Kroger 's yesterday! Totally don't think some of these Ky women even realize what it is.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
You're undoubtedly right, although there's certainly been enough media attention given to it lately that I'm surprised when I talk to friends and they haven't heard of it. I guess writers are more attuned to media about books than non-writers. Thanks for posting.
DeleteGood post, Kathryn. Spanking is definitely becoming more mainstream. Even though a lot of Americans still titter over it, they are more open to the idea of "to each her own." A few people are stridently opposed, of course, but there will always be folks like that. I think the popularity of Fifty Shades is going to increase interest in spanking, and it might even see the light of day in other pop-fiction. Only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Trish, about those who are stridently opposed to spanking, probably on principle alone. I don't expect them to ever pick up Fifty Shades either, unless they do it by accident (shock). However, I do hope we're seeing a positive change for the future.
DeleteI think it is becoming more mainstream because I think people are starting to say that it is ok. I think till now people were not willing to talk about it because they had such a blurred view of it and the lifestyle. There is nothing wrong with it.
ReplyDeleteSavannah, I'm really hoping DD will be able to come out of the closet with this. I have a feeling it will take much longer for BDSM (true BDSM) to become mainstream, if it can ever be accepted without prejudice. However, if the general public is willing to accept spanking as a lifestyle choice in a non-judgmental way, there's hope. Thanks for posting.
DeleteReally, spanking in romance has been around for a long time. Check out these authors: Starla Kaye, Paige Tyler, Carolyn Faulkner, Alta Hensley, Layla Roberts,and...myself, Cara Bristol. We've been writing about spanking, erotic and disciplinary, for years. E.L. James brought it out of the closet, but there's been a market all along.
ReplyDeleteCara, I agree. There's definitely a market for spanking books, but interested readers (who don't use the internet) have to look very hard to find them since in the 80s NY publishers pushed spanking not just into the closet, but outside of the house entirely. They just weren't interested.
Delete(Off topic, BTW, I read "Unexpected Consequences" and intend to keep a watch out for "False Pretenses," at Loose ID on June 12, when it becomes available. I'm curious though, when I searched for your books on Loose ID only "Reckless in Moonlight" was listed, yet Amazon has Loose ID as your publisher for "Unexpected Consequences." I did purchase your book from Amazon, but wanted to check Loose ID to see what category they placed it in since it's definitely DD-Domestic Discipline. And thanks for the list of other authors who write spanking stories, I'll check them out as well. As I said, totally off topic.)
So, it wasn't until I got my Kindle and discovered BDSM books through Loose ID and Ellora's Cave, etc. that I found spanking again. Even then, only a few sites actually list spanking as a separate genre or content category. I have spanking in my books, too, but NCP, who published my first two books, doesn't specify on their web site which books have spanking in them, and for Loose ID and Ellora's Cave you still have to select BDSM &/or Kink and Fetish for these books since neither DD nor spanking is listed as a specific content category even for them. Blushing Books caters heavily to spanking romance readers, so I found exactly what I wanted there even though my bank account hates me for it.
Before eBooks, I was able to find a handful of small presses that published spanking books, but that was about it since NY wasn't interested in publishing what they considered to be a controversial niche market, probably due in part to the ire spankings evoke in feminists. I don't happen to view spankings as anti-feminist, but that's another subject off topic for which I'm probably in the minority.
With the huge success of Fifty Shades, I'm thinking now the big six might want more of the same, only different. And spanking along with BDSM could become the new "paranormal" in romances. I don't disagree with you, in fact, I think you proved my point. But I really appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment.