Abstract
Based on his reading of Sacher-Masoch’s Venus in Furs, Deleuze claims that one aspect of masochism is the repudiation of the father. Following this, many critics argue for a subversive nature in perversion, and misperceive the dynamics of sadism and masochism. A Lacanian reading of an experientially grounded representation of BDSM, as conveyed in the stories of Califia, allows us to dispel the Deleuzean misunderstanding of perversion and bypass a two-dimensional portrayal of the power relation between sadists and masochists. As explicated through Lacan and Califia, an understanding of BDSM practice also helps to reveal the underlying erotic structure of forms of contemporary politics such as fundamentalism and liberalism. To understand BDSM in Califia’s story, the Lacanian imaginary/real/symbolic triad is employed, serving first as a framework to dispel the Deleuzean miscomprehension of masochism, and then as a way to fully grasp Califia’s perverted world.
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