Those Freaky Victorians

I was searching around for some potential cover art for some of my short stories/novellas that I'm looking to publish soon, and I ran across some very interesting images. It's too bad photography only goes back to the 1800's, because it made me consider the fact that human beings have been indulging in our freakiest and wildest sexual urges since - well - since forever.

Because the Victorians were supposedly very repressed and subject to the mores of society, as well as strong religious overtones, some of the more lesbian and bondage photos does make one take pause. Oh my! And here we are in the 21st century, and we still have the righteous and repressed telling us that NOW is the time of true depravity; that it's never been worse. They just don't realize that their ancestors really knew how to have a good time. Sometimes entire groups of them at the same time.


But then, don't we have our friend the Marquise de Sade to also consider? He was even earlier than the Victorians, proliferating his BDSM driven tales in the 1700's. Why, he didn't even have photography to work with, but the written word was enough to send the squeamish and overtly pious screaming in the streets.

Since it is unlikely that our dear Marquis invented free sexual expression, it would stand to reason that there has been a long standing love of all things sexual throughout the existence of the human race - and I don't mean just the urge to procreate and hormones and all that crap. But sex and pleasure as a pastime and hobby to be cultivated and explored. Think about it. It's not as if there were video games and television to keep everyone busy. People had to get creative with their love play.

 The whole idea has my interest piqued enough, that in the interest of furthering my...ahem...expertise on my written subject, I am going to delve into some of this history, and share what tidbits I find on this very blog .In the meantime kiddies, have fun, turn off your T.V.'s and video games - and just see what pops up.   

The above photo was taken from an interesting site if you would like to do your own exploring, as it were: http://www.erotica-vintage.com/