Midori's Summer: (Denver, SF, Oakland, Baltimore) & 50 Shades 2 cent
Just finished the newsletter.
A bit late because of AIDS LifeCycle....
Would love to hear from you!
MIDORI'S NEWSLETTER
June 21, 2012
1. 50 Shades of Grey - My 2 Cents
2. Summer Classes/Events (Santa Cruz, Denver, SF, Oakland, near Baltimore)
3. ForteFemme San Francisco 7/2 - 7/22
4. August Rope Bondage Dojo registration opens July 1st
5. My Online Hangouts
= = =
1. 50 SHADES OF GREY - MY 2 CENTS
Yes, by now you’ve heard about the books. Or saw the Ellen spoof. (http://youtu.be/on3JCwnwHbU ) Or read the Laura Antoniou spoof. (http://lantoniou.blogspot.com/2012/04/50-shades-of-sellout.html ) Maybe you even saw the 50 Shades stand-up by Bruce Vilanch and Sharon McNight at IML. Perhaps some of you even read the actual book.
Media’s contacted me about it.
My pervy friends deny it.
My writer friends groan about it.
My students and readers ask me if I recommend it.
Many of the media seem to be fishing for scandalous angles. Death of Feminism! Perversion of society! Downfall of civilization! True nature of women’s sexual desires revealed! Blah blah blah. They’re itching for some kinky dirt and titillating commentary.
I share my observations with them. Silence of disappointment permeates the air. They prod me some more. I answer. More silence. Then they go away, apparently in search of more salacious sources.
The story, its genre and its popularity are all old news. Escapist erotic romance has been around for a long time, and it’s a booming business lately. Every so many years a book or movie catches the public’s attention, featuring sex styles deemed inappropriate for polite company of its time. “Story of O” “Madame Emmanuelle” “Exit to Eden” “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” “Last Tango in Paris” “Claiming of Sleeping Beauty” or “Secretary”, just to name a few.
So what’s the big deal with this one? It’s the medium of distribution, of course! E books and e book readers remove the embarrassing cheese ball element of carrying paperbacks adorned with uber-manly heroes and gasping beauties, both with impossibly perfect hair.
Obviously calm truth bores media.
Many of my kinky pals, however, just roll their eyes about the books. They lament the onslaught of “kink curious tourists” invading their realm. They snark about how incorrect the play depictions are. They smirk at the questions and assumptions people bring from reading the book.
That’s just snotty and condescending. Where did each of us find our first sparks of pervy adventuring? I doubt many of us had highbrow sources with cultural approval. Stolen porn or dirty books, naughty suggestions by a lover, something glimpsed on TV, late night in the back alleys of the Internet…. We all started wanting, curious, nervous…
If this book, or anything else, gets people to examine their own desires and limits, to seek fulfillment, joy and actualization, it’s a good thing.
But I understand the kinksters' grief, sense of loss of uniqueness, or of being cultural rebels. It’s ok to be sad or to feel misunderstood. It’s not ok to be sub-cultural elitists and disparage other’s erotic journey and discoveries.
As for my writer friends… They’re thrilled at the attention the genre is getting, but wishing it had been them to hit the jackpot. I get that. I feel the same way as I type away on my next stories or volume 2 of “Master Han’s Daughter”.
Many of my friends are brilliant writers creating masterpieces in the much-maligned genre of erotica. Their work deserves attention by media and masturbators alike.
Go out and buy some high quality lowbrow smut!
With love and lunacy,
Midori
P.S. I joined Instagram while on AIDS LifeCycle! I’m posting lots of pix. Find me there as “PlanetMidori”
= = =
2. SUMMER CLASSES / EVENTS: (Santa Cruz, Denver, SF, Oakland, rural Maryland)
SANTA CRUZ, CA
~ Thr 6/21 “Hands-on Rope Body Harness” at Pure Pleasure
http://www.purepleasureshop.com/events.php
DENVER
~ 7/13 - 7/15 Thunder in the Mountains. Presenting several classes.
http://thunderinthemountains.com/
SAN FRANCISCO
~ 7/20 - 7/22 ForteFemme: Women’s Dominance Weekend Intensive
www.fortefemme.com
~ Tue 8/14 Class at the Citadel. Topic to be announced soon.
http://www.sfcitadel.org/
~ Wed 8/15 "Bedroom Body Moves: From Stripping to Seduction to Sex (and everything in between!)" at Good Vibrations on Polk St.
www.goodvibes.com/content.jhtml?id=New-Polk-Good-Vibes-Events
~ 8/18 - 8/19 Rope Bondage Dojo, San Francisco
www.RopeDojo.com
OAKLAND
~ Sun 7/29 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man” at The Looking Glass Studio.
http://fhp-inc.com/content/oakland-joystick-secrets-how-thrill-man-looking-glass
RURAL MARYLAND
~ 8/31 - 9/3 FetFest - several classes and salons
http://fetfest.com
= = =
3. JULY FORTEFEMME REGISTRATION OPEN
To all the wonderful women out there! Be the best dominant you can be!
Find your authentic power, erotic fulfillment, confidence and skills in this unique and transformative intensive. This program is limited to 9 women.
Experience 3 days of personalized education, psychology, support, technique and more, all in an elegant private setting. Includes a field trip of kinky shopping and dinner into San Francisco. Original textbook. Meals and refreshments
For more information on the weekend go to:
www.fortefemme.com
When: The weekend of July 20th through July 22nd
Where: San Francisco Airport Hyatt Regency
Cost:
• $750/per woman.
Registration & Info: http://www.ForteFemme.com
Sponsored by:
Stockroom & The Pleasure Chest
= = =
4. AUGUST ROPE BONDAGE DOJO REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 1
The next Rope Bondage Dojo ® weekend intensive will be in San Francisco over the weekend of August 18-19, 2012
Info & Registration: http://www.RopeDojo.com
Space Limited: 30 students
Cost: $380 /solo $675/pair
Instruction hours: 10am - 7pm both days
Prerequisite: Willingness for serious learning. Must be able to tie your shoelaces. No experience necessary. However, those with experience will be appropriately challenged.
Includes: 16+ hours of intensive training from four Dojo Cadres. Emphasis will be on balanced education focusing on “Heart-Mind-Hand” approach, covering rope skills, scene managements, psychology, history and more for both those who tie and those who are tied.
Included: morning nosh, delicious lunches, afternoon snacks & other goodies
For more information see the curriculum and FAQ at www.RopeDojo.com
= = =
5. MY ONLINE HANGOUTS
Social Networking Slums & places I procrastinate
New! Instagram PlanetMidori
Twitter @PlanetMidori
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PlanetMidori
Google+ Midori Midori
FetLife Midori_SF (Drop by “Midori’s Lounge” group there!)
Personal Blog http://fd-midori.livejournal.com
Sexuality Q&A http://groups.yahoo.com/group/divamidori
Kink Q&A http://www.KinkWire.com
A bit late because of AIDS LifeCycle....
Would love to hear from you!
MIDORI'S NEWSLETTER
June 21, 2012
1. 50 Shades of Grey - My 2 Cents
2. Summer Classes/Events (Santa Cruz, Denver, SF, Oakland, near Baltimore)
3. ForteFemme San Francisco 7/2 - 7/22
4. August Rope Bondage Dojo registration opens July 1st
5. My Online Hangouts
= = =
1. 50 SHADES OF GREY - MY 2 CENTS
Yes, by now you’ve heard about the books. Or saw the Ellen spoof. (http://youtu.be/on3JCwnwHbU ) Or read the Laura Antoniou spoof. (http://lantoniou.blogspot.com/2012/04/50-shades-of-sellout.html ) Maybe you even saw the 50 Shades stand-up by Bruce Vilanch and Sharon McNight at IML. Perhaps some of you even read the actual book.
Media’s contacted me about it.
My pervy friends deny it.
My writer friends groan about it.
My students and readers ask me if I recommend it.
Many of the media seem to be fishing for scandalous angles. Death of Feminism! Perversion of society! Downfall of civilization! True nature of women’s sexual desires revealed! Blah blah blah. They’re itching for some kinky dirt and titillating commentary.
I share my observations with them. Silence of disappointment permeates the air. They prod me some more. I answer. More silence. Then they go away, apparently in search of more salacious sources.
The story, its genre and its popularity are all old news. Escapist erotic romance has been around for a long time, and it’s a booming business lately. Every so many years a book or movie catches the public’s attention, featuring sex styles deemed inappropriate for polite company of its time. “Story of O” “Madame Emmanuelle” “Exit to Eden” “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” “Last Tango in Paris” “Claiming of Sleeping Beauty” or “Secretary”, just to name a few.
So what’s the big deal with this one? It’s the medium of distribution, of course! E books and e book readers remove the embarrassing cheese ball element of carrying paperbacks adorned with uber-manly heroes and gasping beauties, both with impossibly perfect hair.
Obviously calm truth bores media.
Many of my kinky pals, however, just roll their eyes about the books. They lament the onslaught of “kink curious tourists” invading their realm. They snark about how incorrect the play depictions are. They smirk at the questions and assumptions people bring from reading the book.
That’s just snotty and condescending. Where did each of us find our first sparks of pervy adventuring? I doubt many of us had highbrow sources with cultural approval. Stolen porn or dirty books, naughty suggestions by a lover, something glimpsed on TV, late night in the back alleys of the Internet…. We all started wanting, curious, nervous…
If this book, or anything else, gets people to examine their own desires and limits, to seek fulfillment, joy and actualization, it’s a good thing.
But I understand the kinksters' grief, sense of loss of uniqueness, or of being cultural rebels. It’s ok to be sad or to feel misunderstood. It’s not ok to be sub-cultural elitists and disparage other’s erotic journey and discoveries.
As for my writer friends… They’re thrilled at the attention the genre is getting, but wishing it had been them to hit the jackpot. I get that. I feel the same way as I type away on my next stories or volume 2 of “Master Han’s Daughter”.
Many of my friends are brilliant writers creating masterpieces in the much-maligned genre of erotica. Their work deserves attention by media and masturbators alike.
Go out and buy some high quality lowbrow smut!
With love and lunacy,
Midori
P.S. I joined Instagram while on AIDS LifeCycle! I’m posting lots of pix. Find me there as “PlanetMidori”
= = =
2. SUMMER CLASSES / EVENTS: (Santa Cruz, Denver, SF, Oakland, rural Maryland)
SANTA CRUZ, CA
~ Thr 6/21 “Hands-on Rope Body Harness” at Pure Pleasure
http://www.purepleasureshop.com/events.php
DENVER
~ 7/13 - 7/15 Thunder in the Mountains. Presenting several classes.
http://thunderinthemountains.com/
SAN FRANCISCO
~ 7/20 - 7/22 ForteFemme: Women’s Dominance Weekend Intensive
www.fortefemme.com
~ Tue 8/14 Class at the Citadel. Topic to be announced soon.
http://www.sfcitadel.org/
~ Wed 8/15 "Bedroom Body Moves: From Stripping to Seduction to Sex (and everything in between!)" at Good Vibrations on Polk St.
www.goodvibes.com/content.jhtml?id=New-Polk-Good-Vibes-Events
~ 8/18 - 8/19 Rope Bondage Dojo, San Francisco
www.RopeDojo.com
OAKLAND
~ Sun 7/29 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man” at The Looking Glass Studio.
http://fhp-inc.com/content/oakland-joystick-secrets-how-thrill-man-looking-glass
RURAL MARYLAND
~ 8/31 - 9/3 FetFest - several classes and salons
http://fetfest.com
= = =
3. JULY FORTEFEMME REGISTRATION OPEN
To all the wonderful women out there! Be the best dominant you can be!
Find your authentic power, erotic fulfillment, confidence and skills in this unique and transformative intensive. This program is limited to 9 women.
Experience 3 days of personalized education, psychology, support, technique and more, all in an elegant private setting. Includes a field trip of kinky shopping and dinner into San Francisco. Original textbook. Meals and refreshments
For more information on the weekend go to:
www.fortefemme.com
When: The weekend of July 20th through July 22nd
Where: San Francisco Airport Hyatt Regency
Cost:
• $750/per woman.
Registration & Info: http://www.ForteFemme.com
Sponsored by:
Stockroom & The Pleasure Chest
= = =
4. AUGUST ROPE BONDAGE DOJO REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 1
The next Rope Bondage Dojo ® weekend intensive will be in San Francisco over the weekend of August 18-19, 2012
Info & Registration: http://www.RopeDojo.com
Space Limited: 30 students
Cost: $380 /solo $675/pair
Instruction hours: 10am - 7pm both days
Prerequisite: Willingness for serious learning. Must be able to tie your shoelaces. No experience necessary. However, those with experience will be appropriately challenged.
Includes: 16+ hours of intensive training from four Dojo Cadres. Emphasis will be on balanced education focusing on “Heart-Mind-Hand” approach, covering rope skills, scene managements, psychology, history and more for both those who tie and those who are tied.
Included: morning nosh, delicious lunches, afternoon snacks & other goodies
For more information see the curriculum and FAQ at www.RopeDojo.com
= = =
5. MY ONLINE HANGOUTS
Social Networking Slums & places I procrastinate
New! Instagram PlanetMidori
Twitter @PlanetMidori
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PlanetMidori
Google+ Midori Midori
FetLife Midori_SF (Drop by “Midori’s Lounge” group there!)
Personal Blog http://fd-midori.livejournal.com
Sexuality Q&A http://groups.yahoo.com/group/divamidori
Kink Q&A http://www.KinkWire.com