A new week, a new day and a new bit of research. And, some old research updates too. So let us start with the old research. I have been revising and prepping an older paper which I have previously talked about on here for conference and possible journal submission. While doing research on my new topic, I happened to stumble upon a book published in 2013 containing a collection of essays on Rammstein and their performances. The gist that I have been able to glean so far is that these essays directly refute my arguments in my paper.
What does this mean? It sucks BUT that just means I get to dig in to research I did a few years back and look at it with a fresh lens and with this “new” research. It does suck that I did not find this research originally. Now I need to consider that research for how it refutes mine. Is the research based in fact or is it based in theory? If it is based in theory, it is possible that my interpretation of the research could still stand and I can add acknowledgment to the paper about those theories. However, if there are citatable factors and moments then I need to take a deeper look at the research. I do particularly enjoy this quandry but at the same time it can be frustrating especially since I wanted this to be ready in just a few days for conferences.
That leads me into a nice segway for my new research topic. It is still in the early stages but as my last post suggested I have been somewhat sanitizing my posts and this project is intimately connected to me. There are a few potential titles that I am working with for the project.
- Sonic Domination: Music, Power, and Queer Intimacies in BDSM Dungeons
- Bound by Sound: The Affective and Embodied Experience of Music in Queer BDSM Spaces
- Echoes of the Dungeon: Music, Control, and Desire in Queer BDSM Spaces
Provacative, right? Hopefully, at the minimum, they are intriguing. So what does this mean? What am I researching? Well, I have a work in progress abstract for the paper.
This study investigates the role of music in contemporary queer BDSM dungeons on the U.S. West Coast, focusing on how dungeon soundscapes shape emotional, psychological, and physical experiences. While previous research has explored music’s function in nightlife and queer spaces, its impact within explicitly sexual and power-dynamic-driven environments remains largely unexamined. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, music set analysis, and theoretical frameworks from queer studies, sensory ethnomusicology, and sound studies, this research examines how music mediates intimacy, desire, and bodily agency. By analyzing the interplay between sound, power, and embodiment, this paper positions music as a crucial yet understudied element in queer BDSM spaces, offering new insights into the sensory dimensions of sexuality and identity.
I mean – WOW! Okay. What clicked in my brain to research this topic and why am I drawn to researching this topic? The answers to both of those questions comes down to who I am as a person. I am a person who enjoys kink, sex and carnal pleasure. Told you I was going to get real. I first got interested in this topic while in a bath house. I noticed that the music was a lot of four-on-the-floor dance music and dance music covers of popular songs. My brain immediately stopped and asked the question – “Why these songs?” It further developed as I noticed that people moved subconsciously with the music choices and stylings. The more “aggressive” the tempo – the more “aggressive” that the top would become in the moment and vise versa the “slower” the tempo – the more “sensual” it became.
The more I looked into this phenomenon, I became more intrigued about how musical choices interact in the space and how people react to each other. Do people react consciously to the music or is it a background guiding force in the space? So as a researcher, obviously this comes with some ethical quandries especially as I would be a participant-observer in the spaces. How am I looking to navigate this ethically? Well, consent is paramount. Research can only be conducted when all in the space actively and enthusiastically consent to the space being studied. I also need to ensure that nothing is personally identifiable to ensure anonymity of all involved in the research. I am sure there will be many more ethical quandaries that come up as I continue with the research. However, that is a conundrum to solve as it comes up. I am sure that I will dig deeper into this research and post samples as it develops but for now at least research is continuing.