Dream Dumpster

Much ado has been made about the blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey, a disappointing screen adaptation of E. L. James’s poorly written bestseller. And yet, the film’s opening weekend box office take was $81.7 million! The allure of titillating forbidden desire sells. By now we are all familiar with Christian Grey, the young, good-looking kinky billionaire bachelor who seduces the innocent Anastasia Steele to participate in sadomasochism (S&M). Although the film could have proven to be groundbreaking, exploring enriching ways to express our sexuality; the film instead seems to have reinforced traditional gender roles with a certain glorification of the sexual abuse of women.

That said – I am left wondering if an S&M ethics that celebrates our sexuality can be constructed. The problem in pursuing this loathly goal is overcoming 2000 years of sexual baggage based on a Christianity that has gotten sex wrong. Rather than celebrating human…