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CONTRA NATURAM

The Slightest Bit Forbidden

By: Meredith Vacek (Lawrencerock.com Editor)

“I like seeing anything that is the slightest bit forbidden. You can find elegance and beauty in the oddest places.” -Jericho

Contra Naturam: your local fetish troupe. Were you aware that right here in Lawrence we have a real, live fetish troupe that has performed around the area, and will soon appear at the Bottleneck? Its all true, and I’d like to supply some more information to the public who may not know what exactly this means but is eager to find out.

I recently spoke to Jericho, the leader of the troupe, in the “dungeon;” the basement of the house he shares with other troupe members. Sitting on a swinging leather bed suspended by chains from the ceiling, I talked with him about the troupe, who is involved, what they do, and what direction it is heading in.

First off, who is the troupe? There are five main members: Famine, Saphron, Sterling, Megan, and Jericho, though from time to time other people participate as well. Famine, real name John, is the actual owner of the home dungeon. He is called the “pin cushion” of the group, is the webmaster of their website, and switches between dominant and submissive roles. Joy, stage name Saphron, is a professional dominatrix. Involved in domination for years, she often plays that role in the group, and is said to be very good at it. She also specializes in Shibari: rope bondage. Sterling, real name Becky, is a metalsmith and takes care of the groups special metal-working needs. Her special skills are in sharps (needles, knives, scalpels) and bloodletting. Megan is the only exclusive sub (submissive) of the group, and is Jericho’s personal slave. Finally, is Jericho, the dom (dominant) of the group. Also a professional, he is the founder, orchestrates performances, and choreographs. He has been involved in the fetish and BDSM (bondage and sado-masochism) subculture for eight or nine years.

So are you wondering what, exactly, a fetish is? There are typically two definitions in a dictionary: an object that is superstitiously believed to have magical powers, and any object or act that is inherently nonsexual that provides a sexual response or is necessary for an individual’s sexual pleasure. Naturally we are discussing the second. Saphron described her definition of fetish as “something that will scare and excite me at the same time.” As Jericho described it, if sex is the meal, fetish is the preparation, seasoning, and garnish. He also added, “Anyone can have an orgasm. Fetishists are just more imaginative about it.”

The troupe focuses on the fetishes of bondage and sado-masochism. Sadism is defined as deriving sexual satisfaction from cruelty or the infliction of pain, and masochism is defined as deriving sexual excitement from being subjected to domination, mistreatment, or pain. Sado-masochism is a combination of these two. Bondage is to be in a state of subjection to force, power, or influence, and the definition here includes as well the ubiquitous elements. But I was cautioned that fetishism is not truly about hate, pain, or violence. It’s also not inherently “dark.” Jericho claims the word “pain” doesn’t pop up much. The members of the troupe are out to enjoy themselves, and their particular brand of enjoyment is derived from particularly unusual practices.

“Quote me on this: I have never been in a hardware store and not been turned on,” confided Jericho with a smile. Chains, rope, c-clamps, floggers, whips, candles, leather straitjackets. A personal do-it-yourself home dungeon including a swinging bed, a whipping bench, and a St. Andrew’s cross. All of these and more are employed by Contra Naturam. This equipment which seems so deviant comes from such mundane places: the hardware store, kitchen and garden shops. Waxman Candles. (“We always support local business when we can.”) Private dealers and E-bay. BDSM beginning to sound expensive? The larger equipment can be costly, but most of the troupe’s materials they made themselves or were made by friends. A flogger can be made from electrical tape and clothesline for $1.99. Jericho pointed out that a whip that costs $40 can deliver the same sensation as a whip that costs $400. Equipment isn’t even necessary. A person can be their own toy. We all possess tongues, teeth, and fingernails, and are capable of pinching, slapping, rubbing, and tickling.

Now we know what equipment is used, but what could the audience see at a show? “Anything we can get away with,” says Jericho. First of all, the troupe always takes requests. If there is something an audience member wishes to see, a particular fetish or fantasy they want to see carried out, the troupe will try its best to do it. At shows one may see spanking, hitting, flogging, fire-play, hot wax dripping, whipping, cutting, blood-play, needle-play, ice-play, electro-torture, rope bondage, and humiliation. There’s always an element of domination, and everything is blended with sensuality. At the upcoming show at the Bottleneck, one could see any variety of the above fetishes, and who knows what else. The night will have a choreographed script, centering around a yet-to-be-revealed story. Audience participation on a voluntary basis will be encouraged.

To the casual observer, much of what is described above could seem potentially dangerous. There is some truth in that assessment, and the troupe is aware of it and well prepared. Safety is dealt with strictly. Contra Naturam never performs without a complete first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and a safety knife for quickly releasing bonds. Two members of the troupe are certified in CPR, and the group has their own nurse. In the S&M world exists the key phrase “safe, sane, and consensual.” This is applied to every performance. If anyone at anytime feels uncomfortable with anything, they are immediately allowed to stop and walk away, no questions asked. AsJericho said, “I don’t want to truly hurt anybody. I care about these people dearly.”

Contra Naturam has high goals for itself. Hoping to maintain its existence by closely following the above rules, the members want their troupe to get big. Jericho is interested in producing videos and touring nationally. He says he wants everyone interested in BDSM to have heard of Contra Naturam, and that this interest is more than a hobby to him, he wants to make it his life. Something a lot of people don’t realize is that many fetishists are still in the closet, scared of how the larger public will judge them for their perceived deviance or “perversion.” I was told that people who are into S&M are like people who are into golf- its just something done for enjoyment. This is another reason Jericho would like the troupe to be more publicly known. It would be a way of letting many closeted fetishists come out and see other people enjoying the same activities, and maybe feel a little less alienated.

Perhaps reading this paper was a little getting-to-know-your-local-fetish-troupe sort of activity, or perhaps it was simply filling in the last gaps in your knowledge about a group of people who are already your friends. Either way, it was intended to be helpful and informative, and I hope that it was. If anyone is now interested in seeing Contra Naturam perform, they will be at the Bottleneck on March 13. For future shows, more information, or to contact the troupe, write Contranaturam@hotmail.com or visit www.contranaturam.com.