Rubber in Literature: Jean Genet

Look what I found! A very tiny reference to rubber rainwear in Jean Genet's autobiographical novel The Thief's Journal:


When I was being followed on the Rues des Couronnes, the terror that the plainclothesmen caused me was communicated by the ghastly swish of their rubberized raincoats. Every time I hear that sound again, my heart contracts.


[Page 102 of the 1964 Grove Press edition. Same pagination as this newer/shinier paperback edition.]


Jean Genet (1910-1986) was a French writer mainly known for his highly erotic novels and plays on homosexuality, crime, and really cool stuff. If you enjoy reading Sade and Bataille (for the philosophical content, ahem) you will probably love Genet too. Genet was a fantastic prose artist--just get a load of this fabulous disembodied quote, also from The Thief's Journal: "To achieve harmony in bad taste is the height of elegance." Nice, huh? I should get that tattooed on my forehead.

The short paragraph quoted above makes me think about the sound of latex rubber and the memories and feelings that resurface. What are your aural rubber memories? The creaking of a heavy corset sliding over a catsuit or the rustling of a long gown, for example, brings up different associations. Rubber is an acoustic fabric, but that trait is often overshadowed by the primary tactile-visual qualities.

Poll: What's the best fetish mag ever?

From now on, if the polls aren't too stupid, I'm going to post the results after they close. Anyone remember the "Which Simpson character would you least like to see in latex" poll? Moe won that dubious distinction, I think. I really wish I saved it.

Here are the results from last week's poll, "What's the best fetish magazine ever?"

Out of 16 votes,

00% chose Skin Two
43% chose Marquis/Heavy Rubber
12% chose Secret
31% chose Atomage
12% chose I don't know

Jeez, Skin Two got nothing. Even Secret got votes. I mean, they're all fine magazines, bastions of literary excellence. Oh, shit. I guess I just blew my chances of getting in either of them. Oops. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Can I kid once in a while, or is the "scene" under an iron curtain with a sign saying "No Sarcasm Allowed"?

Cute Inflatable Book

I came across this very awesome book[let] about PVC inflatables at the MoMo book store in SOHO, NYC. The book itself is not inflatable (though it does have a picture of inflatable postcards!). It's a full color 64 page booklet in Italian and English filled with irreverent and whacky objects that will put a smile on your face. If you're interested in cutting edge industrial design and inflatable objects, check it out:

Nick Crosbie & Inflate, Inflatable Design 1995-2005

Also check out his company's website.

Required Rubber Reading

I'm a lover of books. On anything and everything. [Most of my disposable income is divided between books, records, and shoes too painful to wear--heavy emphasis on books and records.]If it's a worthy book on fetish (photography, psychology, history, etc.), fashion (history, theory, pretty pictures), pattern making & grading (not that home sewing shit) I automatically feel compelled to own said book. Before I die, I am determined to own every book published on fetish stuff, vintage rubber mags, pattern making, & pattern grading. Er...Almost. What can I say, it's a hoarding thang. Did I mention I'm neurotic? Anyway...

If you're interested in fetish clothing history and whatnot, you will find these books enjoyable. I've excluded photography and illustration books to concentrate on books with a higher word to picture ratio. 'Cuz we smart, yo. Warning: Some listed are out of print, insanely hard to find, and really expensive if you do come across them. Others can probably be found on ebay for $5.

The following is a short list of books that are relatively easy to purchase online and inexpensive. The continuation of this post will be about (non-fiction) paperbacks from the 60's and 70's.

Rubber: Fun, Fetish, Fashion by Janet Bloor & John D. Sinclair This is primarily a "fun" book. It won't make you smarter, but it's choc full of colored pics and whimsically covers EVERYTHING about rubber from tires to knicknacks to sex toys. The orange textured rubber cover makes this book the best thing you can put on your cofee table besides cheap booze and cheesecake.

The Complete Reprint of John Willie's Bizarre published by Taschen Bizarre was an "all purpose" type fetish magazine published in the 40's and 50's. It covered transvetism, high heels, corsets, s&m, some rubber stuff, and bondage. Big emphasis on bondage. No magazine will ever come close to replicating the total amazingness that is Bizarre. Ever. A must read. Out of print but can be found cheap used on Amazon or eBay.

Fetish: Fashion, Sex, & Power by Valerie Steele This is THE best book ever written about the who's, what's, where's, why's of fetish clothing. The section dedicated to latex rubber is rather small, but it's packed full of info. Latex/rubber is also refered to throughout the entire book, so fear not. Features a decent amount of color plates and many b&w photos. Out of print but very easily found cheap on ebay, Amazon, etc.

To be continued...

Book Alert! 48: The Unrated Version

48: THE UNRATED VERSION

The first in a series of 3 books of photos by L.C. Misfit Studios, Brian Mackey, and Stewart Levine. 150 images of diverse fetish erotica and fetish glam. It gets pretty hardcore here, kids. Many pretty ladies were shot in--you guessed it--48 hours. Buy a copy to re-live the fetish mayhem. Here's a teaser, you pervs:

PHOTO: Stewert Levine 2006(c)

To buy, you can email L.C. himself: leonardw12[at]aol[dot]com. $30 +s&h.

Or if you're in NYC, get your ass to Purple Passion (212-807-0486).

NYC Fetish Model Darenzia Gets Marquis Cover!

Big congrats to NYC latex queen Darenzia for getting a Marquis cover! Get your credit cards ready to order come October.





It's about fucking time is what I say. She's no longer the Susan Lucci of fetish modeling. This gal has at least one full spread in a fetish mag every month and has done billions of catalog shoots, not to mention the international name recognition-- but no proper cover. Well, at least one where we can actually see her face.

Now, how 'bout a Vogue cover?