Spanning centuries, the history and practice of kink has evolved and exploded in modern culture and media. Only very recently has it begun to shed the deep stigmatization and direct correlation with mental illness, and yet still easily misunderstood. Often neglected in representations of these relationships is the communication of ongoing consent throughout the process. With that as the foundation, the portrayal of the wide spectrum of kink and BDSM is accessible and accurate.

Now more than ever, representation matters when telling a story. This applies not only to the characters, but the people bringing them to life. An understanding of the differences between sexuality, gender, identity, and presentation empowers us to drop the hetero-cis-normative lens and allows these relationships to shine.

The key is making it look realistic, replicable, and doing it all safely. Elements like power dynamics, intention, Erotic Blueprint™, and simply breath can elevate and add nuance to a scene. Adding various masking and staging skills, applying modesty garments, and a foundation of communication and clear expectations, intimate scenes can come to life.