Learning sadomasochism: An information literacy perspective

Abstract

In this thesis, I examine the way people with a liking for pleasure-giving actions involving elements such as pain and humiliation become practicing sadomasochists. Special focus is on sadomasochist communities as learning organizations and on Annemaree Lloyd’s expanded concept of information literacy, because much of the enculturation and learning takes place not through formal sources or training, but rather the observation of others’ actions and the interpretation of them as meaningful texts, which are in turn appropriated by the learners. The thesis is based on the author’s ethnographic observations and interviews within the Finnish sadomasochist scene, conducted over a time period of 20 years, as well as a metatheoretical review of the relevant literature. The author’s findings are compared with the medical and stigma history of sadomasochism, so as to show that practitioners have to navigate a particularly problematic information environment in order to get access to reliable learning material. As sadomasochists have strong personal preferences relating to both their activities and to individual learning styles, the community, as a learning organization, is chaotic, yet exemplifies many qualities of both individual and communal information literacy.

Asiasanat:Communities of practice; ethnography; information literacy; learning organizations; sadomasochism