The poster advertising the Student Activities Council’s event titled “Fifty Shades of Tynan” generated enough buzz amongst the Wichita State campus to generate a full audience last Thursday night at the Campus Activities Center Theater. The discussion at hand by the proclaimed “kinkster” named Tynan Fox was kinky sex, also referred to as BDSM (Bondage and Discipline, Sadism and Masochism). 

Through a keynote presentation, Fox mainly discussed the myths and disparities attached with the lifestyle and culture, providing a more educational approach by providing insight into how it plays a part of his own life. Unlike high school sex education classes, Fox said that it was alright to laugh at some of the subjects; saying that having a sense of humor was a common trait for people who are into the BDSM lifestyle. 

Fox’s details about BDSM culture included how fetishes, including wearing certain clothing and role-playing acts like staging a kidnapping, stimulate sexual arousal more than standard sexual acts. 

A common stereotype of the lifestyle is promotion of extreme acts of non-traditional sex are often reserved for those who are mentally ill or those who are addicted to sex. Fox assured the audience that wasn’t the case. He said that he has a normal day job and that the stereotypes attached with the culture of BDSM is something that evolves from media sensationalism. 

Fox also explained how, if the proper education of sexual acts like these was given, which are never touched upon in a high school education class, is important to know—dangerous situations can be avoided. Fox suggested that everyone understand their own sexuality and be more willing to talk about it, instead of keeping it under lock and key. 

To emphasise this, he talked about how the actor David Carradine incident could have been avoided if he told someone what he was going to do, rather than keep it a secret, which lead to his autoerotic asphyxiation death. 

In the final half hour of the show, Fox answered questions from the lively audience, who appreciated what he said. Although everyone may not express love through kinky sex and BDSM acts, it was reassuring to those who embrace the life style, along with a better sense of understanding to those who weren’t.