History of Fetishism
The history of fetishes is intriguing, to say the least. Fetishism, it would appear, has been closely linked with the ability to transfix, since time immemorial.
Historians and anthropologists, for example, have documented how, in early civilisations, certain objects and talismans were imbued with mysterious powers that would captivate lesser mortals and make them behave as if in a trance. So, in this respect, not much has changed in the twenty-first century, where fetishes still hold the power to transfix and mesmerise!
Fascinating Historic Fetish Facts
The word ‘fetish’ is derived originally from the Latin verb ‘facere’, ‘to make’ and the Latin adjective ‘facticius’ meaning ‘factitious’, ‘manufactured’ or ‘artificial’? Another possibility is that ‘fetish’ comes from another Latin verb, ‘februare’, which means ‘to cleanse’ or ‘to purify’. The latter would tie in nicely with the theory that the word fetish is also derived from the fifteenth century Portuguese word ‘feitiço’ for ‘spell’,’ charm’ or ‘false power’. More recently, the word ‘fetish’ is believed to have come from the French word ‘’fétiche’ for ‘mascot’ or ‘fetish’ as we interpret it today.
According to William S. Haubrich, in his book ‘Language Arts & Disciplines’, fetishes were around in ancient times, but in the form of magical objects revered by primitive tribes for their supernatural powers.
The term ‘sexual fetishism’ or ‘erotic fetishism’ was first introduced by the French psychologist, Alfred Binet (1857-1911). Sexual fetishism refers to situations where the fetish object (typically a body part) becomes more important than the person involved.
Behaviourists in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries suggested that fetishes may be triggered by various different factors, e.g. personal trauma or emotional upheaval especially during childhood, in association with the simultaneous exposure to a fetish object. Initially, the connection happens by coincidence, but thereafter, the person becomes conditioned to react in a predictable manner to the fetish object as a sexual stimulus.
History of Fetish Fashion
Fetish fashion is, basically, an obsessive fixation with sexually stimulating items of clothing. Fetish fashion is nothing new and arguably dates back several centuries. The enduring appeal, for instance, of constricting and ‘controlling’ corsetry was commonplace as early as the Middle Ages and, of course, the corset in its many sexually stimulating forms, e.g. basques, bustiers and bodices, etc., is still hot on the fetish club scene, today.
Did you know that …
… fetish fashion, in its modern day form, is synonymous with the post-World War II gay scene and the explosion of leather fetish gear? Leather and rubber fetish fashion also played an important role during the Swinging Sixties, particularly in Britain and the USA.
Historians and anthropologists, for example, have documented how, in early civilisations, certain objects and talismans were imbued with mysterious powers that would captivate lesser mortals and make them behave as if in a trance. So, in this respect, not much has changed in the twenty-first century, where fetishes still hold the power to transfix and mesmerise!
Fascinating Historic Fetish Facts
The word ‘fetish’ is derived originally from the Latin verb ‘facere’, ‘to make’ and the Latin adjective ‘facticius’ meaning ‘factitious’, ‘manufactured’ or ‘artificial’? Another possibility is that ‘fetish’ comes from another Latin verb, ‘februare’, which means ‘to cleanse’ or ‘to purify’. The latter would tie in nicely with the theory that the word fetish is also derived from the fifteenth century Portuguese word ‘feitiço’ for ‘spell’,’ charm’ or ‘false power’. More recently, the word ‘fetish’ is believed to have come from the French word ‘’fétiche’ for ‘mascot’ or ‘fetish’ as we interpret it today.
According to William S. Haubrich, in his book ‘Language Arts & Disciplines’, fetishes were around in ancient times, but in the form of magical objects revered by primitive tribes for their supernatural powers.
The term ‘sexual fetishism’ or ‘erotic fetishism’ was first introduced by the French psychologist, Alfred Binet (1857-1911). Sexual fetishism refers to situations where the fetish object (typically a body part) becomes more important than the person involved.
Behaviourists in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries suggested that fetishes may be triggered by various different factors, e.g. personal trauma or emotional upheaval especially during childhood, in association with the simultaneous exposure to a fetish object. Initially, the connection happens by coincidence, but thereafter, the person becomes conditioned to react in a predictable manner to the fetish object as a sexual stimulus.
History of Fetish Fashion
Fetish fashion is, basically, an obsessive fixation with sexually stimulating items of clothing. Fetish fashion is nothing new and arguably dates back several centuries. The enduring appeal, for instance, of constricting and ‘controlling’ corsetry was commonplace as early as the Middle Ages and, of course, the corset in its many sexually stimulating forms, e.g. basques, bustiers and bodices, etc., is still hot on the fetish club scene, today.
Did you know that …
… fetish fashion, in its modern day form, is synonymous with the post-World War II gay scene and the explosion of leather fetish gear? Leather and rubber fetish fashion also played an important role during the Swinging Sixties, particularly in Britain and the USA.
