Beating the Bounds: an ancient ritual still practiced today in the British Isles. Communities traditionally reinscribed the boundaries of their parishes by walking the edges carrying sticks, pounding on the boundary marking stones. In an era before maps were common, when literacy was rare, these annual events (also called “gangdays”) were intended to impress upon everyone where community boundaries lay. Since resources were allocated according to parish, it was vital that the knowledge was passed down accurately though successive generations. It also helped keep the neighbors in line. To reinforce the lesson, the gangs would (and d0) stop occasionally to literally beat the knowledge into the boys. Sometimes, the youngsters would also be flung against the rocky stiles. All in good fun! Part of a suite of jolly old British customs that includes flogging the peg boys.
Tag Archives: Ritual
An ancient ritual: Beating the Bounds for Gangdays…and whipping some boys on the way.
Posted in England, Europe, GAY GAZE: Visual Culture, Photos, Art, Comics, Film, Objects, etc..., History, Leather, Photography, Spirituality, Strange Holidays, Subcultures, Youth
Tagged Beating the Bounds, Boundaries, Britain, Culture, England, Gangdays, History, Kink, Photography, Ritual, Wales, Whipping
Fresh Ink!! Gay Leather Love Lock…and Key.
Every lock needs a good key. The Rogue Scholar’s got the key to the Texan. Thanks to Brucius of Brucius Tats for the cool ink!
Posted in Art and Artists, GAY GAZE: Visual Culture, Photos, Art, Comics, Film, Objects, etc..., iPhone, Leather, Photography, Spirituality, Subcultures
Tagged BDSM, Brucius, Gay, Ink, Kink, Leather, Love, Marriage, Ritual, Tattoo
Inking The Texan…The Guns.
We are doing this at the kitchen table. The artist came up the coast from his shop in the City…San Francisco.
Inking the Texan…Stencil Stuff
Preparing to ink The Texan…more to come.
Hang Up Your Troubles! Meat Hook Ritual as Catharsis for HIV Diagnosis
Jorge Vieto in "Ritual"
Friend of this site Jorge Vieto is featured in the short film Ritual, directed by Jorg Fockele. He hangs suspended by hooks, his body swinging free in a ritual of body/spirit integration. Vieto is a well-respected young Leatherman, and a Fraternal member of The 15 Association. He uses extreme physical rituals in part to process the emotions evoked by a positive diagnosis. Vieto spoke with Scott Brogan of the Bay Area Reporter about the psychology of the scene here.
Filmed in the Dungeon at Mr.S, Ritual will screen in the afternoon at 1:15 pm at the Castro Theater in San Francisco, Friday June 24th, as a part of the film compilation entitled STILL AROUND from The HIV Story Project. Brought to you by Frameline and the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival.
Posted in AIDS, Film, Leather, San Francisco, Spirituality, Subcultures
Tagged 15 Association, Art, Culture, Film, Gay, HIV Story Project, HIV/AIDS, Hooks, Jorge Vieto, Kink, Leather, Ritual, San Francisco, Sexy, Suspension
The Gay Highwaymen 