Ismond Rosen contributing to Kilroy television programme on fashion and fetishes

Recording of the Kilroy television programme, 12 October 1994. (Kilroy was a BBC1 daytime chat show hosted by Robert Kilroy-Silk that began in 24 November 1986 and finished on 29 January 2004). Rosen is part of the studio group and contributes to the discussion.

Content: An episode of the programme which discusses fashion fetishes and sexual fetishism and S&M activities. Many people in the studio, wearing fetish or bondage clothing, explain their experiences and views on their practices and life-style and the inner feelings it gives them, their needs and emotions. More is said about the creative and aesthetic aspect of fetishism, and a little of sexual psychiatry. Alternative views are also expressed by those who disagree with this way of behaving, e.g. it is a sign of stale sex life that needs to be spiced up with S&M. Rosen enters the discussion about 15 minutes, 30 seconds into the programme and talks about the rich variety of human experience. He is interested from a psychiatric point of view, how the unconscious may have brought people to that position. He adds it is not a question of 'good' or 'bad' but each person has their own way. He does believe that it most likely stems from something in the person's past, or childhood. Some others in the studio disagree and insist it is nothing to do with childhood but simply that as adults they have decided that they enjoy it. Rosen rebuts that yes some people may do it for fun, others because some force compels them - it is part of the wide range of human experience. There is also some discussion of alleged links between this behaviour and violence, porn and domestic violence. This is fervently disagreed with by those who insist that it is entirely consentual, no harm is done and it is more a game. The programme does not in fact cover much about fetishism in clothing or fashion and is more about bondage and S&M of which dressing up is an important part.

1994

1 video cassette: approx. 45 mins, 50 secs (rest of video is blank)