''Exotique'' was a specialized
fetish magazine published by
Leonard Burtman under his Burmel Publishing Company imprint in
New York City between 1955 and 1959. The magazine's femdom theme, photos, and artwork mark it as a direct descendant of the first major fetish magazine ''Bizarre'' (1946–1959), produced by
John Willie.
''Exotique'' was entirely devoted to
fetish fashions and female-dominant
bondage
Bondage may refer to:
Restraints
*Physical restraints
**Bondage (BDSM), use of restraint for erotic stimulation
***Self-bondage, use of restraints on oneself for erotic pleasure
Social and economic practices
*Serfdom, feudal enslavement of peasan ...
fantasies. The 36 issues featured photos and illustrations of
dominatrix-inspired vamps (including wife
Tana Louise
Tana Louise was a American burlesque, burlesque striptease artist, nicknamed the "Cincinnati Sinner", in the 1950s. However, she was more famous as a fetish model. She contributed regularly to the fetish magazine ''Exotique'', as both a columni ...
and iconic model
Bettie Page) wearing exotic leather and rubber ensembles,
corsets, stockings/garters, boots, and
high heels. The articles, many written by Burtman using an alias, covered various aspects of
sadomasochism
Sadomasochism ( ) is the giving and receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation. Practitioners of sadomasochism may seek sexual pleasure from their acts. While the terms sadist and masochist refer ...
and
transvestism, with men depicted as slaves to imperious, all-powerful women.
Fetish artists
Eric Stanton and
Gene Bilbrew, also known by his
pseudonym ''ENEG'', were frequent contributors to this magazine and others produced by Burtman.
''Exotique'' had no nudity. Nevertheless, much like fellow publisher
Irving Klaw (a major influence on Burton) in 1957, Burtman would be targeted as a pornographer. He was relentlessly pursued by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (acting as a censorship agency then) and local law enforcement (who functioned in coordination with Postal Inspectors and the Catholic Church). Eventually, he was arrested, his magazines and materials confiscated, and brought to trial. This led to the demise of the magazine in 1959.
However, starting in 1960, Burtman (under the Selbee Associates imprint) went on to publish many more fetish magazines that were nearly identical to ''Exotique'' such as ''New Exotique'', ''Masque'', ''Connoisseur'', ''Bizarre Life'', ''High Heels'', ''Unique World'', ''Corporal'' (a pioneering spanking-fetish magazine) and others well into the 1970s.
See also
*
Charles Guyette
*
Mara Gaye
*
Fetish art
*
Thigh-high boots
Thigh-high boots, known also as thigh-length boots or simply thigh boots, are boots that extend above the knees to at least mid-thigh. Other terms for this footwear include '' over-the-knee boots'' (abbreviated OTK boots; the full term is also u ...
References
Further reading
*Kim Christy, ''The Complete Reprint of Exotique: The First 36 Issues, 1951-1957.''
Taschen, 1998. .
External links
A Doctoral Dissertation on American Fetishist and Sadomasochist Subcultures
Pornographic magazines published in the United States
Fetish magazines
Defunct magazines published in the United States
Magazines established in 1955
Magazines disestablished in 1959
Magazines published in New York City
1955 establishments in New York City
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