The Happy Trail

After the release of the highly anticipated film 50 Shades of Grey, we here at the Happy Trail want to recognize other films that have pushed kinky boundaries in the theater. For the next four weeks, I will be dedicating my articles to reviews of groundbreaking movies that are known for their portrayals of kinky delights. Sorry Christian and Anastasia, your antics won’t be included in this series. This week’s movie will give tribute to the French book-turned-film Histoire d’O (or Story of O). In the 1975 adaptation of Pauline...

First released to the public on July 29, 2014, the pop anthem “Bang Bang,” featuring the talents of English singer-songwriter Jessie J, American singer Ariana Grande and American rapper and singer-songwriter Nicki Minaj, has gained enormous critical and commercial success. The song debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, while the song peaked at number six on the American Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Critics and fans alike lauded Minaj’s rapid-fire rap. They gave acclaim to the...

For many college students, the concept of sex toys is not a revolutionary one. While not necessarily a passtime that many flaunt, the use of sex toys—either for masturbatory purposes or for use with others—would not be considered unprecedented to many of us. When discussing sex toys, the main image that comes to mind for many college students is the dildo. But where did the dildo come from, and why does it dominate our imaginations so? The oldest known dildo is a siltstone 20-centimeter phallus from the Upper Palaeolithic period...

So, is the bush back en vogue? Whether it’s style, statement or just pure laziness, it would seem that the beaver got its fur back. In 2000, when the episode of “Sex and the City” entitled “Sex and Another City” aired where Carrie Bradshaw got her first below-the-belt wax from the Russian esthetician, a trend was sparked: the bald vajayjay. Women began spending upwards of 60 dollars on Brazilian waxes to clear their landing strips. There is even an option for men, the Manzilian. The hairless mons also inspired other...

Polygamy: (n.) the state or practice of being married to more than one person at the same time Polyamory: (n.) the state or practice of having more than one open romantic relationship at a time Comparing the definitions of these two words, there seems to be little difference other than the word “marriage” and the words “open relationship”. Asking any person on the street, they would likely say that there was little to no difference between these two concepts. A likely response would be “Don’t they both mean being allowed...

The holiday season is a joyous time. With it comes a flurry of fun and, of course, food. Around this time people have been known to pack on a few pounds. A little extra weight can mean major stress for those owning a mirror. Body image is something many of us struggle with, as there is increasing pressure to look a certain way. Even those aware of the damaging standards that the media pushes face the same problem of insecurity; just because we know the standard is unobtainable does not...

In its debut, Viagra burst into the pharmaceutical market, curing sexual performance issues for men. Many women have been waiting for the same magic pill to alleviate their own sexual issues related to both desire and performance. To some degree, we can blame the sexist nature of the world for prioritizing male sexual deficiencies over women's , but the lack of sex drive-enhancing drugs for women is a complex issue. Today, there are twenty four variations of male sexual performance/pleasure enhancing drugs on the market. This number is staggering compared...

In spite of the overwhelming evidence indicating the prevalence of queerness and gender non-conformity throughout the histories of all cultures, places and even many species of animals, recent history has witnessed the rise of the phrase “the white man’s disease” in communities and countries of color to describe the phenomenon of non-heteronormativity. The phrase is meant to imply the innate Caucasian nature of queerness, denying its presence anywhere but the lives of white people. Similarly, in the mind of modern America, the thought of the average gay man or a...