In everyday language?? masochism is usually understood as the desire to abdicate control in exchange for sensation?pleasure?? pain?? or a combination thereof. Yet at its core?? masochism is a site where power?? bodies?? and society come together. Sensational Flesh uses masochism as a lens to examine how power structures race?? gender?? and embodiment in different contexts.

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Drawing on rich and varied sources?from 19th century sexology?? psychoanalysis?? and critical theory to literary texts and performance art?Amber Jamilla Musser employs masochism as a powerful diagnostic to