The Kinky World of the Rich and Powerful: Exploring the Intersection of Money, Sex, and Power in Industry

In the HBO drama "Industry," the lives of a group of power-hungry financiers at the fictional bank Pierpoint & Co. are explored, revealing a world where money, sex, and power collide in unexpected ways. The show delves into the sexual mores and kinks of its characters, shedding light on the complex relationship between wealth, status, and the pursuit of pleasure.

Uncovering the Taboo Desires of the Elite

Urine, Power, and the Pursuit of Pleasure

The show's characters engage in a variety of sexual power-plays, often as a means of exploring their own psychological and emotional issues. Yasmin Kara-Hanani, a young analyst at Pierpoint, uses her dominant sexual side to reclaim the power taken from her when men underestimate or objectify her. In one particularly memorable scene, she confronts her colleague Henry Muck, a tantrum-prone aristocrat, in the bathroom, where she demeans him and tempts him with the sound of her urinating, asserting her dominance over him.This type of sexual power-play is not limited to Yasmin's character. Throughout the show, the characters engage in various forms of kink and sexual exploration, often as a way of coping with their own personal and professional struggles. Robert Spearing, another analyst at Pierpoint, engages in a sexual encounter with a wealthy client, Nicole, as a means of addressing his own class-inferiority complex and mummy issues.

The Allure of the Kinky Rich

The portrayal of the rich and powerful as sexually deviant is not unique to "Industry." In fact, it is a common trope in popular culture, with shows like "Billions" and "Succession" also exploring the kinky proclivities of the elite. From the sadomasochistic tendencies of Bobby Axelrod in "Billions" to the colorful roleplay fantasies of Roman Roy in "Succession," the wealthy are often depicted as indulging in a wide range of sexual practices.This fascination with the sexual lives of the rich and powerful can be attributed to the intersection of two powerful human drives: the desire for money and the desire for sex. As co-creator Konrad Kay explains, "Money is the strongest incentive that society has ever created to make people do things," and when this incentive collides with our primal biological urges, the result can be a complex and often taboo exploration of power dynamics and sexual expression.

The Clinical Nature of Industry's Sex Scenes

The sex scenes in "Industry" are often described as "clinical" and "uncomfortable" to watch, with a focus on the "squelchy noises and the visual exchanging of fluids." Co-creator Mickey Down explains that this was not always intentional, but rather a reflection of the show's exploration of power dynamics and the ways in which the characters use sex as a means of coping with their own personal and professional struggles.The clinical nature of these scenes serves to highlight the underlying themes of the show, which are ultimately about class, familial trauma, and the ways in which power imbalances shape our relationships and our lives. As Down notes, "There are scenes where it feels like someone's just left the camera there and allowed two people to get off ... There's lots of squelchy noises and the visual exchanging of fluids."

Money, Sex, and the Pursuit of Power

At the heart of "Industry" is the idea that money and sex are both means to the ultimate goal of power. The characters in the show consume and own each other, treating people and relationships like assets to be traded, much like the financial instruments they deal with on a daily basis. This dynamic is captured in the quote commonly attributed to Oscar Wilde: "Everything in the world is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power."In this way, "Industry" serves as a reflection of our own society, where the pursuit of wealth and status often overshadows the pursuit of genuine human connection and fulfillment. The show's exploration of the kinky proclivities of the rich and powerful serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that the pursuit of power can come at a great personal cost.