Homoerotic Archaeology: July 2022

Friday, July 29, 2022

In Touch (July/August 1978), Part Two

From Poseidon and Zeus to Dionysus and Apollo, Greco-Roman mythology is full of figures who express a fluid sexuality. It is this fluidity which Jeremy Hughes explores in his article contained within the July/August 1978 edition of In Touch (which has been broken into two parts) as he attempts to decipher homoerotic undertones in Classical Mythology. Contained in the second half (see the first half here) are conversations about James Kirkwood’s literature and the music of the Village People and spreads of models Thom Amorelli and Michael Royce.

Friday, July 22, 2022

In Touch (July/August 1978), Part One

From Poseidon and Zeus to Dionysus and Apollo, Greco-Roman mythology is full of figures who express a fluid sexuality. It is this fluidity which Jeremy Hughes explores in his article contained within the July/August 1978 edition of In Touch (which has been broken into two parts) as he attempts to decipher homoerotic undertones in Classical Mythology. Also contained in the first half is a travel guide to Hawaii, a showcase of Forrest G. Hooper's artwork, and a photospread of model Mark White.

Friday, July 15, 2022

Inches (July 2003), Part Three

Cuban model and performer Rafael Carreras began his career in the adult industry in 2001 with the film Meltdown and, since then, he has risen to superstardom, appearing in over forty movies for Lucas Entertainment alone. In addition to starring in gay porn, Carreras also owns the bar Soap Up and the club Soap Club on Ibiza and helps organize the island’s Scandal dance party. In this July 2003 issue of Inches (which has been divided into thirds), Carreras is featured at the start of his career. The final third (see the second third here) contains photos of models Dick McKay and Maxim “Maks” Semenov.

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What is Homoerotic Archaeology?

In 2016, I discovered several discarded boxes at an estate sale. Under their flimsy flaps were hundreds of well-worn issues of homoerotic magazines from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. I purchased them out of mild intrigue and, as I perused their pages, I was startled to realize that something commonly disregarded as pornographic smut earnestly chronicled the evolution of gay culture: the social and sexual liberation of the 1970s, the crushing devastation from AIDS during the 1980s, and the gradual strengthening of the community in the 1990s. As a gay man, I was touched by the subtle narrative these publications told. As a historian, I was motivated to digitally preserve their content. And, as an educator, I was driven to create a platform to share that information freely with others interested in the progression of gay society. Homoerotic Archaeology is that venue. Here you will find the advertisements, articles, short stories, and (of course) pictures found in these magazines lovingly preserved and presented for future generations of gay men to enjoy and study.

Why Preserve Homoerotica?

As early as the 1970s, scholars such as June Rook have stressed the need to preserve homosexual history in an effort to combat repression and establish a cultural background for future generations. Much of the preservation process admirably focuses on the substantial works of homosexual artists and thinkers; however, it sadly ignores other elements quintessential to the community’s history, particularly homoerotica. Although frequently labeled obscene filth, homoerotica has, just like the significant creations of artists and thinkers, been a prevalent part of the group’s culture and has played an integral role in shaping identities and perceptions (consider how influential Tom of Finland’s hypermasculinity has been in molding the body ideals of modern gay men). Due to this factor, the conservation of homoerotica is just as essential as the preservation of major artistic and theoretical homosexual works.