Homoerotic Archaeology: Inches (October 1990), Part One

Friday, October 15, 2021

Inches (October 1990), Part One

Part reaction to the feminine stereotypes that had plagued gay men for decades and part representation of their newfound sexual liberty, the clone personae of the 1970s, particularly its beards and mustaches, dominated the physical appearances of gay men throughout the decade and the beginning of the 1980s; however, as the AIDS epidemic decimated the community, the clone and his trademark body and facial hair was replaced with a youthful, clean-shaven look that strove to counteract the illness of HIV and pushed for a way of life that practiced safe sexual practices. Allen Adams’ article “Slick and Smooth,” contained in this October 1990 issue of Inches (which has been broken into three parts) is a representation of this trend, offering readers a variety of techniques to remove the hair once championed by the clone. Also included in this first third are photo spreads of models Nick Cougar and Chase Lundgrin.

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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.