Homoerotic Archaeology: Torso (November 1989), Part One

Friday, November 19, 2021

Torso (November 1989), Part One

Breaking from his usual erotic fiction, Perry Brass’ contribution to the November 1989 issue of Torso (which has been broken into two parts) provides a breakdown of basic dating manners for gay men and, during the discussion, offers a Marxist examination of how etiquette is a social construct utilized to deliberately separate the upper and lower classes. When paired with the issue’s seven photo spreads (three of which are featured in this first half), the piece, although touching on an intriguing concept, is fairly out of place; however, it’s reminiscent of the more intellectual articles found in homoerotic magazines during the 1970s, as the publications, along with other facets of the community, worked to establish a sense of gay identity.

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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.