Homoerotic Archaeology: Playguy (December 1985), Part Two

Friday, December 27, 2024

Playguy (December 1985), Part Two

During his time in Brazil in the 1980s and 1990s, photographer Kristen Bjorn was surprised to learn that the region’s culture drew a distinct separation between not only gay (viado) and straight (homem) men but also men who adopted the penetrative role in anal sex (macho) and men who served the passive role (maricón), with any man possessing the status of homen/macho being perceived as less than a man if he allows himself to be penetrated by someone of the viado/maricón ranking. In fact, this harsh distinction caused many gay couples, even in the progressive city of Rio de Janeiro, to forego domestic partnerships out of fear that both would be labelled viado/maricón and lose social respect. Featured in this December 1985 issue of Playguy (which has been broken into two parts) are a collection of images gathered from Bjorn’s many trips to the area. Included in this second half (see the first half here) are photospreads titled “Grab Ass,” “Hot Ice,” and “Low Hangers in the Woods.” NOTE: THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WAS FOUND INCOMPLETE AMONG THE BOXES OF MAGAZINES; HENCE, ITS SPARSE PRESENTATION.

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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.