"Masculine love," Renaissance writing, and the "new invention" of homosexuality.
Contrary to the dominant claim in gay studies now that homosexuality is a relatively new historical "invention," the Renaissance had a definite recognition of a distinct homosexuality, acknowledged at least by those who were willing to face and discuss the subject frankly. A key example of that awareness is the earlier term "masculine love," which seems to have been particularly prominent in the Renaissance as a language for a male homosexual orientation. Significant differences have clearly occurred in the homosexual situation over time, and homosexuality can never be discussed totally independent of historical and social conditions, but the "new-inventionism" currently prevailing in gay studies has serious problems of concept and method and needs careful examining.
Cady
J
J
University of Rochester Medical School, Division of the Medical Humanities, NY 14642.
D004739:England; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D008093:Literature, Modern / Q000266:history*; D008297:Male