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One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: And Other Essays on Greek Love
Halperin's subject is the erotics of male culture in ancient Greece. Arguing that the modern concept of "homosexuality" is an inadequate tool for the interpretation of these features of sexual life in antiquity, Halperin offers an alternative account that accords greater prominence to the indigenous terms in which sexual experiences were constituted in the ancient Mediterranean world. Wittily and provocatively written, Halperin's meticulously drawn windows onto ancient sexuality give us a new meaning to the concept of "Greek love."
244 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 6, 2008
Six essays on the topic of the erotics of male culture in ancient Greece. He builds on arguments of Dover and Foucault - and, very interestingly to read, builds an intellectual argument opposing John Boswell's ideas (extremely popular to cite among gays even today).
In the theoretical section of the book, Halperin treats sexual identity not as a given of nature but as a cultural construct. He argues that homosexuality (which he seems to define quite narrowly as love for a same-sex object free from the implication of gender inversion) is a modern invention of the last century or two, the necessary concomitant to compulsory heterosexuality.
Because of these arguments this book, "Faucaultian", had contributed to the development of queer theory and a newer, different understanding of queer identity and culture - quite opposite to some of the views on gays and lesbians which try to demonstrate that "we have always been here", we are proud of this, and we therefore must claim our rights on this basis.
Second part is three essays on more specific literary and historical topics. This is where you get the feeling that you are indeed reading a classical studies text.
In the theoretical section of the book, Halperin treats sexual identity not as a given of nature but as a cultural construct. He argues that homosexuality (which he seems to define quite narrowly as love for a same-sex object free from the implication of gender inversion) is a modern invention of the last century or two, the necessary concomitant to compulsory heterosexuality.
Because of these arguments this book, "Faucaultian", had contributed to the development of queer theory and a newer, different understanding of queer identity and culture - quite opposite to some of the views on gays and lesbians which try to demonstrate that "we have always been here", we are proud of this, and we therefore must claim our rights on this basis.
Second part is three essays on more specific literary and historical topics. This is where you get the feeling that you are indeed reading a classical studies text.
December 26, 2024
1. już się nie zesrajcie z tym konstruktywizmem
2. kim do chuja jest Richard Schneider????
2. kim do chuja jest Richard Schneider????
July 19, 2011
This was written for an assignment in my undergraduate "Religion and Sexuality" class.
Halperin, David M. One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: and other essays on Greek love. New York: Routledge, 1990.
The recent outing of homosexuality within the last thirty or so years as a viable identity for a large population of modern people has led to a renewed interest in the history of sexuality throughout the world. One Hundred Years of Homosexuality presents a new look at the erotics present in the male-dominated culture of Ancient Greece, especially Athens, from about the 6th through the 4th centuries BCE. Halperin believes that modern definitions of sexuality cannot be used to accurately describe the practices of the Ancient Greeks, and that looking at Greek culture from a distinctly Euro-centric point of view, as many scholars have done, is damaging to all the work done by the academic community. Halperin contends that Ancient Greek sexuality must be studied both as a distinct, specific institution, wherein sex is connected inextricably with gender and social status, and also within the geographical and historical context of the Ancient world.
Because this book is a collection of essays, the author is able to study very narrow aspects of Ancient Greece in a concise and specific way. Short considerations of related subjects help to build an overall picture of Ancient Greek culture and life, and allow the author to draw parallels to modern paradigms in a very carefully and consciously. Because each essay is fairly short, Halperin is able to avoid being overly general in the application of his ideas. He is clearly well read, and is not afraid to cite his sources or to be quite blunt as to his opinions of others’ research, both positive and negative. The variety of formats taken by the essays, including transcribed interviews, and summaries and critiques of other research, combine to supplement and augment the author’s distinct responses and own research.
Despite the overall strength of the collection, the essay format is a drawback in that it allows no sustained, detailed study of one subject, and the author is able to skirt difficult issues by citing space concerns. Furthermore, although Halperin is confident in his many critiques of other authors, he draws primarily from their writings and presents comparatively little original research of his own. There is also an obvious lack of primary source documentation, which is very strange for someone so widely read, especially when the plethora of documentation and evidence dating from 6th through 4th century Greece is taken into account.
Halperin, David M. One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: and other essays on Greek love. New York: Routledge, 1990.
The recent outing of homosexuality within the last thirty or so years as a viable identity for a large population of modern people has led to a renewed interest in the history of sexuality throughout the world. One Hundred Years of Homosexuality presents a new look at the erotics present in the male-dominated culture of Ancient Greece, especially Athens, from about the 6th through the 4th centuries BCE. Halperin believes that modern definitions of sexuality cannot be used to accurately describe the practices of the Ancient Greeks, and that looking at Greek culture from a distinctly Euro-centric point of view, as many scholars have done, is damaging to all the work done by the academic community. Halperin contends that Ancient Greek sexuality must be studied both as a distinct, specific institution, wherein sex is connected inextricably with gender and social status, and also within the geographical and historical context of the Ancient world.
Because this book is a collection of essays, the author is able to study very narrow aspects of Ancient Greece in a concise and specific way. Short considerations of related subjects help to build an overall picture of Ancient Greek culture and life, and allow the author to draw parallels to modern paradigms in a very carefully and consciously. Because each essay is fairly short, Halperin is able to avoid being overly general in the application of his ideas. He is clearly well read, and is not afraid to cite his sources or to be quite blunt as to his opinions of others’ research, both positive and negative. The variety of formats taken by the essays, including transcribed interviews, and summaries and critiques of other research, combine to supplement and augment the author’s distinct responses and own research.
Despite the overall strength of the collection, the essay format is a drawback in that it allows no sustained, detailed study of one subject, and the author is able to skirt difficult issues by citing space concerns. Furthermore, although Halperin is confident in his many critiques of other authors, he draws primarily from their writings and presents comparatively little original research of his own. There is also an obvious lack of primary source documentation, which is very strange for someone so widely read, especially when the plethora of documentation and evidence dating from 6th through 4th century Greece is taken into account.
July 7, 2012
I enjoyed this book for the most part. The first part does some more theoretical work and the second half goes into traditional classics territory, philological work. I have only two complaints, or warnings. One: this book focuses almost exclusively on Athens. Atheno-centrism is pretty common since a lot of the literary material to survive from Ancient Greece comes from Athens. BUT! I do like to see people looking elsewhere, which if I recall correctly, Dover manages to do in his Greek Homosexuality. It might have been useful if his title reflected the geographical location of his interest. Since he is coming up with some interesting ideas on how homosexuality functions in Athens specifically.
Two: for an author who spends a bit of time trying to incorporate a feminist perspective into his work and who spends even more time apologizing for his failures to do so and his complicity in nasty man projects, I expected more sensitivity to language and content. He doesn't even attempt to cover female homosexuality (which again, Dover does). And language, Halperin uses the word "penetrate" to describe thought process and in so doing situates thinking and understanding as a kind of masculine sexual activity.
Two: for an author who spends a bit of time trying to incorporate a feminist perspective into his work and who spends even more time apologizing for his failures to do so and his complicity in nasty man projects, I expected more sensitivity to language and content. He doesn't even attempt to cover female homosexuality (which again, Dover does). And language, Halperin uses the word "penetrate" to describe thought process and in so doing situates thinking and understanding as a kind of masculine sexual activity.
September 19, 2015
The author warns in the preface that "(These essays) do not constitute a comprehensive and systematic treatment" of erotics in the ancient Greek world, and I suppose I should have considered myself warned. I am writing as someone who has only the vaguest knowledge of the subject matter, and I was hoping for something more systematic. I suppose that someone with a deeper background would enjoy this book more, but I took little away from this book.
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July 3, 2008Selections: "One Hundred Years of Homosexuality"
June 9, 2015
Un estudio que toma los debates principales de la temática, aclarador para elaborar un estado de la cuestión
October 22, 2022
the last chapter 'Why is Diotima a woman?' is particularly worth reading.
April 14, 2017
I first read Halperin's collection of essays on Ancient Greek constructs of homoeroticism in 1991 as part of my research for my Masters thesis on the same theme in the ancient Roman context. His work, building on the historical basis provided by Ken Dover and filtered through the sociological and philosophical constructs of Michael Foucault, is key to formulating an understanding classical Mediterranean historical sexualities.
In this book Halperin argues eloquently, if at times obtusely, on the many alien aspects of Ancient Greek male sexual identities when contrasted and compared with today. Constructs such as passivity, Eros, citizenship, masculinity and desire are examined with significant intellectual rigour, and with appropriate examination and usage of Ancient Greek texts. Admittedly, as mentioned in other views his evidence is highly Athenocentric, however that is part and parcel of most Classical Greek literary evidence.
It must be said that Halperin is writing for an academic audience, and as the book is a collection of essays there narrative is neither simple nor is the language. It takes considerable application to tease out the arguments and information Halperin presents to the reader, and personally I'm not sure I have comprehended all of his ideas.
However the value of Halperin's collated work in 'One Hundred Years of Homisexuality' is that it forms a key point in the recent scholarship on Ancient Greek sexual historical analysis, and posits some challenging ideas in how we today create and contemplate modern sexuality.
In this book Halperin argues eloquently, if at times obtusely, on the many alien aspects of Ancient Greek male sexual identities when contrasted and compared with today. Constructs such as passivity, Eros, citizenship, masculinity and desire are examined with significant intellectual rigour, and with appropriate examination and usage of Ancient Greek texts. Admittedly, as mentioned in other views his evidence is highly Athenocentric, however that is part and parcel of most Classical Greek literary evidence.
It must be said that Halperin is writing for an academic audience, and as the book is a collection of essays there narrative is neither simple nor is the language. It takes considerable application to tease out the arguments and information Halperin presents to the reader, and personally I'm not sure I have comprehended all of his ideas.
However the value of Halperin's collated work in 'One Hundred Years of Homisexuality' is that it forms a key point in the recent scholarship on Ancient Greek sexual historical analysis, and posits some challenging ideas in how we today create and contemplate modern sexuality.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews