Art and the First “Homosexuals”

About the Class

Before 1869, “homosexuality” and “heterosexuality” didn’t exist. There was just sexuality, and it was either illicit or acceptable, with the latter of course dedicated to reproductive purposes within marriage.

But in 1869, the term “homosexual” was coined, marking the beginning of a binary system that increasingly placed homo and hetero on opposite sides. Art is the largest and most sensitive archive of this fundamental shift in human relations, and this class will explore the emerging homosexual identity through its various representations. We will start in the 19th century and continue into the early decades of the 20th century, examining homosexual representation globally, with roughly equal attention to all genders. Central to this story will be the violence that a homo/hetero binary wrought on different indigenous forms of sexuality in the aftermath of Euro-American colonization, with the paradoxical result that some of the countries most open to same-sex relationships are now among the most restrictive.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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