Homosexualities Part One: USA -

The author describes recent American lesbian and gay
photography. In the introduction, the editors note that
"homosexuality has rarely been a suitable subject for discussion
- let alone representation... As a subject for consideration for
the visual arts, it is only since the 1970s that it has emerged
within the arena of identity and cultural representation." After
describing the problematic history of representations of
homosexuality, in which photography has continually played a
role in shaping a visible identity, the author surveys recent
exhibitions such as "Extended Sensibilities: Homosexual Presence
in Contemporary Art" (New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York,
1982), "Difference: On Representation and Sexuality" (New Museum
of Cont. Art, N.Y., 1984) and most recently Abigail
Solomon-Godeau's "Sexual Difference: Both Sides of the Camera"
(o.a. Columbia University, N.Y., 1988). In addition, the
so-called "Homoerotica"-tradition is discussed, as exemplified
by the photographs of F. Holland Day, Baron von Gloeden and
George Platt Lynes. Since gay photographers "remain missing from
the official histories", the author compiles his own history:
Arthur Tress, Peter Hujar, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Duane
Michals, (but not Minor White). The problem of "AIDS and
Representation" is briefly discussed, with reference to the
special issue of OCTOBER (No. 43), edited by Douglas Crimp.
Related to the article are portfolios by: Kaucyila Brooke
(something like a photo-roman), Doug Ischar (documentary
pictures from San Francisco's South of Market gay-district
1986-87), and a photo-diary sequence by Hinda Schuman. Part Two:
UK by Pratibha Parmar on the UK-scene, will appear in the next
issue of Ten.8 (32).


Citaten:
Crimp, D.: AIDS and Representation (October, nr.43)