January 21 . 2 QQÛ t
H ither :
g*. O
PORTLAND GAY
MEN'S CHORUS
™
COMMONSENSE
¡G uide to K inky S ex
Dr. G loria G .
pram e. Fireside, 2000;
|$J3 sof(cover.
¿ \ ''tll]
“the relative scarcity of art
by or about lesbians reflects
male domination of the
cultural record.”
Saslow provides images
of Perso-Median eighth
century B.C. seals depicting
two men copulating, as
well Turkish, Chinese,
European and American
examples of art depicting
overt homosexual themes.
Accompanying the images
are intelligent commen
taries on contemporary cul
tural influences and politi
cal forces that helped shape
the particular artwork.
The first of its kind, this
art history treatise is an
important volume in the
queer historical record.
Through its study, we
can appreciate the diver
sity through the ages and
open ourselves to our
diversity today. This is
not the last word on our
visual and symbolic queer
history, but the first. — LP
his is not a leisurely,
lazy Sunday kind of
book. The playful clip
art icons of whips, blind
folds and handcuffs on
Come Hither’s cover are
certainly cute, but also
quite deceiving. O nce you
crack into the text, you’ll
realize Dr. Gloria G . Brame
is more about business than
1 a C o m m o n s « « . Gu.de
^
camp.
In a self-described con
fessional in the first chap
ter, Introductory Kink,
Brame reminisces about
.VjSlCAL
writing her first kink direc
^\\EA f£/j
tory, Different Loving: The
World o f Sexual Dominance
and Submission. She says
her goal in penning that
book was to provide readers
with a solid, factual source
of SM information, an
alternative to the flighty,
B ar S tories
confused writings of the
Edited by Scott Brassert.
past. Come Hither appears
Alyson Publications, 2000;
to be an extension of that
$12.95 softcover.
idea.
The bulk of the book
publishing exec who
reads like an encyclopedia
lives in Los Angeles,
or a dictionary. Brame
Scott Brassert has put
includes a catalog of fetish
together an anthology that
es, a list of top torture toys
comes off like a Ripley’s
and techniques, and an
Believe It or Not quip.
Except that he’s telling you it’s all true.
intense 15-page chapter called Erotic Pain,
among many other areas of study.
OK, the short works in Bar Stories are not
all preposterous; some of them are rather bor
The information is interesting, if a little dry
ing in their believability. To be honest, most of
(for a kinky sex book), and Brame seems a lit
them fall somewhere in the middle: a little
tle long-winded toward the end. Also, Brame
exaggerated perhaps, but true enough.
admittedly does not know much or care to
Out of 32 stories in the collection, there’s a
write about the lesbian SM experience. In a
goodly number that contain explicit sex, but
chapter called Sexual Dominants, she writes: “I
far
fewer than one might expect from gay men
don’t feel it’s fair for me, coming from a hetero
writing about their experiences in and around
sexual experience of SM , to try to explore in
bars.
(Maybe gay male culture only appears to
any depth what it is like to be a lesbian SMer
be sex-obsessed after it’s filtered through mar
or to advise lesbians on concerns particular
only to lesbians. Authors such as Pat Califia
ket research?)
There are at least two heart-wrenching tales
and Gayle Rubin have already done important
of
love
lost, including Kevin Bentley’s “Do You
work in this area, and should be considered pri
Believe I Dive You?” and Gene Michael
mary sources. Anything I’d say here could only
Higney’s
“Who Is Hansen Waiting For.7” (No,
be a pale imitation of their incisive observa
it’s not about the prepubescent boy band.)
tions on the lesbian leather experience.”
“One
for the Road” by M. Christian, on the
If you’re a lesbian, you might want to take
other hand, is just plain depressing.
the author’s advice.
— Katy Davidson
Mark Macdonald’s “No-Fun Club Kid Turns
30” is damn near incomprehensible; Ernest
P ictures and P assions : A H istory of
McLeod’s “Post-Communist Bar Trilogy” is way
H omosexuality in the V isual A rts
too long; and Blaise Bulot’s “Adventure at the
By James M. Saslow. Viking, 1999. $3 9 .9 5 hard-
cover.
Phoenix” is kinda disgusting.
And yet, this isn’t a bad anthology— the
majority of the stories are satisfactory— it’s just
rom the Stone Age to Stonewall, the devel
that none of them really stand out. With one
opment of material culture is, in part,
exception: "Five Nights” by Ian-Andrew
revealed through the art of its people, the
McKenzie. The tale sticks out not so much
myriad physical objects through which individ
because it’s about an abusive relationship
uals and societies symbolize and communicate
(there are others in Bar Stories) but because it’s
feelings and values. T he continuum of emo
about cowboys. I don t usually go for the boots
tions between people of the same sex, from
’n’ spurs scene, but it’s just about the only sce
homosocial friendship to homoerotic intimacy
nario that hasn’t been overdone to death in
in genital passion, has provided charged subject
various erotic fiction anthologies. Refreshing,
matter for artists across the globe and through
out history.
even if a little peculiar.
—Christopher D. Cuttone
In Pictures and Passions: A History o f Homo
r
r COMB HITH«*
F
sexuality m the Visual Arts, James M. Saslow
takes the reader, and viewer, on a gay-themed
art history journey. T he subject matter is pre-
ominantly male, and the author indicates that
Just out 3 g
■ LAKE P er RIGUEY is a Portland attorney and
culture maven. He can be reached at
lakejameslaw@yahoo com .
Presents
^
» IV
- * •
•
■».M
illennium
;• \
• *‘
.'.M o s a ic &
.N a k e d M a n ?
j i
i i
• r .
■
Our 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert!
The World Premiere of Millennium Mosaic! Based upon the life
stories of Oregon's gay and lesbian youth, our newly commissioned
song-cycle gives voice to their hopes, fears and dreams. Plus an
encore presentation of the dramatic and impassioned NakedMan.
Sat., April 15, 2000 • 8:00 p.m.
Sun., April 16, 2000 • 7:00 p.m.
PCC Sylvania Performing Arts Center,
12000 SW 49th Avenue, Portland
N A T I ON A L
ENDOW MENT
Tickets $20/$15/$12
F A S 7 T X X 2 2 4 -T 1 X X
FOB THE AR TS
I«
Financial
Advisors
R a g ion al A r t s A
C u l t u r a C ou n ci l
A m erican A irSn e s'
Call for tickets
503.274.6588
Tickets also through Ticketmaster
503.790.ARTS
Shovft your transfer at
the box office and get a free
ride home from Tri-Met!
*\
w w w .p cs.o rg
A classic American love stor
J a n u a r y 15 —
F E B R U A R Y 12, 2 0 0 0
GAL A* N i g h t J a n u a r y
*
25
Gay and lesbian Audience series
1
K«*\ lia nk
iu S t n T n l
J
i he Mark S|i«*nr«T Mon i
N
MERRILL
CORPORATION
AmericanAirlines