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A review by bibliodiversidad
Towards a Gay Communism: Elements of a Homosexual Critique by Mario Mieli
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
When I was telling someone that I was going to start this book, they told me: "Looking forward to hearing what you think. It's a bit insane, in the best way, but every single sentence is iconic." Now that I've read this I can one hundred percent confirm: it's insane, but iconic!
A rollercoaster. One moment you'd be agreeing and the other you'd be saying, "what the fuck am I reading?" Specially at times where Mieli got into really abstract philosophy. It is not a hard read but it does become a tedious one at times; do think Mieli went on rambles that, to me at least, were unnecesary or just "eh, I guess," I guess they added to his character.
What called my attention was how in the bazillion introductions to the book (it was, like, three but I haaate long prefaces), you're warned over and over about two things about this book: it's outdated and controversial. Both of which are entirely correct. It does feel stuck in its time as you read it and see the theories he chooses to analyse (both to analyse the world, as much as to analyse the theory and its theorist themselves). As someone that had no previous knowledge on the topic of psychoanalysis this entire book was interesting, but I take it all with a grain of salt... Psychoanalysis isn't but a bunch of theories, and many of the theories in this book are generally rejected today, so... And yes, it is controversial in the author's conception of the "liberation of Eros" that would also liberate pedo, cropo and necrophilia. However, that shouldn't be an impediment to supporting a lot of what Mieli had to say, because he still hit the nail on the head on many aspects of the gay experience within capitalism and its straight order, even as I read it more than fourty years later; as repeated in the introductions, this should be read thoroughly critically but with an open mind, to seek what could still be useful and inspiring to our struggle today.
I wanted to give this book three stars but, again, as much as I agree with Mieli, because, truly, he does bring to light many things I myself notice when analysing reality on my own that have always left me wondering why those social interactions happen the way they do, I also disagree with a lot of his stances and then there's just the issue of him becoming a tad bit redundant towards the end (+ some editorial issues that I find annoying.)
A rollercoaster. One moment you'd be agreeing and the other you'd be saying, "what the fuck am I reading?" Specially at times where Mieli got into really abstract philosophy. It is not a hard read but it does become a tedious one at times; do think Mieli went on rambles that, to me at least, were unnecesary or just "eh, I guess," I guess they added to his character.
What called my attention was how in the bazillion introductions to the book (it was, like, three but I haaate long prefaces), you're warned over and over about two things about this book: it's outdated and controversial. Both of which are entirely correct. It does feel stuck in its time as you read it and see the theories he chooses to analyse (both to analyse the world, as much as to analyse the theory and its theorist themselves). As someone that had no previous knowledge on the topic of psychoanalysis this entire book was interesting, but I take it all with a grain of salt... Psychoanalysis isn't but a bunch of theories, and many of the theories in this book are generally rejected today, so... And yes, it is controversial in the author's conception of the "liberation of Eros" that would also liberate pedo, cropo and necrophilia. However, that shouldn't be an impediment to supporting a lot of what Mieli had to say, because he still hit the nail on the head on many aspects of the gay experience within capitalism and its straight order, even as I read it more than fourty years later; as repeated in the introductions, this should be read thoroughly critically but with an open mind, to seek what could still be useful and inspiring to our struggle today.
I wanted to give this book three stars but, again, as much as I agree with Mieli, because, truly, he does bring to light many things I myself notice when analysing reality on my own that have always left me wondering why those social interactions happen the way they do, I also disagree with a lot of his stances and then there's just the issue of him becoming a tad bit redundant towards the end (+ some editorial issues that I find annoying.)