SEVERUSMAX
Benevolent Master
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Posts
- 28,995
For the purposes of writing historical fiction, not necessarily erotica per se, I have wanted to include a realistic portrayal of the homosexuality and bisexuality prevalent in Hellenistic culture. Yet I want to make sure that this is not mistaken for simply being an excuse for gay porn (as if one needs an excuse for gay porn, lol). It's certainly going to be a well-rounded plot with a lot of things that are lot more disturbing than gay sex, but the sheer scale of homosexuals, bisexuals, and homosexual acts will no doubt cause some to think of this as a homocentric novel. It's not, although again there's no wrong in that (to quote Jerry Seinfeld).
Given that much of sexuality (at least for men) was highly fluid in Hellenistic society, I am wondering how much the homophobia factor might negatively affect sales, once it goes to publication (if it ever does) as a mainstream work. I am certainly not going to apologize for including a realistic depiction of my own sexual preference (bisexuality) or that of others (homosexuality). But I am curious as how to much of an upstream swim I'm facing here, with a work of literature instead of say, a film.
Should it get to film, I can see it getting an NC-17 rating, easily, so that's another matter. I know that Gore Vidal faced a lot of antagonism for embracing his homosexuality, as did Truman Capote. But this is the 21st century, and despite the militant religious conservatism of the present administration, I would like to think that a work of parallel history that shows accurate levels of gay and bi sex wouldn't face that much revulsion, but I wonder.
Given that much of sexuality (at least for men) was highly fluid in Hellenistic society, I am wondering how much the homophobia factor might negatively affect sales, once it goes to publication (if it ever does) as a mainstream work. I am certainly not going to apologize for including a realistic depiction of my own sexual preference (bisexuality) or that of others (homosexuality). But I am curious as how to much of an upstream swim I'm facing here, with a work of literature instead of say, a film.
Should it get to film, I can see it getting an NC-17 rating, easily, so that's another matter. I know that Gore Vidal faced a lot of antagonism for embracing his homosexuality, as did Truman Capote. But this is the 21st century, and despite the militant religious conservatism of the present administration, I would like to think that a work of parallel history that shows accurate levels of gay and bi sex wouldn't face that much revulsion, but I wonder.
