Holding it Straight: Sexual Orientation in the Middle Ages

cortesia — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:50:03 +0000

Historians tend to be reticent about applying the phrase ‘sexual orientation’ to periods before the nineteenth century, but should we be so quick to dismiss the concept? Focusing on depictions of virgins and sodomites — two seemingly opposing categories — this talk explores how medieval encounters with sex were shaped by concepts of space and orientation. (From Soundcloud)

A lecture by Dr Robert Mills, UCL History of Art, Autumn 2013 (video)

Bob Mills also appeared in Inside Medieval Mind BBC documentary series, episode Sex, speaking about medieval sodomy.

Representing sodomy in the Middle Ages – Dr Bob Mills

cortesia — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:18:51 +0000

While sodomy in Medieval Britain and Europe was seemingly regarded as unmentionable, artists developed strategies of depicting taboo practices. Dr Robert Mills (UCL History of Art) examines an era of art history that has hitherto been much neglected in studies of forbidden sexual practices and images of judgment and punishment. (From Soundcloud)

Bob Mills also appeared in Inside Medieval Mind BBC documentary series, episode Sex, speaking about medieval sodomy.

Music:
‘Pange Lingua Gloria’ by Josquin des Pres (1440-1521)
‘In Principio Erat Verbum’ by Josquin des Pres
‘Mystery of the Runes’ by Paul Mottram

Courtly Site » Sodomy

Holding it Straight: Sexual Orientation in the Middle Ages

Representing sodomy in the Middle Ages – Dr Bob Mills