Homosexuality

Since its coining, the term homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. In the original sense, it refers to a sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love, and sexual desire exclusively for members of the same sex or gender identity. It can also refer to the manifestation of that orientation in the identity of an individual, which may or may not be at odds with that person's sexual behavior. Finally, it can refer to sexual relations with another of the same sex regardless of one's sexual orientation, self-identification or gender identity.

Art and literature

Main article: Homoeroticism & Same-sex love (visual arts)

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Homoeroticism - Same-sex love (visual arts)

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One of the primary social manifestations of same-sex love has been through the medium of literature and art. The aspects of these expressions range across the gamut of the main artistic disciplines. Homoerotic sensibilities are at the foundation of art in the west, to the extent that those roots can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Homer's Iliad was regarded to contain a homosexual relationship by many of its contemporaries. Plato's Symposium also gives readers commentary on the subject, at one point putting forth the claim that homosexual love is 'superior' to heterosexual love..

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Literature - Art - Ancient Greeks - Homer - Iliad - Plato - Symposium

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The European tradition was continued throughout the ages in the works of William Shakespeare, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. In Arab populations it was present in figures such as Abu Nuwas. The Tale of Genji, called the "world's first real novel", fostered this tradition in Asian societies.

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William Shakespeare - Michelangelo - Leonardo da Vinci - Abu Nuwas - The Tale of Genji

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Icons such as Madonna and Elton John have followed this tradition in modern times. Presently the Japanese anime subgenre, yaoi, commonly features the theme. Artistic nudes have prominently displayed lesbianism. Playwrights have penned popular works such as '. These sentiments have been pervaded in many movies. A popular television series exploited these perceptions with Queer Eye For The Straight Guy equating gay men with the ancient Greek Muses.

Related Topics:
Madonna - Elton John - Anime - Yaoi - Queer Eye For The Straight Guy - Muses

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