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mxgoldenwood · 1 year

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I'm… mildly obsessed with the title of this paper I found, which I WILL be using for a research project.

image description: screenshot of a title page with text in all capital letters

Ioan P. Couliano The University of Chicago Dr. Faust, Great Sodomite and Necromancer

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namixart · 7 months

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GUEEEEESS WHO'S A PUBLISHED ACADEMIC

#mine #my stuff #guys I'm so happy i worked so hard on this essay and now it's PUBLISHED #asexuality #asexual #compulsory heterosexuality #mediaeval literature #renaissance literature

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dukeofstratford · 2 years

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I think English Renaissance dramatists set so many plays in Italy because they just really liked the name Antonio.

#shakespeare #early modern drama #renaissance #renaissance literature #antonio #twelfth night #the merchant of venice #the tempest #the duchess of malfi #the changeling #the revenger's tragedy #much ado about nothing #the two gentlemen of verona

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octaviasdread · 1 year

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(Don’t repost)

Shakespeare’s First Folio (1623) - The British Library collection

#CO Photography #CO Posts #antique books #william shakespeare #dark academia aesthetic #the british library #shakespeare plays #old books #books #bookblr #academia #renaissance literature

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gouhlishenglishmajor · 2 years

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finished my last final here's a treat

#petrarch #english major #classic literature #dark academia #italian sonnets #the reniassance #university #reniassance #renaissance literature

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theculturedmarxist · 1 year

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Confined within no bounds, you shall fix the limits of your own nature according to the free choice in whose power I have placed you. We have made you neither mortal nor immortal, so that with freedom and honour you should be your own sculptor and maker, to fashion your form as you choose. You can fall away into the lower natures which are the animals. You can be reborn by the decision of your soul into the higher natures which are divine.

—Oration on the Dignity of Man, Giovanni Pico

#renaissance literature #praise of folly

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literarygremlin · 1 year

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Yes, you cute or whateva but are you currently going crazy because of the literature during the Middle Ages in Europe? No? Thought so...

#european literary history #european literature #renaissance #Renaissance literature #the Christian canon #linguistics #literary studies #literature #literature student #linguistics student

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gay-milton-quotes · 1 year

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Just say it's gay!

I don't like when people use Foucault's arguments to uphold heterosexual hegemony in older western lit. This happens a lot in pop culture-y casual discussions: someone will point to two male characters (we'll say in renaissance lit to narrow us a bit here) showing intimate fondness for each other, and they'll say, "That's pretty gay." & someone else will chime in, "Well, homosexuality as a label didn't exist until the 1800s, and in that culture it was much more normal for male friends to be sensitive and intimate with each other, so you can't say conclusively that this had romantic connotations."

First off, this argument never crops up with assumed-het characters or historical figures. When we assume that, say, Hamlet is straight, since he says he is in love with Ophelia, no one in popular conversation chimes in to add, "Actually though, heterosexuality is a modern construct. He could be attracted to men, but as royalty, Hamlet would have been forced to comply with an assumed heterosexuality whether he was attracted to men or not." Without other evidence, that would be a silly thing to bring up, right? The play says Hamlet is into Ophelia - if you wanna argue Hamlet is also or actually attracted to men, you can do it, but the burden of proof is on you to make that case. So, why is it that when a work of literature from a place and time when being sexually attracted to men as a man (or women as a woman) was marginalized into the dirt, indicates with clear evidence that a character has homosexual attraction - why is it only then that we bring up semantics?

The other leg of this is that, well, I cuddle with my friends, including male friends who I'm not interested in sexually. That is part of my queer identity. Men who like to have sex with men are, it is fair to say, more likely to also be nonsexually affectionate with men. The strict distinctions between platonic friendship and sexual romance are just as much a construct of modern heterosexual hegemony as the distinctions between heterosexuality and homosexuality. To argue that "this act of fondness would have been friendly and wouldn't have sexual connotations" is to argue that being queer always means being sexual, which is untrue. It also means arguing there is a strict boundary between the platonic and the sexual, the friendly and the romantic, which is also untrue.

If we examine places and times when being openly queer was not possible, we have to consider that the main way to display queerness was through "fond friendship." It may not even occur to someone that she could love her "good friend" the way she is "supposed" to love men, with romance and marriage and all that. Homosexual love and attraction would very often have been seen by its participants as "very close friendship." We can't categorically dismiss acts of fondness between men as "just friendship," because friendship was the mechanism of homosexual attraction back then.

Nothing I've said so far, as far as I'm aware, contradicts Foucault's ideas about how we construct and categorize sexual identities. Now is when I do so: if there is evidence of attraction or romance or "fondness" between two characters of the same gender in an old work of literature, rather than sloshing in semantics that obfuscate the point - that there is some kind of attraction, something that we'd now call queer, happening in the text - I think it is more accurate to just say, "this is gay." Yes, it is a modern term and a modern framework of attraction, but so is heterosexuality. So is the idea that women are more than the property of their husbands, and you don't see that stopping feminist theorists from calling the portrayal of Eve in Paradise Lost misogynistic. We should not be so pedantic about what we call "gay" or "queer" or "homosexual," because this pedantry erases the experiences and portrayals of attraction between men and between women in old literature.

(quick postscript: I am talking about western lit and the "western canon" here. It feels kind of colonialist to make this point about Everyone Everywhere, esp since Foucault is correct that "homosexual" and "heterosexual" are modern, western constructs. Other cultures should equally be allowed to describe their literature using both their own modern and their own historical terminology.)

#queer theory #foucault #renaissance #renaissance literature #literary analysis #screaming into the void #long post

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thesebeauteousforms · 25 days

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I leave off therefore, Since in a net I seek to hold the wind.

"Whoso list to hunt" - Sir Thomas Wyatt

#renaissance #poetry #Renaissance literature #Renaissance poetry #sir Thomas Wyatt #quotes #unrequited love #16th century

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sashalarious · 3 months

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It's French Renaissance Literature time

It's French Renaissance Literature time. Yes, French Renaissance Literature, from the French Renaissance time period, whose literature it is now time to read.

#french renaissance #renaissance literature #french literature #literature #french #renaissance #french renaissance literature #it is time

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mxgoldenwood · 1 year

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I really want to talk about Faustus and Mephistopheles??

I've just read this play for a literature class and the instructor mostly wants to discuss the power of Marlowe's blank verse and why it's so effective, but I really want to talk about the way Marlowe describes damnation and how it's left mostly up to interpretation whether (or how) Faustus might have escaped being literally dragged away to torment in hell.

Could he have repented and been saved by God?? The play goes out of its way to say YES.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND... could he have been more sincere and thorough in his denouncement of God and then actually been hailed as a hero in Hell?? I feel like that's a solid MAYBE.

Throughout the whole play, Mephistopheles and Lucifer expound on that idea that Hell is the absence of the grace of God. It's not really about the traditional fires and pitchforks that people tend to imagine. Faustus is reminded to never think or speak of God, and promised that if he will put his faith in Lucifer instead, he'll be rewarded for it. But what does he keep doing throughout the play? He KEEPS bringing up God and Christ, lamenting that he's done horrible things that can never be forgiven, and this and that about the 'wrath' of God.

Regardless of one's personal philosophies about religion or the nature of God or the Devil, this situation just reads like...

Mephistopheles tells Faustus "It was a really tough break-up, and we are NOT friends anymore; God has the best house, but since we sided with Lucifer, we're not allowed to go back, not even to visit. So hey, it definitely sucks, but if you want to be friends anyway, we'll do it under one condition. Say you'll never mention God around us, because we really don't like being reminded of that whole thing, and you're in."

Obviously Faustus is like "I've never even met God, and he probably hates me for talking shit about him, so let's do this."

Everyone else tells Faustus, "PLEASE, they're really not nice people over there. Just say you're sorry about the shit-talking, and you can come to God's house."

Faustus gets all caught up in this pre-game party he's having with Mephistopheles, but he's constantly guilting himself about the shit-talking and the betrayal; he regularly talks about how God must hate him, and even when his time is running out, people keep telling him, "you just have to say you're sorry, it'll be fine, God will totally let you come over," but he insists that, no, he was a huge dick, he can't be forgiven, and how tragic it is for him that he can't go to God's house now.

Why wouldn't Lucifer and his friends be mad?? All Faustus had to do was NOT talk about God, and all he wanted to do was... talk about God. Of course they were going to beat him up for coming to the party and dragging everyone down, ruining the vibe, again, just when they were starting to forget the whole thing.

None of this is to endorse the idea that Faustus should have renounced God completely (obviously the play wants you to understand that he just had to repent), but it is fun to think about "what if."

#mxg text tag #literature #christianity #religion #traditional christianity #renaissance literature #faustus #mephistopheles #possible blasphemy #depending on how you look at it #I really want to talk more about this #but I'm neglecting the essay I was SUPPOSED to write to focus on this tumblr essay instead #I was raised by at least one southern baptist so christian mythology will always have a place in my brain #and I fully respect the interpretation of God being Actually A Dick #on the basis of christianity's interpretations over the centuries #but I will ALWAYS be here for the interpretation of God as offering forgiveness and unconditional love FOR THOSE WHO ASK FOR IT #not a theology student but I think a lot about the question of 'what if Lucifer said sorry and meant it'#and like 'what if Lucifer was not too proud to ask for love'#essay part two is always in the tags on my posts #I will one day write a thesis about the nature of pride and vulnerability and how they are kind of diametrically opposed #I guess today is like theology thursday for me #anyway faustus chose to be damned rather than put himself out there and if that isn't an allegory for fear of vulnerability idk what is #does a 400 year old play need spoiler tags?#also I guess realistically this is still a literary analysis but it's just not the analysis my professor was looking for

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blueheartbooks · 5 months

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"Utopia Unveiled: Navigating Sir Francis Bacon's 'The New Atlantis' – A Prophetic Odyssey into Tomorrow's Science and Society"

Sir Francis Bacon's "The New Atlantis" is a thought-provoking utopian work that takes readers on a captivating journey to the mythical island of Bensalem. With a unique blend of scientific foresight, philosophical depth, and literary finesse, Bacon weaves a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is imaginatively rich.

At the heart of this utopian tale is the House of Salomon, a scientific institution dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment. Bacon introduces readers to a society where science, reason, and progress reign supreme, creating a utopia that stands as a beacon of hope for a world in need of intellectual and moral rejuvenation.

One of the most striking aspects of "The New Atlantis" is Bacon's prophetic vision of scientific advancement. Published in 1627, Bacon's work predates the scientific revolution, yet it anticipates many of the technological marvels and scientific breakthroughs that would follow. His portrayal of Bensalem as a society embracing empirical inquiry and technological innovation is eerily prescient.

Bacon's narrative style is both engaging and instructive. The use of first-person narration adds a personal touch to the exploration of Bensalem, allowing readers to connect with the characters and their experiences. The vivid descriptions of the island, its inhabitants, and their way of life create a tapestry of utopian ideals that captivates the imagination.

"The New Atlantis" is not merely a work of fiction; it is a philosophical exploration of the relationship between knowledge, power, and societal progress. Bacon challenges readers to contemplate the ethical implications of scientific advancement and the responsibilities that come with wielding such knowledge.

While the narrative unfolds seamlessly, Bacon embeds profound philosophical reflections on topics ranging from the role of science in society to the moral responsibilities of the intellectual elite. His insights remain relevant, inviting readers to ponder the ethical dilemmas posed by the unbridled pursuit of knowledge.

In conclusion, "The New Atlantis" stands as a literary gem that transcends its time, offering readers a timeless exploration of utopian ideals and the complexities of scientific progress. Bacon's visionary work challenges us to reflect on the moral and ethical dimensions of our pursuit of knowledge, making it a must-read for anyone intrigued by the intersection of science, philosophy, and human nature.

Sir Francis Bacon's "The New Atlantis" is available in Amazon in paperback 10.99$ and hardcover 17.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 75

Language: English

Rating: 9/10

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

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blueheartbookclub · 5 months

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"Utopia Unveiled: Navigating Sir Francis Bacon's 'The New Atlantis' – A Prophetic Odyssey into Tomorrow's Science and Society"