Vulgar Genres: Gay Pornographic Writing and Contemporary Fiction

Vulgar Genres is a book-length study of gay pornographic writing that emerged as a distinct genre in the 1960s and shaped queer male subjectivity well into the new millennium. It draws on a large archive of pulp novels, short fiction, lifestyle magazines, journals, reviews, editorial statements, and correspondence, and puts these materials in conversation with works by contemporary writers. The result is a milestone in porn studies and an important contribution to the history of gay life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Vulgar Genres: Examining Gay Pornographic Writing

In a groundbreaking exploration, Vulgar Genres delves into the intricate relationship between gay pornographic writing and literary fiction, shedding light on how these two genres have interwoven to shape queer male erotic life. Traditionally focused on visual forms, the field of porn studies is long overdue for a comprehensive study that delves into the rich tapestry of gay pornographic writing. Steven Ruszczycky, a scholar of exceptional expertise, has answered this call with an impressively researched work that traces the emergence of gay pornographic writing as a distinct genre in the 1960s and its profound impact on queer male subjectivity throughout the new millennium.

Spanning four decades, Ruszczycky's study draws upon a vast archive of pulp novels, short fiction, lifestyle magazines, journals, reviews, editorial statements, and correspondence. By engaging these materials in conversation with the works of contemporary writers such as William Carney, Dennis Cooper, Samuel Delany, John Rechy, and Matthew Stadler, Vulgar Genres offers a multi-faceted perspective on the evolution of gay pornographic writing. While the book is primarily focused on the years 1966 to 2005, it reveals that the history of gay pornographic writing during this period informs much of what has transpired online in the past twenty years, from the realm of cruising to the production of digital pornographic texts.

Vulgar Genres is a monumental achievement in the field of porn studies, providing a profound insight into the complex interplay between sexuality, literature, and cultural representation. It is an indispensable contribution to the history of gay life, offering a fresh and nuanced understanding of the ways in which pornographic writing has shaped and influenced queer identities and experiences. This book will undoubtedly inspire scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike to explore the boundaries of sexuality and gender in new and exciting ways.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226788753