Full episode available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration 

This week the boys are joined by local filmmaker Charles Livingston to discuss male desire. They begin by first discussing straight male desire (the derision of the male gaze, male jealousy and possessiveness, and gender performance) before going into a deep exploration of Nathan’s thesis that yearning is the most universal and inexorable difficulty experienced by gay men. Amongst other things they discuss how the Ancient Romans conflated sexual conquest with imperial conquest, how Cleopatra in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra weaponized mens’ desire, and how straight men and gay men seem to equally match each other in terms of desire.  

Links:

Charles Livingston’s Instagram

Wings by Charles Livingston

Oscars 2018: Facts and figures about the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Orange County Register 

The VICE Guide to Being Gay

Armond and Mark scene from the White Lotus

Artwork: Germanic Warrior with Helmet, Osmar Schindler, 1902

Recorded on 8/11/2024