After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90's (Plume) [Paperback]

Marshall Kirk (Author), Hunter Madsen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Plume | Publication Date: September 1, 1990

A compelling and compassionate work that never fails to stimulate. After the Ball is required reading for straights interested in understanding a minority that comprises 10% of the population and for gays who ar learning that the revolution is far from over.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

To overcome Americans' deep-rooted aversion to gay men and women, psychologist Kirk and ad man Madsen propose a massive media campaign designed to correct stereotypes and neutralize anti-gay prejudice. PW termed this "a punchy call to arms, Madison Avenue style." Illustrated.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Plume (September 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452264987
• ISBN-13: 978-0452264984
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #562,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Decision to Overhaul Straight America, December 23, 2009

By 

quantumspock (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90's (Hardcover)

Before I write, here is a quote from Wikipedia: "In 1987 Kirk partnered with Hunter Madsen (who used the pen name "Erastes Pill") to write an essay, The Overhauling of Straight America, which was published in Guide Magazine. They argued that gays must portray themselves in a positive way to straight America, and that the main aim of making homosexuality acceptable could be achieved by getting Americans "to think that it is just another thing, with a shrug of their shoulders". Then "your battle for legal and social rights is virtually won"

This book was a real eye-opener for me. I found it reminiscent of Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals'.

From the book flap: "Dismissing the movement's outworn techniques in favor of carefully calculated public relations propaganda, AFTER THE BALL unveils the key psychological principles and national strategies that gays must follow..." "At the same time, Kirk and Madsen propose a clear-eyed agenda to reform gay culture..."

To sum up the book: Two Harvard-educated intellectuals, one of which worked in Advertising on Madison Avenue, devised an agenda, to use propaganda and turn the tide of America's disregard and ambivalence for homosexuality by 180 degrees.

If you look around, you'll see that it's not just actors in Hollywood, but also many of your friends and neighbors who have embraced this propaganda, likely without their knowledge.

The book is well-written-though slanted, and apparently, effective. Due to subject matter, I recommend this as a book for adults.

137 of 207 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars methods to manipulate public opinion, August 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90's (Plume) (Paperback)

As a summary of methods to manipulate and control opinion, this book is an example of how to achieve a goal (public opinion modification), without recourse to fact, reason, or fair play. A propagandists dream, it is best summed up in two of its own quotes "Thus propagandistic advertising can depict all opponents of the gay movement as homophobic bigots who are 'not Christian' and the propoganda can further show them as being criticized, hated and shunned}".... "Our effect is achieved without reference to facts, logic or proof.... the person's beliefs can be altered whether he is conscious of the attack or not" (p. 152-153) Answers questions as to how a group of less then 2% of the population, can attain political and media clout completely out of proportion to their size or condition

24 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prophetic book with a message for today, May 8, 2001

By 

Justin Starkenburg (Raleigh, NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90's (Plume) (Paperback)

This book is a look at how gay activism can become more pragmatic and realistic. While "shock" tactics may be fun and a wonderful outlet for our pent up emotions (and may even have their place), this book shows why they are not effective at changing society or government. The first part of this book shows how to change society, using the same propaganda that is unfortunately being used against us by ignorant ministers and politicans whose lies and propaganda are absorbed faster than truth and reason by our society. The second half of the book explains how, despite the wonder and goodness of much of the gay community, some maladaptive behaviors have appeared in the gay community (primarily due to its persecution from less evolved members of our society) and how we can combat them to make our community even better and more nurturing. I don't agree with every conclusion the author makes, but it is a truly sobering message for gays and lesbians today; work with the system as it is or be second class citizens forever.