Men in Love : Male Homosexualities from Ganymede to Batman [Paperback]

Vittorio Lingiardi (Author), Robert H. Hopcke (Author), Paul A. Schwartz (Author), John Beebe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2002

Recent writings about homosexuality have tended toward either dry science or trendy self-help. But the mystery of human sexuality cannot be summed up using only psychoanalitic or biological models. In Men in Love, Jungian psychoanalist Vittorio Lingiardi traces the poetic roots of eros from ancient Greek times to modern times through myths, art, poetry, and symbols. From the rape of Ganymede to Michelangelo’s loves, from the relationship of Batman and Robin to the letters between Freud and Jung, this voyage speaks eloquently about the complex relationships between men. “A substantial and imaginative study ... pleasurable and edifying.” — David Leavitt, author of The Lost Language of Cranes

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

About the Author

John Beebe, president of the C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco and author of Integrity in Depth, will write a foreword. Co-translator Robert H. Hopcke is well known for books such as Fairy Tales: Traditional Tales Retold for Gay Men. Vittorio Lingiardi, M.D., is a practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in Milan. He is a professor of psychology at the University of Rome and a member of the International Association of Analytical Psychology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Open Court (April 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812695151
• ISBN-13: 978-0812695151
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,465,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read the book, October 28, 2005

By 

James Harper (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Men in Love : Male Homosexualities from Ganymede to Batman (Paperback)

I suspect Mr. Burnett didn't actually read this book, but simply reacted out of his latent resentment of any claims gay folks might have on our common human imagination. (Telling flaw in his argument: He feels the need to tell us that some of his friends are gay. Ok. But I bet he doesn't like to listen to their stories.)

All polemics aside, I found this book fascinating. Its basic premise is that we can come to know more about perennial forms of desire by seeing how they are reflected, over and over, in imaginary works of art. It draws common themes from more than 3000 years of storytelling. As for Batman and Robin, they are fictional characters of course, so who knows if they are straight or gay. But as any half-decent reader or movie-goer knows, the meaning of a story will always depend upon the specific buttons it pushes in the person reading or viewing the work.

For many of us, Batman and Robin certainly remind us of a certain kind of gay relationship, even if their homosexual behavior is not as explicit as Zeus and Ganymede's was. And that daddy/boy thing is not the only kind of homosexuality, as Dr. Lingiardi, a Jungian analyst, clearly points out.

If any of this interests you, then read the book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars our history thru the ages, April 5, 2009

By 

C. F. Lathm "mindful traveller" (naples, FL) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Men in Love : Male Homosexualities from Ganymede to Batman (Paperback)

as a gay man navigating the worlds of both heart and mind i was very intrigued by the books title and subject matter. the book is written like a research paper on male homosexuality, which was unexpected but none the less very compelling. the detail accounts of historical figures, and mythical both are very intriguing and thought provoking. at times the data presented does drone on and you find your mind wondering, but then any comprehensive study can have this tendency. overall i found this book to be informative, intriguing and even uplifting.
have and will recommend to others.

5 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summary, December 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Men in Love: Male Homosexualities from Ganymede to Batman (Hardcover)

From the rape of Ganymede to Michelangelo's loves, from the relationship of Batman and Robin to the letters between Freud and
Jung, this voyage speaks eloquently about the complex relationships between men.