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BOOK REVIEW
LESBIANS IN LITERATURE:
By Marc Lewis (The Lesbian Body, by Monique Wittig, translated from the French by David LeVay, William Morrow & Co., Inc., New York, 1975, $5.95; The Rubyfruit Jungle, by Rita Mae Brown, Daughters, Inc., Plainfield, Vermont, 1973, $4.00)
It is becoming increasingly evident that gay literature has finally begun to get some depth to it no more shallow character sketches and simplistic plots of earlier lavender novels. And though The Front Runner will probably be the standard bearer of the new, popular and highly reputable gay literature, the male-oriented gay novel will not necessarily dominate the attention of the critics. Not, that is, if Monique Wittig and Rita Mae Brown have anything to say about the lesbian in gay literature.
In what reads like a feminist's SONG OF SONGS, Ms. Wittig has penned more a poem than a novel in The Lesbian Body.From erotic incantations to pungent and visceral descriptions of journeys through the body of woman a "story" of sorts is woven: the love of woman for woman in a world of women told in pure erotic sensuality. For some of the more sensitive readers, the sensuality and sexuality may be too much, however. And this may be one of the factors that will keep most prospective readers away from The Lesbian Body.
a
Another drawback is the writer's style. In fact, both Margaret Crosland, who authors the introduction to the novel, and Ms. Wittig, in an author's note, take time to explain and defend one aspect of that style. A third explanation by reviewer would be the epitome of redundancy, so let it suffice to say that Ms. Wittig feels the use of the normal first person pronoun of I, me, etc., is so tied to the maleness of HUMANITY, that new words must be devised that can represent "pure female." Though understandable, these kinds of verbal gymnastics will more than likely irritate the casual reader.
Does The Lesbian Body have any merit? Yes! There is no question that it is a major literary achievement, both within gay literature and within feminist literature. That it will be "popular", even among the hard-core feminists, is hard to conceive. That the novel should be read by literary critics and those who would be authorities on the lesbian in literature is a foregone conclusion.
An eminently more readable novel, and one that should be quite "popular" among both male and female gays as well as all anti-sexists is Rita Mae Brown's The Rubyfruit Jungle. In fact I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be richly rewarded for the time spent with this book. A quick-paced, first person
reader
narrative, it has the laughing, crying and cheering -and sometimes all at once!
Beginning with her childhood in York, Pennsylvania, Molly Bolt enchants us with childhood recollections of her enterprising other imagination: charging seven-eight year olds admission to an after school peep show featuring "the world's ugliest dick and her calculating temper, making a peace offering of a box of Sunmaid raisins laced with rabbit turds to a "snitcher"!
These escapades and the bitter-sweet memories of her stepparents instantly win Molly the
as
a
understanding and the sympathy of her audience. For even as a child Molly is already an outcast, not as gay but bastard. And her stepmother, Carrie, taunts Molly with the knowledge of her illegitimacy as a means of punishment and as a misguided attempt "to something of her."
make
It is not Carrie's fumbling and feeble efforts but rather a series of human experiences that formulate the social, psychological and value orientation of the novel's heroine. From a couple of gay affairs as an adolescent to the poignant experience of the death of an "aunt" she greatly respected for her courage and feminine dignity to seeing her stepfather in the arms of another man in a moment of crisis to her first real love. Molly is formed by her desires and her environment into a woman of remarkable humor, honesty and courage.
From Pennsylvania, Molly and her family move to Florida where Molly completes her highly successful high school career and enters the University of Florida. There the affair Molly is having with her roommate, Faye Raider, is discovered and the first major case of sex discrimination shakes Molly's life. Her scholarship is revoked. With no money to continue her education, she heads for New York to find that the gay life there is as difficult as it is in cities smaller and less progressive, though for different
reasons.
The novel's pace picks up momentum as Molly meets an assortment of gay and straight personalities that continue to shape her attitudes and her
HIGH GEAR
future. A young male homosexual is her first, though temporary friend. Then through
а
bizzare "job" Molly gets enough money to take a rundown flat in the Village. After a series of mishaps at trying to go to NYU full-time and hold down insignificant part time jobs, she finds a full time job with a publishing company and continues her schooling at night. Her goal: a film director, one of the most impossible ambitions a woman could have. But that doesn't stop Molly!
Her job at the publishing company gets her the money she
needs for her education and
I
!
November, 1975
Dr. Dolores Noll.
Cont. from P. 9
High Gear: Is leadership the key to accelerated gay activism? Dr. Noll: There is a need for
leadership and structure in the
one
was
gay movement; however we have to watch out for the "superstars." Being involved can become an ego trip and possibly hurt what originally trying to accomplish. We should be careful to avoid selective leadership, because we can't afford to neglect all others. If the movement is not cautious, we'll be taken over too much by the American media's need for molding "superstars."
High Gear: We cannot resist asking you some questions in your capacity as a scholar. Do you agree with the contention that gays have played a disproportionately significant
role in the arts?
Dr. Noll: I think it's impossible to prove superior gay creativity one way or another because gay history has been oppressed, and we'll never know about the work of many past gays especially lesbians. Gays exist in all levels of life with all kinds of different abilities. We just can't
generalize.
High Gear: Do you think there is a historical gay sub-culture?
Dr. Noll: So far as women are concerned, we don't know about our sub-culture previous to the 1920's. For men, maybe earlier than that, but not much. As more
culture, we will piece our history together. We're just now beginning to learn about our past.
also provides more light-hearted | gay scholars study the gay submoments as well as the opportunity for an ill-fated affair with one of the company's authors, Polina Bellatoni. A middle-aged woman who at first rejects the idea of a homosexual relationship, Polina eventually becomes so possessive a lover that she creates a major crisis that involved not only herself and Molly, but also Polina's sixteen year-old daughter, Alice.
Through these personal and professional crises, Molly's preparation as a film director continues. When her final production, a senior film project, is to be submitted Molly chooses a documentary on the life of her stepmother. The simple yet dramatic film production becomes not only Molly's reconciliation with her past but also a testimony to her potential in the film industry. And with this final triumph, Rita Mae Brown has completed a warm and compelling portrait of a fictional character of heroic proportions. At the novel's end Molly looks forward to her future with the following aspirations:
High Gear: As gay visibility increases, do you see a "golden age" of gay culture; i.e., the emergence of gay folkways, expanded gay entertainment, and gay themes in the fine arts?
Dr. Noll: I don't know if it will be a "golden age," because our future is dependent on the activities of all other homosapiens and their politics. I definitely believe, though, that there will be many more gay themes in all phases of human production and creativity.
High Gear: If we may tap your personal philosophy and experience, what do you regard as the components of a "good", if not "ideal" gay relationship with society and with each other?
Dr. Noll: The standard middle class attitude restricts gays from ja number of humane social ser-
"I wish I could walk down the streets and not hear those constant abrasive sounds from the mouths of the opposite sex. Damn, I wish the world would let me be myself... I wish I could make my films. That wish I can | work for. One way or another I'll make those movies and I don't
feel like having to fight until I'm ! fifty. But if it does take that long! then watch out world because "'m going to be the hottest fiftyyear-old this side of the Mississippi."
Right on, Molly!
vices. Gays cannot get legally
married, (receiving tax breaks), adopt children, or receive the benefits of constructively objective counseling. In essence we encounter significant difficulties in receiving support to simply maintain ourselves. Cultivating. encouragement and support from the society-at-large will aid the mental and physical health of all our people.
I think the components of a "good" gay relationship between two lovers must include honesty which means not only not lying, but also being able to talk about anything that is bothering you. Open relationships are difficult to experiment with. It is my personal belief that one can have a long term permanent relationship with another person, and still have relationships with others sexually and emotionally Monogamy is very difficult too. A couple should choose what is best for both of them Monogamy is not the ideal; honesty is.
High Gear: Do you feel that drag either male or female perpetuates stereotypes?
Dr. Noll: 1 have mixed feelings. As a gay liberationist, I feel that people should dress and act as they wish. Some feminists, and myself to some degree, feel that the male drag is perpetuating the superficial image of women that we're trying to get away from. One of the men at KGLF recently said that what drags need is women's liberation to understand what womanhood is really all about. Personally, I don't think much about it. If anyone wants to go in drag, they should have that right to do it. Let's not worry too much about stereotypes.
High Gear: What are your personal plans for the future?
Dr. Noll: expect to stay at KSU for the remainder of my teaching career. I plan to continue my activity in gay liberation in some form. I'd like to see more faculty members come out and get involved so that they might take my place, leaving me free for other gay involvements. I'm quite interested in the relationships of the gay movement to the feminist and socialist movements and hope to pursue those philosophies more in the future. There's much to think about and even more tc do...