Comments on: On Whether Milan Kundera Is a Homophobic Asshole

By: Samantha

Samantha — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:01:51 +0000

I am writing only to address the point about misogyny, because I have yet to read The Curtain, either– though I intend to, along with all his works, because contrary to Kelly’s opinion, I have never read any discussion of human motivations that felt more real than Kundera’s. His discussion of men’s feelings and of women’s are equitable and insightful, and, most importantly, compassionate.

By: The Gay Recluse

The Gay Recluse — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:01:27 +0000

Thanks for the support, IHEARTRR! I’m obviously not about to disagree with anything you say. I also found it interesting that she agreed with my implicit assessment of Kundera as a closet-case, but was unwilling to make the jump to homophobe, when the two are invariably linked. Plus you always know people are on very shaky ground when they’re like: oh, you can’t possibly equate homophobia with racism etc etc etc. But all of that said, I was encouraged that we seemed to find a little common ground, although I would probably hesitate to define it!

By: I Heart Ryan Reynolds

I Heart Ryan Reynolds — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:16:19 +0000

Thanks for sticking to your argument against Kundera’s heteronormativity and against Stephanie’s rigid view of sexual identity. Incidentally, I love how Stephanie told you to leave her precious Wesleyan® out of it when, in fact, you had already left Wesleyan® out of it in the most important sense by not disclosing the name of her so-called university. She’s the one who dropped the Wesleyan® brand name. (BTW, Wesleyan? Not an “important university” by most standards. Just an elitist liberal arts college with a handful of graduate programs.) I guess she’s only getting her parents’ money’s worth if your readership knows that her brilliant ideas on sexuality are generated by a mind trained at ₩€$£€¥₳₦.

By: The Gay Recluse

The Gay Recluse — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:32:01 +0000

Thanks Kelly, I completely agree!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:19:39 +0000

I have not read the Curtain, but I have read many other Milan Kundera works, and so I was not surprised by your original post about him being a homophobe. His writing also tends toward the misogynistic. I think those two things often go hand in hand…