Jack Malebranche

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Jack Malebranche

Malebranche in November 2007
Born October 23, 1974
Occupation Author, artist
Religious beliefs Satanist
Website
Official website

Jack Malebranche is an American artist, author, and ordained priest in the Church of Satan. An outspoken critic of the gay community, Malebranche is primarily known for his commentary on the relationship between homosexuality and masculinity presented in his 2007 book, Androphilia, A Manifesto: Rejecting the Gay Identity, Reclaiming Masculinity. Mark Simpson, British journalist and editor of the 1995 book Anti-Gay, called Malebranche, "a straight-talking Drill Instructor for today’s gay generation, weaning them off pop divas and bear beauty pageants and licking them into a more manly, more self-reliant shape, ready to re-join the masculine fray."[1]

Contents

[edit] Androphilia

Androphilia, A Manifesto: Rejecting the Gay Identity, Reclaiming Masculinity released by Scapegoat Publishing in March, 2007, is a polemic directed at the gay community and contemporary gay culture. In Androphilia, Malebranche employs the word androphilia to distinguish his own experience of homosexual desire, which he defines as a "Mars/Mars" attraction between two men, and the label "gay" which, Malebranche claims, is inseparable from connotations of effeminacy and "a whole cultural and a political movement that promotes anti-male feminism, victim mentality, and leftist politics."[2] Malebranche uses the term androphilia to emphasize masculinity in both the object and the subject of male homosexual desire, and rejects the gender nonconformity that he sees in gay identity. Malebranche advocates withdrawal from the gay community and mainstream gay culture, the rejection of the label "gay," for those men who feel limited by it, and advises those men to concentrate on developing friendships with heterosexual men and to explore traditional male gender roles.

In an essay separate from the manifesto itself, entitled "Agreements Between Men," Malebranche makes an aesthetic argument against same-sex marriage, opting for more private arrangements and expressions of bonds, inspired by male friendships instead of heterosexual romance. When asked about legal bans on same-sex marriage, Malebranche clarified that he was "sympathetic to some sort of legal arrangement" but "against same-sex marriage, using the word marriage," on the grounds that marriage is a cultural institution with, "too much historical baggage."[3]

Some critics have argued that Malebranche tends to make too many "harsh, negative generalizations" about the gay community and have described his delivery in Androphilia as "alienating."[4] Others have implied that Malebranche wants to push gay men back into "the closet."[5] One reviewer, writing for Canadian gay newspaper Xtra!, compared Malebranche to a character in a John Rechy novel, who "puts a kitten in a brown paper bag and drowns it in his bathtub" in an effort to "validate his masculinity."[6]

Mark Thompson, gay author and former senior editor of The Advocate (1975-1994), agreed with some of Malebranche's critiques of the gay community "in principle," writing that, "Our popular gay male culture is inundated with countless examples of gay men living shallow, addicted lives--one of many among a tribe of lost "boys" who live only for their own burnished image until it all becomes too late." Thompson also acknowledged that he would "be among the first to clock the egregious ways of what [he has] long called "Gay Inc." and its nasty habits of siphoning hard-won dollars into self-perpetuating bureaucracies." However, Thompson called for unity and found Malebranche's statement that the victimization and oppression of homosexual males was for the most part "an illusion" promoted by gay activists to raise money to be "disingenuous," citing various examples of what Thompson believed to be serious challenges faced by a wide range of GLBT people. According to Thompson, Androphilia's message was really only relevant for a "relatively narrow swath of white middle-class gays."[7]

Queer literature reviewer Richard LaBonte advised readers against writing off Androphilia completely, stating that the book was "a heartfelt argument that “the gay identity” is too sissy, too socialist, and way too libertine for this man-loving man." LaBonte compared Malebranche to Andrew Sullivan, Bruce Bawer, and Daniel Harris, and identified Androphilia's message as "an extreme manifestation of their kind of stereo-phobia." [8]

Other writers have applauded Androphilia or embraced the label of "androphile" wholeheartedly. Nick Pell, who interviewed Malebranche for Portland, Oregon's Just Out, wrote that Androphilia was "relevant and timely," and would soon be "required reading for young homosexual men looking for an alternative to disco balls, rainbow flags and celebrity gossip."[9] Matt Moody wrote in his review for the San Diego-based Gay and Lesbian Times that "finally, finally, another gay man is advocating what I’ve believed for years: the belief that men who admire or love men should be more responsible, not give into the effeminate gay cultural fad, avoid the personal, career, and social pitfalls common to those who live in a completely emasculated world, and build stronger ties with heterosexual men who share common interests."[10] Homoerotic fetish artist Drubskin described Androphilia as a "liberating read," and wrote approvingly of Malebranche's challenges to "old thinking," "victim mentality" and "the prejudices and castrating influences of Feminism and The Gay Movement."[11]

[edit] Affiliation with the Church of Satan

Jack Malebranche is an ordained priest in the Church of Satan. As a media representative for that organization he has been interviewed for Trinity Broadcast Network's The Way of the Master and has appeared twice on Vancouver, Canada-based OMNI.10's The Standard program, in addition to having been interviewed as a Satanist for several online and on-air radio shows. Malebranche has also written articles for Satanic zines including The Black Flame. [12]

[edit] Artwork

Between 2005 and 2007, Malebranche produced a series of velvet paintings of dictators, serial killers and other potentially offensive subjects, advertising them as "Velvet Paintings of the Damned." The portraits of serial killers were part of a travelling exhibition [13] and were reproduced as part of a serial killer-themed collection of trading cards and calendars.[14] Other works have been incorporated into the web site of the UNPOP art movement.[15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Malebranche, Jack (2007). Androphilia, A Manifesto: Rejecting the Gay Identity, Reclaiming Masculinity. Baltimore, MD.: Scapegoat Publishing, 144. (Simpson quote on back cover). ISBN 0-9764035-8-7. 
  2. ^ Malebranche, Jack (2007). Androphilia, A Manifesto: Rejecting the Gay Identity, Reclaiming Masculinity. Baltimore, MD.: Scapegoat Publishing, 144. ISBN 0-9764035-8-7. 
  3. ^ Gardner, Will. "Androphilia: Rejecting the Gay Identity, Reclaiming Masculinity", The Portland Mercury Vol. 7 No. 52, p. 39, 5/24/2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-16. 
  4. ^ Piechota, Jim. "Defensive Tackle", Bay Area Reporter, Vol. 37 Issue 13, p38-38, 1/4p, 03/29/2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-16. 
  5. ^ Beck, Byron. "Jack Malebranche Is Totally Not Gay: The World According To An "Androphile"", Willamette Week Vol. 33, Issue 28, p. 52, 5/23/2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-16. 
  6. ^ Syms, Shawn. "Manly Men Unite!", Xtra!, Issue 587, p17-17, 1/2p, Pink Triangle Press, 4/26/2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-16. 
  7. ^ Thompson, Mark (Summer 2007). "ANDROPHILIA: A Manifesto.". Lambda Book Report Vol. 15, Issue 2: p15-15, 1p. 
  8. ^ "Androphilia: A Manifesto Rejecting the Gay Identity, Reclaiming Masculinity.", San Francisco Bay Times, 5/10/2007, pp. p18-18, 1/9p. Retrieved on 2008-01-20. 
  9. ^ Pell, Nick. "Review: Being a Man - Author deconstructs the stigma of effeminacy.", Just Out, Vol. 24 Issue 14, p15-15, 2/3p; (AN 25151865), 5/18/2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-20. 
  10. ^ Moody, Matt. "Review: ‘Androphilia’ reclaims the masculine identity", Gay and Lesbian Times (San Diego), Issue 1037, p38-38, 1p, 11/8/2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-20. 
  11. ^ Drubskin (11/8/2007). Androphilia - A Review. Drub's World. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
  12. ^ Malebranche, Jack. "The Cycle – Fecundity Demands a Cruel Balance in Anthony Burgess' The Wanting Seed", The Black Flame Vol. 16, Hell's Kitchen Productions, Inc., 2005, pp. 37–39. ISSN 1523-410X. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 
  13. ^ Miliard, Mike. "Death Be Not Proud", The Boston Phoenix, October 21 - 27, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 
  14. ^ Serial Killer Calendar. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  15. ^ UNPOP Art. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.

[edit] External links