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This Episode:
Today we have an episode and discussion on the history of libertinism in the 18th century between me, your host, Brian Watson (@historyofporn), and Thomas Froh (@T_Froh), who is officially now Dr. Thomas Froh! Thomas' dissertation is on libertinism, specifically in 18th century anglo-french literature--a very dry phrase for sexy books and erotica in the 1700s! He is here today to talk with me and us about transgression and erotica in the long 18thC! We have a great discussion on various libertine authors, ideas, and sexy books of the 18th century and even include a bit on BDSM.
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I found it interesting how you said the libertine culture of elite men being almost criminally debauched and sexually predatory was something that helped fuel the French Revolution and was somewhat brought to an end by it.
My question is how far back would you roughly trace that type of elite culture in Europe before the 17th century? Is it something that sort of emerged in the Renaissance or does it go back to the Middle Ages? I vaguely know about Carmina Burana from around the 12th century that seems to have a pretty libertine ethos in some parts, but then that was also contrasted by ideals of chivalry and courtly love... I think. I don't really know what I'm talking about, but if that makes any sense.
Hey guys! Dr. Froh here. A huge thank you to r/AskHistorians for interviewing me, and especially Brian (/u/AnnalsPornographie) who I've been looking forward to talking with for ages.
Also a sincere apology for the quality of my connection and the way it affects the audio. I'm currently living in (very) rural Wales and the internet is dismal. For what its worth it improves a lot from around the 30 minute mark after I started a local recording.
What is the book Aesthetics of the Moment? Can't find it. I don't know much about libertines in the 18th century but would like to know more about the fixation on time. Almost sounds like a Buddhist's thing. Is Geometry in the Boudoir is worth looking into for a person with a passing interest in 18th century men's assessment of female desire? I mean I enjoyed Elizabeth Grosz' The Nick of Time but it's based more on philosophy and biology than literature. All I remember from De Sade is a girl sticking her cooch in a bowl of milk and someone read than out loud to me... So, I've got a McLuhan type interest in the history of sexuality in culture. Digital age feels like a strange time to be embodied. You are studying the printing press era. Which is great and all but also responsible for Malleus Maleficarum... and the King James Bible. I'm getting off topic here.
Really fascinating discussion; thank you both!
Was the use of some of the more explicit texts as a masturbatory aid something that was at all publicly acknowledged or widely practiced? Do we simply assume this was the case given their graphic content?