High-Low Demarcation Hits Queer Culture

In collaboration with GLBTQ.com, Cleis Press has recently brought out The Queer Encyclopedia of the Visual Arts. It's just one in a series of books that collate (and, I imagine, add to) the information found about queer contributions to civilized culture you'll find on their encyclopedic website. Then there's Alyson's Mondohomo, "your essential guide to queer pop culture." This is more of a collection of articles on various themes interspersed with lists like "Top 10 Movies Every Queer (or Straight) Person Should See," which starts rather unpromisingly by going through the standard rigmarole (All About Eve, ho hum) but then just says to watch Citizen Kane and The Godfather because they're so damn good. Mind you, by "queer" this book pretty much means "gay," so all you lesbian pop culture mavens will have to go find your own book. Unfortunately, it's also got pretty much the most tasteless anecdote I've read all year; what starts out as a heartwarming tale about a group of guys who did an AIDS Ride in 2001 turns sour when Madonna decides to add a concert to her tour...

In a desperate bid to see their favorite diva in concert, Steve and his then-boyfriend scrambled to purchase tickets for the new show, even though it meant flying back a day early. The two of them boarded an American Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles on September 10th, instead of their original plan to fly back on American Airlines 11, on September 11th. Never forget: Madonna saves lives.

I propose that even camp has its limits, and making light of the deaths of 92 people (not to mention the victims in the north tower) to celebrate a past-her-prime singer more than surpasses those limits. What was no doubt intended as a darkly humorous sigh of relief comes across as simply callous. I'm sure all the victims' families hope Steve and his boyfriend enjoyed the concert very much, especially since it was postponed until later in the week.