Dialogue and Deviance: Male-Male Desire in the Dialogue Genre

In this review of Dialogue and Deviance, R. Sturges offers a focused historical study for readers interested in how the literary dialogue has been used to represent male-male erotic desire from antiquity to the postmodern era. The book's single biggest strength is its clarity of framing: Sturges traces three distinct traditions that spring from different Platonic dialogues and then maps their influence through Roman, medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment, modern and postmodern periods, making this a valuable resource for scholars seeking a sustained linkage between genre and changing cultural valuations of erotic deviance.

Key Features

• Historical scope: The study follows three literary-philosophical traditions across multiple historical periods, helping readers see long-term patterns and shifts in attitudes toward male-male desire.
• Genre focus: By concentrating on the dialogue form, Sturges shows how a single genre repeatedly becomes the vehicle for expressing contested sexual and moral values.
• Textual lineage: Tracing influence from specific Platonic dialogues through Roman and medieval, Renaissance and Enlightenment, and modern and postmodern literatures clarifies lines of transmission for scholars and students.
• Cultural comparison: The book demonstrates that forms of erotic deviance were valued differently across periods and cultures, offering useful comparative perspective for historians of sexuality.
• Contemporary relevance: The historical perspective illuminates current debates over the place of homosexuality in modern Western thought, making the work pertinent beyond strictly historical audiences.

Who It's For

Dialogue and Deviance is best suited to graduate students, researchers, and instructors in literature, philosophy, queer studies, and intellectual history who want a focused account linking Platonic dialogue to later literary and philosophical treatments of male-male desire. Readers seeking close readings of primary literary texts within a long historical framework will find the book especially useful.

It is less well suited to readers looking for a popular or introductory overview of LGBTQ history, memoir, or broad social history; the emphasis on genre and textual transmission assumes some familiarity with Platonic dialogues and literary-critical methods.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Careful mapping of three traditions provides a clear structure for understanding long-term influences.
• The focus on the dialogue genre yields consistent comparative insight across periods.
• Useful for academic courses and research that intersect literature, philosophy, and queer studies.

Cons

• The book's specialized framing and academic tone may feel dense to readers without background in Platonic literature or literary criticism.

Specifications

Title	Dialogue and Deviance: Male-Male Desire in the Dialogue Genre
Author	R. Sturges
Scope	Platonic origins to postmodern traditions
Periods covered	Roman and medieval; Renaissance and Enlightenment; modern and postmodern
Main focus	Relationship between male-male erotic desire and the dialogue genre
Academic use	History, literature, philosophy, and queer studies courses

Our Verdict

Sturges delivers a tightly argued, historically minded study that rewards readers prepared for scholarly analysis; anyone teaching or researching the intersection of genre and sexuality will find the linkage between Platonic dialogues and later treatments of male-male desire compelling and well documented, making it a worthwhile investment for academic libraries and graduate reading lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover primary Platonic texts?
Yes; the argument is organized around specific Platonic dialogues and traces their influence through later periods.

Is this suitable for undergraduate courses?
It can be useful for advanced undergraduates in seminars, though the tone is largely scholarly and assumes some familiarity with literary criticism.

Does the book discuss contemporary debates?
Yes; Sturges connects the historical study to current debates about the place of homosexuality in modern Western thought.