Homoseksualiteit in het spanningsveld tussen literatuur en wetenschap

Abstract

In her book Anders dan de anderen (2024), Mary Kemperink investigates the evolution of the concept of homosexuality through a detailed analysis of both literary and medical texts. Although less widely recognized, scientific inquiry into homosexuality began to emerge around the mid-nineteenth century. Kemperink elucidates the reciprocal influence between literature and medical theories, exploring how literary works contributed to the formation of scientific concepts related to homosexuality. Her research draws on a diverse range of literary and scientific sources, providing fresh insights into the social and intellectual dynamics of homosexuality’s representation in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This approach not only reveals the historical and social context of homosexuality but also underscores the pivotal role of cultural artifacts in shaping societal attitudes.

Keywords

• homosexuality
• literature
• medical sciences
• representation
• mary kemperink