Throw Some D’s On It, Teach: Temple Prof Has Had Sex With 50,000 People
So when you’re perusing the listings for this year’s Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which starts on July 10 BTW, and you get to thinking that it’s all processed drag queens and Aberzombies, stop yourself and know this: The freak flag flies, um, hard with Polymath, or the Life and Opinions of Samuel R. Delany, Gentleman:
The man they call Santa Claus on the street, he’s had 35 books published, teaches creative writing at Temple University — and claims to have had over 50,000 sexual partners so far. Samuel (Chip) Delaney [pictured] is a fascinating man of contradictions as this engrossing documentary by Fred Barney Taylor attests. Fusing meditative imagery with Delaney’s ramblings, home movies, readings and even a film he made, The Polymath is as intellectually curious as its subject is. Born in Harlem in 1942, Delaney tells in vivid detail his experiences as a writer, teacher and gay sexual explorer. Among his staggeringly diverse body of work are the noted science fiction novels “Dhalgren,” “Nova” and “Babel-17.” Opening with his life story, Delaney tells of an ordinary day as a young writer in New York City. He’d alternate writing with cruising for sex on the streets, in parks and in subway restrooms; and his memories of the trucks on the West Side and the orgy room at The Everard Baths are recounted with impressive sharpness.
Whoa. We wanna party with this guy. But, you know, with the aid of a plastic bubble.
PIGLFF: Polymath, or the Life and Opinions of Samuel R. Delany, Gentleman
June 26th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Not just sharp, but this guy’s funny as hell too, and real cool to hang out with. Kinda surprised he’s new to Philebs’ radar, guess it takes a bit of effort to get notice from outside the plastic bubble.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Whoa ! Most Philadelphians put themselves in an automatic plastic bubble when it comes to the sex lives of gay people–especially black gay men whose lives are completely foreign. Delaney’s entire story is about attempting to destroy that bubble. Though it may be hard to see it from the viewpoint of this blogger’s “sense of humor”, that bubble comment is a classic example of a certain “liberal” attitude towards gays and gay sexuality: let us party with you, but for god’s sake don’t touch us!