Bonus! Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and the mystery of "animal magnetism"
For this week's bonus video, we'll spend a few moments in the 1970s, then jump back to the 1870s, and also take a little peek into the 1770s for some hypnotic theories about the origin of queer love. (And apologies for this week's bonus video being a few days late, I'm still catching up after last week's travel!)
As part of my research into queer vampire history (more about that in an upcoming video), I've been reading about the theories of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. He was a writer and activist, dedicated to queer causes in the 1800s, and he had some curious theories about what made a person attracted to their own gender: He was, at least at first, persuaded by the theory that we're all surrounded by an invisible magnetic fluid that pushes certain people together. A nice idea, but one he eventually discarded after moving to Berlin and meeting other gay men ... one of whom was a deeply mysterious figure who went by the name "Queen of the Night."
Plus! A little excerpt of my interview with Barry Bostwick!
Backup link to the video: https://youtu.be/n5n0jM1RHFA
Comments (3)
Uranus?! "Sisters, did you hear what he called you? Whatever shall we do with him?"
Here is a random piece of doggerel which my brain just decided to make up while I was watching this video: Karl Heinrich Ulrich had yearnings for urnings And all of the urnings had very great burnings Electrical sparks! Oh the things we are learning! And the Queen of the Night may perhaps be returning...
Oooh what a lovely piece! I went camp with quoting, but you actually made something.