Arcadie Club
Encyclopedia
The Arcadie Club was a French homophile
organization established in the early 1950s by André Baudry, an ex-seminarian and philosophy professor.
, and began publishing the literary review Arcadie, which became the most important French homosexual publication of its time. During its years of operation, Arcadie became popular amongst a number of prominent French intellectual figures; Jean Cocteau
was one of the eaerliest contributors to its literary review.
The club strove to present gay and lesbian individuals as conventional members of French society. Historian Michael Sibalis describes the belief of the group "that public hostility to homosexuals resulted largely from their outrageous and promiscuous behaviour; homophiles would win the good opinion of the public and the authorities by showing themselves to be discreet, dignified, virtuous and respectable." As such, Arcadie prohibited overt demonstrations of romantic affection such as kissing on its dance floor.
Homophile
The word homophile is an alternative to the word for homosexual or gay. The homophile movement also refers to the gay rights movement of the 1950s and '60s....
organization established in the early 1950s by André Baudry, an ex-seminarian and philosophy professor.
Literary review
In 1954, the Arcadie Club was founded, the first homosexual group in French historyLGBT history in France
-prior to 1600:*10,000 years BC — Around the end of Paleolithic, mankind started to make artifacts which suggest an appreciation of homosexual eroticism...
, and began publishing the literary review Arcadie, which became the most important French homosexual publication of its time. During its years of operation, Arcadie became popular amongst a number of prominent French intellectual figures; Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María...
was one of the eaerliest contributors to its literary review.
Social club
In 1957, the club secured a clubhouse in Paris, from which it sponsored social gatherings, talks and cultural outings.The club strove to present gay and lesbian individuals as conventional members of French society. Historian Michael Sibalis describes the belief of the group "that public hostility to homosexuals resulted largely from their outrageous and promiscuous behaviour; homophiles would win the good opinion of the public and the authorities by showing themselves to be discreet, dignified, virtuous and respectable." As such, Arcadie prohibited overt demonstrations of romantic affection such as kissing on its dance floor.
Evolution and disbanding
At various points in its history, Arcadie also sponsored activities in the French provinces and in Belgium. The Arcadie club was known as the Club littâeraire et scientifique des Pays Latins (CLESPALA) and the Paris-Club. The group disbanded in 1982.Research Resources
- Arcadie Records, 1956-1979 (0.2 cubic feet) are housed at the Cornell University LibraryCornell University LibraryThe Cornell University Library is the library system of Cornell University. In 2010 it held 8 million printed volumes in open stacks, 8.5 million microfilms and microfiches, more than of manuscripts, and close to 500,000 other materials, including motion pictures, DVDs, sound recordings, and...
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections.