Acknowledges his affection... for camaraderie!

Art Historian Benoit Jodoin Explores the Power of Queer Friendships in New Essay

Benoit Jodoin, a renowned art historian with a Ph.D. from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales and the University of Quebec in Montreal, has recently published a new essay titled "Archives of Our Imperfect Friendships". This thought-provoking piece focuses on the friendship between queer men, offering a unique perspective on the subject.

In his essay, Jodoin discusses the importance of friendly dates and correspondence in queer lives. He suggests that suggesting to a friend to go canoeing or grab a coffee at Saint-Joseph's Oratory is beautifully strange and encourages being strange and unpredictable. He believes that these encounters can act as a "safe house" against solitude and repression.

Jodoin conceives of queer friendship as a relationship that is radically free, undetermined, flexible, and fragile. He evokes great male friendships from history such as Whitman and Vaughan, Proust and Montesquiou, Gandhi and Kellenbach, Rimbaud and Verlaine, Dalí and García Lorca, to emphasize the profound impact these relationships have had on society.

The essayist associates kindness with the works of Pema Chödrön, a bhikshuni, and believes that shared affinities help invent who we are and what we love. He suggests that even imperfect or temporary queer friendships have the power to ward off solitude and repression, making uncertainty a political project.

Contrary to some expectations, the essay does not criticize any decisions made by Mark Carney in the digital field, nor does it discuss Canadian economic policies or digital sovereignty. It also does not offer a sociologist's gaze on a film titled "Her", nor does it mention any former prime minister named Jean Charest or any melancholic vision of the future signed Spike Jonze.

Interestingly, Jodoin's debut essay, "Why I Don't Write", discusses personal and political anxiety affecting creativity. In his new work, he mentions his enthusiasm for self-help books, specifically the works of Pema Chödrön, starting with "When Things Fall Apart".

Correspondence is believed by Jodoin to be the ideal form of writing to account for friendship. The new essay, "Archives of Our Imperfect Friendships", takes the form of a letter addressed to a queer friend. This intimate approach adds a personal touch to the essay, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the dynamics of queer friendships.

In conclusion, Benoit Jodoin's new essay provides a refreshing and insightful exploration of queer friendships. It encourages readers to embrace the strange and unpredictable, to find solace in imperfect relationships, and to make uncertainty a political project. The essay is a testament to the power of friendship and the role it plays in combating solitude and repression.