Iconic Androgyne: Byron's Role in Romantic Sexual Counter Culture

• Other Authors: Lofdahl, William M. (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: English literature
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-1096

Iconic Androgyne" explores the nature of androgyny in both the poetical works of Lord Byron and in the composition of Byron's own persona. Most contemporary scholarship approaches androgyny from a queer theory or feminist theoretical base, and explore androgyny as a condition where a male character slides away from absolute masculine subjectivity to occupy a space that hovers somewhere between the masculine and feminine poles. The result of this idea is that scholars most often view the androgyne as lacking power. This paper seeks to reevaluate the androgyne and redefine it in a new environment wherein the persona incorporates the strongest elements of both genders to create a powerful third sex. Lord Byron helped to create himself as a mythical androgyne who was eagerly received by a counter-culture comprised of youth and the rising urban, working class whose radical agenda was to seek social equality, which included sexual democracy. Thus, the mythic Byron persona became a figure for a socio-sexual revolution behind which the counter-culture could rally. Byron's influence is still felt in the modern day as androgynous or sexually ambiguous celebrities such as David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and other leaders of the Glam rock revolution took up the reins to drive the revolution that Byron began. === A Thesis Submitted to the Department of English in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts. === Summer Semester, 2005. === May 2, 2005. === Counter-Culture, Sexuality, Androgyny, Byron === Includes bibliographical references. === James O’Rourke, Professor Directing Thesis; Eric Walker, Committee Member; Barry Faulk, Committee Member.