Against the Canon: Jean Cocteau or the Rise of the Gay Cultural Icon

A very limited number of scholars who specialize in French art and/or literature and gay studies, have underlined the role played by Cocteau's work in the concept and articulation of homosexual identity. There is no doubt that Gide and Proust remain the central figures when it comes to studies dealing with homosexuality in modern literature, even if most scholars agree on the fact that their conceptualization of homosexual identity is outdated today. Thus any attempt to understand Cocteau's definition and representation of homosexuality without looking at his position toward Gide and Proust would be incomplete and inaccurate. In light of Cocteau's tumultuous relationship with Gide and Proust, this essay will attempt to retrace the emergence of Cocteau's written and visual discourse on homosexuality as well as his original role as a homosexual role model.