Observing the 1980s
Blake, Jonathan (Part 1 of 9)
- Add a note
Log in to add a note at the bottom of this page.
- All notes
- My notes
- Hide notes
- Add to playlist
Log in to add this item to one of your personal lists.
- Add to favourites
Log in to add and display this item in your personal list of favourites on the right hand side of this page.
The British Library Board acknowledges the intellectual property rights of those named as contributors to this recording and the rights of those not identified.
Legal and ethical usage »
Type
sound
Duration
00:31:42
Shelf mark
C456/104
Subjects
Gay Rights
Recording date
1991
Recording locations
Interviewee's home
Interviewees
Blake, Jonathan, (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Farnham, Margot, (speaker, female)
Abstract
Part 1: Jonathan Blake (JB) born July 1949. Talks about family history; father's patriotism, Conservatism and Jewish faith. Anti-semitism; middle class attitudes. His private schooling; competing with his brother; feeling alienated due to Jewishness and sexuality. His early homosexual fantasies, attractions, encounters. Interest in acting, theatre; influence of John Gielgud. 'Coming out' to parents. Attitudes to his Judaism; to death; his response to his HIV status. Tape Two: talks about school environment; his sexual activities; Combined Cadet Force; his rebellious behaviour. JB's place at drama school: influence of Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley. No significant relationships at school; meeting Nigel: impact and effect. Influence of 1960s. JB's exploration of his sexual identity; his political awareness; Kings Road in 1960s. Political education when in New York, 1974-75. London gay scene; effects of Sexual Reform Act of 1967. Talks about cottaging and living a lie; danger of abuse; his interest and involvement in drama scene over emerging gay movement. His attendence at Gay Pride marches; influence of America gay culture. Tape Three: talks about working as Assistant Stage Manager at Derby Playhouse; his Equity card; gay culture in theatre: intolerance of gay political expression; anti-gay discrimination; his contempt for white middle class culture. Prominence of Solidarity in 1980. JB's involvement in Polish film. 1978-79, his work on Scottish production with Ken Campbell. Talks about working in gay restaurant; being diagnosed as HIV positive. 1983: meeting Nigel; involved with gay productions; gay liberation. Talks about vulnerable and promiscuous sexual culture re AIDS. Describes his time in New York: working; gay culture. Discusses his hatred of his middle-class upbringing; 'coming out' to his parents; hiding his HIV status; 'The Homosexual Matrix'; his mother's death. Tape Four: visiting his mother on her death bed; being excluded. Talks about his suicide attempt; joining Gays for a Nuclear Free Future; costume making and weaving; London College of Fashion; living in housing co-operative in Brixton. Miner's strike; involvement in Lesbians and Gay Men Support The Miners; JB's criticism of Thatcher era; debates in mining community re women's relationships. Talks about becoming ill; being diagnosed; his response; being tested at James Pringle House. His suicide attempt and susequent decision to become 'healthy.' Discusses death's of friends from AIDS; his attitudes to living and dying. Opera, theatre and his costume making. Tape Five: his work continued. Reflects on effect of Thatcher's rule on gay community; critical of Clause 28: licence to queer-bash; cottaging and arrests. Talks about suspicions among gay community re AIDS epidemic; considers changes needed before sexual freedom is achieved. End of interview.
Description
Interviewed for the Hall-Carpenter Oral History Project
Metadata record: