General Idea
Life & Work by Sarah E. K. Smith
In 1971 in Toronto, shortly after General Idea began producing work, the key publication The Body Politic was founded. Described as“ Canada’ s gay newspaper of record,” it was a highly controversial and embattled publication. In the same period, other spontaneous actions of civil resistance and community organization occurred. For instance, a series of small-scale picnics on Hanlan’ s Point, Toronto Islands, began in concert with civil rights marches. Despite these moments of declaration, equality remained elusive, and there existed widespread violence against and surveillance and repression of LGBT communities. In 1978 The Body Politic was charged with obscenity. General Idea participated in a public demonstration against this censorship in January 1979, contributing a performance titled Anatomy of Censorship, 1979.
The fight for LGBT equality continued in the 1980s. Operation Soap was a pivotal moment in the Canadian fight for LGBT civil rights. On February 5, 1981, the Toronto police coordinated a large-scale raid on four Toronto bathhouses, leading to the arrest of more than three hundred men— including Zontal. This raid led to public outcry and large protests, which galvanized support across the country and reframed the struggle for equality as one of human rights.
General Idea’ s work should be understood in the context of this paradigm shift. Though their art is now seen as unabashedly speaking to queer identity, this theme was not addressed by critics until the mid-1980s. In the art world at the time, sexuality was not a topic that could be raised. The artists did not experience censorship; rather, this facet of their projects was simply ignored. Bronson explained,“ Sexuality was kind of a dangerous subject in the art world. Sex was never touched upon. And, to call yourself a gay artist would be, of course, the death knell of your career.”
Despite this, General Idea made many brazen and playful references to queer identity in their works, such as Baby Makes 3, 1984 / 89. In
Cover of the first issue of The Body Politic( November – December 1971)
this portrait, Bronson, Zontal, and Partz are depicted in bed together, with the covers pulled up to their chins. Rosy cheeks and softly rounded faces suggest innocence and
infantalization. The trio alludes to a traditional nuclear family while also suggesting a queering of this format. This reference to family also reflects the nature of General
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Cover of The Body Politic: Special Police Raid Issue( February 1978)
LEFT: General Idea, Baby Makes 3, 1984 / 89, chromogenic print( Ektachrome), 76.9 x 63.1 cm, edition of three plus one artist’ s proof, signed and numbered, various collections RIGHT: General Idea, Mondo Cane Kama Sutra( detail), 1984, fluorescent acrylic on canvas, 243.8 x 304.8 x 10 cm, Collection General Idea. This painting is one from a set of ten that comprise the work