Guibert of Nogent was a classically educated, highly self-consciousness monk born at Clermont in northern France, probably about 1055. He studied and lived at the eminent abbey of Saint-Germer de Fly before being appointed abbot of the small, poor abbey of Nogent in 1104. Like most men, Guibert had a difficult life and received little public notice for his efforts. Guibert’s Monodiae {Songs of myself} is an autobiographical and historical work that provides vital insight into the personal thoughts of an ambitious but largely undistinguished learned medieval man.
Inmate-partner violence hurts men, old, young, fat & thin. It has compelled men to accept being cuckolded and castrated. Those are terrible sacrifices. … Read the post men forced to offer sacrifices amid intimate-partner violence
As Guibert of Nogent understood, the classical idea of beauty was closely associated with desire. Guibert noted that desire requires from men sexual labor. … Read the post women’s beauty and men’s under-appreciated work of desire
Heloise of the Paraclete was famed within her lifetime for learning. Guibert of Nogent, no less learned but scarcely known, disparaged himself for his sins. … Read the post Guibert of Nogent in Heloise’s light: dark nights of internalized misandry
In Guibert of Nogent’s Monodiae, hanging by the pundenda was torturing the penis. Modern philology has generally failed to represent accurately the penis. … Read the post torturing the penis: enlightened philology’s failure to represent
Violence against men predominates among violent acts, targeting men based on their sexual difference. Men’s safety needs more attention than women’s safety. … Read the post understanding violence against men: testicles & penis often targeted
Guibert of Nogent tells of a sinful pilgrim to St. James of Compostela. The devil, disguised as St. James, instructs the man to castrate and kill himself. … Read the post the devil’s misandry: “cut off your penis and kill yourself”