Saint Sebastian from Roman Martyr to Queer Icon

This book traces the afterlives of Saint Sebastian from martyr and plague saint to queer icon and socio-political protest figure as represented within art and literature. According to Stephanie Höllinger and Stephan Goertz, few saints have as multifaceted a history as Saint Sebastian. Initially venerated as a local Roman saint in 354 AD, Saint Sebastian later became a popular plague saint in the 14th century and queer identification figure and universal protest icon in the 19th and 20th centuries. Höllinger and Goertz shine a light on this rich and varied history across seven chapters, placing particular interest in revealing Saint Sebastian's influence on contemporary art and literature. By turning to Saint Sebastian's representation in art across mediums and periods, this book uncovers a thought-provoking dialogue between theological, social, and political ideologies embodied by the saint. Their study of the queer Saint Sebastian similarly includes analyses of both literary and visual artworks, juxtaposing modern "classic" interpretations with largely unknown interpretations of the saint, including those by David Wojnarowicz, Richard Stott, and F. Holland Day. This book combines theology, cultural studies, and art history, querying why, and how, Saint Sebastian continues to maintain a presence within both religious and socio-political circles.