Reviews (7)

Lacanian response
When I first read this book, I was pleased to see that Butler was returning to the problem of "gender performativity" she raised in *Gender Trouble.*I do believe that she was misunderstood as having claimed in *Gender Trouble* that the performativity constitutive of gender implies an infinite "plasticity" or freedom from the constraints of gender. Yet after reading *Bodies,* I felt that she evaded the question with which she opened the book:in what way can the "materiality" of anatomical sex be construed as a "discursive limit" to ideological constructions of gender without being understood as existing outside of discourse?I believe that Butler is ultimately indecisive about the status of the materiality of sex as either a pre- or extra-discursive "hard kernel of the Real" or (just like gender) another aspect of discourse.This is what leads to her very wrong-headed "critique" of the concept of "objet petit a" in the work of Slavoj Zizek and Jacques Lacan, very complex work which she oversimplifies and accuses of "reifying" or "essentializing" sex.Any serious student of Lacan knows that the a-object of fantasy is anything but "essential."It phantasmatically "dresses up" (to use Lacan's words in Seminar 14) a primordial psychic "hole," an *absence* or pure negativity where a "grounding" for discourse ought to be but is *lacking.* It's a shame that a book such as this which begins with a rigorous intellectual question degenerates into a sort of psychoanalytic dilettantism.

Major work from a major thinker that doesn't quite convince
The best thing about Judith Butler is that she is always willing to think through the consequences of her earlier writings. This book was a response to the criticism that emerged out of the groundbreaking conclusion to GENDER TROUBLE that argued for an understanding of gender as performative. Critics took Butler to task for arguing that gender is something that is simply an act of performative volition - one can "be" whatever one wants to be - irrespective of the materiality of the body. Here, Butler turns the tables (in a neat deconstructive move) by showing how this criticism presupposes the a priori existence of "bodies" and "matter" separate from discourse. Yet, after a brilliant introduction, the book becomes weighted down by its own psychoanalytic presuppositions and its tediously dense prose style. There is often no reason for Butler's writing to be as incomprehensible as it is, especially given the giant claims she's making about the nature of gender (other than to "perform" her writing's own indebtedness to Lacanian psychoanalysis and Althusserian critique). colossal hybris
This book drove me almost entirely insane.The essay if you can call it that on the film Paris is Burning is simply incendiary to any person with a trace element of logic in their scalp.This essay argues that Venus Extravaganza was murdered for having been a transvestite.In the film itself it says she/he is killed -- but what the NYPD cannot solve Butler solves in the twinkling of a phrase -- she claims he/she is erased for playing with the sexual line.Not for burning a customer, or for simply being in a dangerous business.Whores are wiped out all day and night for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.Ever hear of the Green River Killer?Still Butler knows the motive.She just invents anything she wants, and calls it truth.She actually infers that anybody has the right to invent their own reality, and everybody else has to honor this reality.Only an extremely stupid person who has never had to work for a living could keep such a dumb idea down without puking.Do you mean if I think I'm a millionaire and walk into a bank, they will give me a million dollars?Do you mean if I have cellulite all over my legs and breasts that I can be a top model, I just have to really believe it?Do you mean that if I think I'm a genius, then others will agree?Feminist academics who've never worked, but who love to dramatize their own victimization, will love this book.Everybody else will simply puke from laughing so hard. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminist theory    2. Gender Studies    3. General    4. Philosophy    5. Sex differences (Psychology)    6. Sex role    7. Sexual orientation    8. Sociology    9. Feminism    10. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Reviews (2)

Rewarding
Yes, the text is dense, but it is no more so than the tradition the author is working within.Edelman's use of Zizek to critique the dominant ideology of futurity / the symbolic child expands and redirects queer theory.The book is written for specialists.If you're interested in the field but are struggling with the text, first read Zizek's "The Sublime Object of Ideology."
Important, but...
Lee Edleman's book poses important questions for all of us about "queerness" and resistance to our presumedly "normal" cultural investments in a redemptive future figured most vividly in the notion of the "child."I admire the work being done here, and in particular the intellectual chutzpah it takes to dismantle this dominant ideological framework while taking on Baudrillard, Butler and other formidable thinkers.It is, however, unfortunate that Edelman seems to have become enchanted as much by his own linguistic cleverness as by the important ideas he sets out to explore.
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Subjects:  1. Gay & Lesbian    2. Gay Studies    3. Gender Studies    4. Homosexuality    5. Philosophy    6. Political aspects    7. Queer theory    8. Semiotics & Theory    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Films, cinema    12. Gay & Lesbian studies    13. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory   

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gender Studies    3. Homosexuality    4. Lesbian Studies    5. Philosophy    6. Queer theory    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Reviews (1)

Overpowering Foucault...
Sara Mills' text on Michel Foucault is part of a recent series put out by the Routledge Press, designed under the general editorial direction of Robert Eaglestone (Royal Holloway, University of London), to explore the most recent and exciting ideas in intellectual development during the past century or so. To this end, figures such as Martin Heidegger, Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jacques Derrida, Paul Ricouer and other influential thinkers in critical thought are highlighted in the series, planned to include more than 21 volumes in all.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1926-1984    2. European - French    3. Foucault, Michel    4. Foucault, Michel,    5. Gay & Lesbian    6. History & Surveys - Modern    7. Literary Criticism    8. Philosophy    9. Semiotics & Theory    10. French    11. Literary Criticism & Collections / French    12. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -   

Reviews (3)

why the fuss?
I cannot understand why the fuss over this book. The text is disappointing: repetitive, opinionated, insubstantial, more like desultory notes than anything else. The images are all black-and-white and poorly reproduced, and again repetitive and disconnected.
An exploration of value through excessive experience
The Tears of Eros is a fitting culmination of Bataille's search for value through excess.Although Bataille addresses many of the themes touched on here in greater detail in earlier works (Eroticism, The Accursed Share),The Tears of Eros is notable for the significant amount of artwork includedto illustrate the connection Bataille develops between sex, death,expenditure, and sovereign value.This is a "must-read" for anyserious student of contemporary philosophy and--for that matter--any whowould insist that value resides elsewhere than in a petty, bourgeoisindividualism.

Extraordinary treatment of sex and death, emotions and words
It is from woman, we come and to woman, we return because we all have both aspects in our being...female and maleness ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Erotic art    2. Gay Studies    3. General    4. Philosophy    5. Special Subjects In Art    6. Subjects & Themes - General    7. Literary Collections / Essays    8. Other prose: from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. Body, Human    2. Feminist theory    3. Gender identity    4. Lesbianism    5. Philosophy    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Social aspects    8. Sociology    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Cultural studies    11. Feminism   

Reviews (1)

How homosexuality was cured!
This is an important book for anyone interested in how the diagnosis of homosexuality was dropped by the American Psychiatric Association in 1993.The author of this book gives a reasonable history of the events leading up to that decision and through interviews with psychiatrists who both supported and opposed the decision, illustrates the political nature of using medical diagnoses to determine what constitutes normal and abnormal behavior. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. History    3. Medical    4. Mental Illness    5. Psychiatry - General    6. Psychology    7. Psychopathology - General    8. History of Science and Medicine, Philosophy of Science    9. Homosexuality    10. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / History    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / Pathological Psychology    13. Psychology-History    14. Psychology-Mental Illness    15. Sociology, Social Studies   

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Heterosexuality    3. Homosexuality    4. Human Sexuality    5. Lesbianism    6. Philosophy    7. Sex    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - General    11. Cultural studies    12. Gender studies    13. Sexual behaviour    14. Social Science / Lesbian Studies   

Reviews (1)

A Genealogy of Queer Theory
From experts to beginners, Bill Turner provides the key to knowing how queer theory began and evolved.This historian and queer theorist maps the various themes and directions the major writers took while founding his book on the essential thoughts of Michel Foucault.This book helps keep my studies on track.I would help a novice gain a perceptive overview. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    3. Gays    4. Gender Studies    5. History    6. Homosexuality    7. Identity    8. Lesbianism    9. Philosophy    10. Sociology    11. United States - General    12. Gay & Lesbian studies    13. USA   

Reviews (2)

Invention and creation are possible only at the edge
I found this book to be an unusual and beautiful documentation offeminist process through living. A Worst-Case Example of Radical Feminism
I found this book while browsing in the stacks of my university library, and out of curiosity read it cover to cover. I literally could not believe what I found. From her disjointed account of her own "craziness" to her infantile analysis of masculine motives, Joyce T.'s book is one of the worst I have read in my life. Never in my wildest dreams would I recommend that anyone pay a cent for this book. I would, however, recommend that everyone read it, if only to expose the far left wing of radical feminism for what it really is. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism & Feminist Theory    2. Feminist theory    3. Lesbianism    4. Philosophy    5. Radicalism    6. Sociology   

Editorial Review

Is there a "gay gene"? What if there is? And what does "gay" mean, anyway?Philosopher and queer studies instructor Edward Stein asks these questions and far more, delving deeply into our feelings about gender and sexuality in Read more

Reviews (12)

This is why "Queer Studies" makes me whince.
It's not that only fellow biomedical researchers are allowed to express an opinion on work such as Hammer and Levay's, but it's quite clear that Stein doesn't even understand the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and questioning. Paranoia under the guise of academia-even when accompanied by reviews that read "accessible to even you"-is a dangerous thing. The most groundbreaking work on the subject yet
I recommend this book to everyone I talk to. It's simply outstanding. Challenging and well done
THE MISMEASURE OF DESIRE is a scholarly work examining the current trends in research on the origins of sexual orientation and the ethics of using the information we glean from such research.Edward Stein, a professor of philosophy, tackles the complicated issues of what is homosexuality, how we study it and research it, and the underlying assumptions and desires of science and the public in the search for causes.His discussions and the parallels to gender and religious freedom are described clearly.You don't need a Ph.D. in philosophy to read this book!His emphasis on respect for differences and a call for being aware of the limits of our current knowledge are refreshing and hopeful.I especially liked his questioning our whole concept of "homosexuality" as a natural or social kind.Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gender Studies    3. Human Sexuality    4. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    5. Psychology    6. Sociology    7. Philosophy | Social    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Human Sexuality    9. Sexual behaviour    10. The self, ego, identity, personality   

Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Gay Studies    5. Gays    6. General    7. Homosexuality and education    8. Identity    9. Lesbian Studies    10. Miscellanea    11. Philosophy & Social Aspects    12. Social aspects    13. Gay & Lesbian studies    14. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Subjects:  1. Free Will & Determinism    2. General    3. Mind & Body    4. Philosophy    5. Philosophy / General    6. Pilo Thelos,Trafford publishing,1-4120-2030-1,1412020301,03-2609,032609,God is not a Homophobe: An unbiased look at Homosexuality in the Bible,Gay,lesbian,homosexuality,liberation,sexuality,nudity,swinging,religious freedom,pedarsty,abomination,sexualism,   

Reviews (2)

Excellent book!
The editors of Differences really did a wonderful thing when they released this issue in book form.The main difference between the two works?Page numbering. Excellent Reader
This book is an excellent collection of essays from both disciplines. There is a wide range of topics and view points. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism & Feminist Theory    2. Feminist theory    3. Gays    4. Homosexuality    5. Identity    6. Philosophy    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Feminism   

Reviews (6)

read "Alan Turing: The Enigma"by Andrew Hodges instead
If your interest is in Alan Turing, and you are only just becoming familiar with him, you would probably be better served reading what many regard as not only an excellent biography of Alan Turing, but an excellent piece of biographical writing in and of itself, Andrews Hodges' ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA.The current copy on the American Amazon site is an expanded and pricey edition, so you may want to go to the the United Kingdom Amazon site to get the slimmer, earlier edition, which not only costs less, but was also the basis for the award-winning play BREAKING THE CODE.After you've read Hodges' work, and wish to read more about Turing and his work and theories from other perspectives, then you may want to avail yourself on some of these other texts.

I wish other reviewers would take a step back
As a dual computer science and English major, I find it refreshing when I stumble upon a computer science book that surveys the field from a more literary and philosophical perspective. (Galloway's "Protocol" is another example of such a work that I've encountered recently.)
Sad ending to a great genius
This book gives a clear and accessible account of the life and the mathematical achievements of Alan Turing and his contributions to the development of cryptanalysis and the modern computer. Turing apparently committed suicide in the early 1950's because the British authorities were hounding him about his homosexuality. He was a man ahead of his time in one too many ways! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artificial intelligence    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Computers And Society    8. Gay men    9. General    10. Great Britain    11. History    12. History & Philosophy    13. Legal status, laws, etc.    14. Mathematicians    15. Scientists - General    16. Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. General    3. Homosexuality    4. Movements - Phenomenology    5. Philosophy    6. Semiotics & Theory    7. Sociology    8. Spatial behavior    9. Cultural Studies    10. Gay & Lesbian Studies/Queer Th    11. Gay & Lesbian studies    12. Gender Studies/Feminist Theory    13. Phenomenology & Existentialism   

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gender Studies    3. Gender identity    4. Homosexuality    5. Lesbian Studies    6. Lesbianism    7. Philosophy    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Cultural studies    11. Gay & Lesbian studies    12. Literary theory   

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gay men    3. Gender Studies    4. History & Surveys - General    5. Homosexuality    6. Lesbian Studies    7. Lesbianism    8. Philosophy    9. Social change    10. Sociology - Social Theory    11. Cultural studies    12. Gay & Lesbian studies    13. Philosophy / History, Criticism, Surveys   

Reviews (9)

An Excellent Expose
I read this work as part of a postmodern philosophy of the self class, and, among the esteemed company of Nietzsche and Heidegger, this book truly stands out as a great illumination of Foucault's life. The truth of the matter is, no matter whether or not you believe learning about an author adds to your understanding and enjoyment of his works, people will always want to know more. I found Miller's writing to be extremely precise and erudite without being unnecessarily technical or prosaic as biographies can sometimes be. Miller ties in Foucault's thought and philosophies to the story of his life in a way that allows one to really understand more about what Foucault was writing and why, and provides context to said works in a way that allows the reader to grasp it. Of course, reading "The Passion of Michel Foucault" isn't the same as reading the works of Foucault--nor is it a substitute--but I found it to be a fitting start--or end--to a study of the great philosopher he was.

Pure Garbage- Why Not Illuminate the Man's Thought Instead?
This book had been recommended me, as a Foucault freak, and I must say that I was immensely disappointed.As one of the above reviewers said, he's just digging up a bunch of dirt that doesn't have much redeeming value in the end.I love S&M myself but 200 pages detailing Foucault's odd and disturbing behaviors in his personal life did nothing whatsoever to illuminate, for me, the connections between his personal life and his works.Follow Martin Heidegger's advice here: don't learn anything about the life of the philosopher you seek to know, let his works speak for him!A lot of academics were offended when Heidegger taught Plato this very way- way back in the 1920s- but believe me, it is an approach which is not yet outdated.

Passionate Truth?
This book, based on the "philosophical life" of the late French philosopher Michel Foucault, reveals the mind of a man who was, says Miller, "one of the most original---and daring---thinkers of the century."Far from being just another biography of Foucault's life, Miller's thoroughly researched project demonstrates time and again the intimate interconnection between the way a life is lived and the thinking and writing that can come from that life.But this is much more than just an intellectual history.One Can't help but share in the passion that speaks through Miller's writing, powerfully earning this book its title.Read more

Subjects:  1. Foucault, Michel    2. Gay Studies    3. History & Surveys - Modern    4. Philosophers    5. Philosophy    6. Philosophy / Modern   

Subjects:  1. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. History & Surveys - General    4. Literary Criticism    5. Philosophy    6. Political    7. Jurisprudence & philosophy of law    8. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    9. Literary studies: general    10. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -