Technologies of Gender. Essays on Theory, Film, and Fiction

Theories of Representation and Difference

by Teresa de Lauretis

"Technologies of Gender builds a bridge between the fashionable orthodoxies of academic theory (Lacan, Foucault, Derrida, et al.) and the frequently-marginalized contributions of feminist theory. . . . In sum, de Lauretis has written a book that should be required reading for every feminist in need of theoretical ammunition―and for every theorist in need of feminist enlightenment." ―B. Ruby Rich

" . . . sets philosophical ideas humming. . . . she has much to say." ―Cineaste

"I can think of no other work that pushes the debate on the female subject forward with such passion and intellectual rigor." ―SubStance

This book addresses the question of gender in poststructuralist theoretical discourse, postmodern fiction, and women's cinema. It examines the construction of gender both as representation and as self-representation in relation to several kinds of texts and argues that feminism is producing a radical rewriting, as well as a rereading, of the dominant forms of Western culture.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Theory, Gender, Film, Gender Studies, Queer

168 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1987

About the author

Born and educated in Italy, de Lauretis came to the United States shortly after completing her doctorate in modern languages and literatures at Bocconi University in Milan. Before joining the History of Consciousness Department at UCSC, she taught Italian and comparative literature, semiotics, women's studies, and film studies at several American universities, including the University of Colorado and the University of Wisconsin. She has also held visiting professorships in Canada, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as the United States.

The author of seven books and over one hundred essays, de Lauretis writes in both English and Italian. Her works have been translated into 14 other languages of Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Reviews

[mafi]

very interesting read, specifically the essays on film studies and women's narrative cinema. a bit dense if youre not too acquainted with the history of semiotics though

[I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex as f*ck but so good. Definitely groundbreaking for its era, and I’m here for Di Laurentis calling the h*ll out of misogyny, non inclusive feminism and society in general.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Groundbreaking and clear in some places, dense and opaque in others. The first and final essays have been hugely influential in Gender Studies, denaturalising and questioning the subjects of feminism and breaking up the wholeness of Woman for good. If you're into Gender Studies, Queer Theory or Cultural Studies, read them asap.

The other essays, which analyze particular texts (literary and filmic) are very specific, deep and ground on semiotics; if you are not into the objects of study or that kind of analysis, they might fly over your head as they did over mine.

[Laia]

"Then, when I look at the movies, film theorists try to tell me that the gaze is male, the camera eye is masculine, and so my look is also not a woman's. But I don't believe them anymore, because now I think I know what it is to look at a film as a woman. I do because certain films, by Yvonne Rainer, Chantal Akerman, Lizzie Borden, Sally Potter, and others, have shown it to me; they have somehow managed to inscribe in the film my woman's look — next to, side by side, together with, my other (cinematic) look."

💜

[ryan bears · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this on the train. id pick up old de lauretis over butler any day. i just wish people who insisted on using althusser would integrate formal analysis with action more, like he does so well in "lenin and philosophy," by giving a thoughtful analysis of his strangling his wife to death. there is a good section in the second essay on foucault's paradoxical conservatism and his claim that rape should be decrimilized. what else, fuck fellini.

[MMelania · Rating 4 out of 5]

really dense in some points but overall it was an interesting read. i enjoyed the film studies essays, they were really useful for my research.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teresa de Lauretis é uma importante teórica feminista e que, a despeito do que se diga que foi Judith Butler quem fundou a teoria queer, na verdade essa responsabilidade foi de Teresa. Este livro que chegou em minhas mãos por ser o único disponível dela que encontrei em uma biblioteca e foi na biblioteca da UFRGS. Nele, Teresa discute as tecnologias do gênero que, para ela não são nada mais que aparatos socioculturais que permitem que a heteronarmatividade, a heterossexualidade compulsória e o heterossexismo continuem distribuindo seus valores através de artefatos culturais como as produções midiáticas. As tecnologias do gênero, portanto, funcionam a favor do status quo. È papel do feminismo e da teoria queer buscar uma desconstrução dos retratos e papéis de gênero, bem como do binarismo. Neste livro, Teresa De Lauretis também analisa diversas obras literárias como O Nome da Rosa, de Umberto Eco e Se Um Viajante Numa Noite de Inverno, de Ítalo Calvino, por exemplo. Ela também analisa filmes como 8 1/2 de Federico Felinni e algumas produções do que ficou conhecido como "o cinema feminista". Um bom livro, mas que eu gostaria que tivesse menos análises específicas e mais debate sobre desconstrução de gênero em si.

[Long Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

the three essays on classic Italian fictions are pretty useless for those interested in feminist film criticism ngl but it was a nice progression from male-centered narratives to a more feminist take on narrative and fiction

minus point is that there is way too much psychoanalytic foundations needed to be able to read the book, some essays are better at fleshing out "new" concepts than the others

and the essay coherence was terrible... but!! in the spirit of inner contradiction that the book praises, it allows you (yes readers) to skip chapters/essays and jump to the ones you need !!!

[Olly · Rating 5 out of 5]

fucking incredible. I want to give teresa a hug because this book opened my brain in ways I can't even begin to describe. absolutely essential for feminists who want a stronger basis in continental philosophy

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of important stuff and I appreciated the commentary on Jeanne Dielman and Born in Flames in the final chapter, but much of the rest requires more understanding of the history of semiotics than that with which I am presently equipped

[Karolina Góras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dekonstruktywizm to moje drugie imie.
Karolina Dekonstruktywizm Góras

[Fer Macias · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Realmente un texto muy importante para leer cuando comienzas a interesarte por estudios de género

[Cody M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feminist film theory text that reinterprets Althusser's work with respect to gender politics. The chapter on Juliet of the Spirits is one of the highlights because it concisely explains the political discourses of that movie with respect to Fellini's authorship and its supposed feminist impulses. Another chapter of note is the one on Rainer's work and in particular her movie The Man Who Envied Women.