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Criptiques
Criptiques is a groundbreaking collection of essays by disabled authors examining the often overlooked, provocative sides of disability. Exploring themes of gender, sexuality, disability/crip culture, identity, ableism and much more, this important anthology provides much needed space for thought-provoking discourse from a highly diverse group of writers. Criptiques takes a cue from the disability rights slogan "Nothing About Us Without Us," illuminating disability experiences from those with firsthand knowledge. Criptiques is for people invested in crip culture, the ones just discovering it, and those completely unfamiliar with the term.
Authors who contributed to this collection include: Elsa S. Henry, Ibby Grace, Leroy Moore, Anna Hamilton, Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg, Eva Sweeney, Emily Ladau, Cheryl Green, Mia Mingus, Stefanie Snider, Cara Liebowitz, Nitika Raj, Nina G Comedian, Ben G., Kay Ulanday Barrett, Cat Moran, William Alton, Lydia Brown, Robin Tovey, Alyssa Hillary, Bethany Stevens, Jen Rinaldi, Samantha Walsh, Danine Spencer, Riva Lehrer.
Authors who contributed to this collection include: Elsa S. Henry, Ibby Grace, Leroy Moore, Anna Hamilton, Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg, Eva Sweeney, Emily Ladau, Cheryl Green, Mia Mingus, Stefanie Snider, Cara Liebowitz, Nitika Raj, Nina G Comedian, Ben G., Kay Ulanday Barrett, Cat Moran, William Alton, Lydia Brown, Robin Tovey, Alyssa Hillary, Bethany Stevens, Jen Rinaldi, Samantha Walsh, Danine Spencer, Riva Lehrer.
259 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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452 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 5, 2019
4.25
A wonderful place to begin with disability studies/crip lit! There were a couple instances where I didn't agree with something as a disabled person myself (isn't it wonderful how we aren't a monolith? ^_^) but over-all I loved it! There is so much to love in these pages, but as it says it's just a starting point. A great place to start with. It talks about being queer and disabled, a poc and disabled, physical and mental disabilities. And it has plenty of recommendations for further reading as well.
I related. I learned. I cried. It made me stop and think. I do very much recommend this book!
A wonderful place to begin with disability studies/crip lit! There were a couple instances where I didn't agree with something as a disabled person myself (isn't it wonderful how we aren't a monolith? ^_^) but over-all I loved it! There is so much to love in these pages, but as it says it's just a starting point. A great place to start with. It talks about being queer and disabled, a poc and disabled, physical and mental disabilities. And it has plenty of recommendations for further reading as well.
I related. I learned. I cried. It made me stop and think. I do very much recommend this book!
March 14, 2017
POPSUGAR 2017 Reading Challenge prompt 'A book by or about a person who has a disability'
I think it's going to take some time for me to understand what exactly rubs me the wrong way about this collection. On one hand, I'm very happy that a book like this exists. I want to lift the voices of marginalized people like me as much as possible.
For whatever reason, I feel uncomfortable. I feel like so many of these perspectives were white. So many were more affluent than I'll ever be. It feels strange to read this book, the authors of which I share much with, I feel only jealousy.
I think it's going to take some time for me to understand what exactly rubs me the wrong way about this collection. On one hand, I'm very happy that a book like this exists. I want to lift the voices of marginalized people like me as much as possible.
For whatever reason, I feel uncomfortable. I feel like so many of these perspectives were white. So many were more affluent than I'll ever be. It feels strange to read this book, the authors of which I share much with, I feel only jealousy.
May 20, 2016
This collection of essays collects works by disabled people about disability, crip community, and, in many of the pieces, navigating intersectional identities. I knew I would enjoy the pieces by Eva Sweeney and Mia Mingus because of previous works I'd read, but I was surprised by how many of these I related to and enjoyed.
Big shout out for the pieces by Cat Moran, Kay Ulanday Barrett, Riva Lehrer, and Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg, all of which I really enjoyed and read more than once.
Big shout out for the pieces by Cat Moran, Kay Ulanday Barrett, Riva Lehrer, and Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg, all of which I really enjoyed and read more than once.
September 6, 2019
Mix of short stories and essays about disability justice. Some are more academic versus personal experience but I found all compelling and interesting. Great place to start if you haven't been exposed to much theory
March 17, 2018
Some of these essays are SPOT ON, and some of them include great content but are less eloquent craft-wise. Ultimately, though, well worth the read.
May 27, 2014
Excellent anthology of disability pride/justice/activist writing. Extra points for a wide understanding of intersectionality (how having other minority identities shapes one's experience of disability). Accessible to someone just getting their feet wet as well as to those of us who live in this stuff. I hope there's a second volume!
December 21, 2017
Great anthology of a wide demographic of disabled writers.
July 25, 2021
This book contains thought-provoking anthologies on disability outside of mainstream media outlets. Having to read the intersections of being a human really ‘forced’ me to come to terms with this other dimension of the human experience. It was disconcerting yet a sense of unspoken unity.
Thomas Nagel’s 1974 “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” theory also left me with so much ponderings - If people were to defend physicalism, examine the subjective character instead. Truly, is it ever possible to ‘experience’ the mindset of another living being? Truly, can one ever embody a subjective conscious experience within the solipsistic world we reside in?
Thomas Nagel:
“... to deny the reality or logical significance of what we can never describe or understand is the crudest form of cognitive dissonance.” (227) Sure, there will be more work and it’d be akin to stepping into uncharted, unknown territories.
The other section would be Riva Lehrer’s “Beauty in Exile”, interposed with the story of Narcissus (a Greek tragedy story) - on vanity (151) Society’s perception of beauty was one stranger to me since childhood. Battling with numerous challenges left me wondering where one’s true identity/purpose lies at times & how to ever embrace the current me albeit another form. “Beauty in the Destruction” will always be a theme I’m keen on exploring.
https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/... (Narcissus story)
“When someone calls you beautiful, they’re inviting you into a shared illusion. You enter this exalted state by the grace of the beholder. In submitting to be found beautiful, you both gain and lose autonomy, as you let another hold the mirror.” (155)
Dare to take the plunge & pick this book up? :)
Thomas Nagel’s 1974 “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” theory also left me with so much ponderings - If people were to defend physicalism, examine the subjective character instead. Truly, is it ever possible to ‘experience’ the mindset of another living being? Truly, can one ever embody a subjective conscious experience within the solipsistic world we reside in?
Thomas Nagel:
“... to deny the reality or logical significance of what we can never describe or understand is the crudest form of cognitive dissonance.” (227) Sure, there will be more work and it’d be akin to stepping into uncharted, unknown territories.
The other section would be Riva Lehrer’s “Beauty in Exile”, interposed with the story of Narcissus (a Greek tragedy story) - on vanity (151) Society’s perception of beauty was one stranger to me since childhood. Battling with numerous challenges left me wondering where one’s true identity/purpose lies at times & how to ever embrace the current me albeit another form. “Beauty in the Destruction” will always be a theme I’m keen on exploring.
https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/... (Narcissus story)
“When someone calls you beautiful, they’re inviting you into a shared illusion. You enter this exalted state by the grace of the beholder. In submitting to be found beautiful, you both gain and lose autonomy, as you let another hold the mirror.” (155)
Dare to take the plunge & pick this book up? :)
March 16, 2016
This is a fantastic and diverse anthology that is both validating and empowering as well as informative.
October 17, 2016
Read for Disability Studies Reading Group. Great collection of essays in all sorts of genres that really honors the voice & experience of being disabled, in all its intersectionality.
April 27, 2014
A great primer to disability studies and disability activism.
Read
June 21, 2018"Beauty is just a swamp of taste, history, fashion, politics, inheritance, location and fetish. What you find beautiful is the result of the sum total of who you are. You fall in love through the rabbit's hole of your own mind, taking your body with you"
A number of these essays opened my heart and my mind to new ideas and knowledge that I found ever so interesting.
A number of these essays opened my heart and my mind to new ideas and knowledge that I found ever so interesting.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews