Sexuality

New Critical Idiom

by Joseph Bristow

A brilliant and readable account of the history of sexuality in critical discourse, providing a context for the subject and an overview of current debates.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Queer, Sexuality, Ebooks

260 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 1997

Reviews

[Kamakana · Rating 4 out of 5]

180919: took little longer than others of new critical idiom series, definitely more to the 'cultural' than 'literary' studies end. in some sense this is intro, for many of the names, concepts, theories etc are familiar in postmodern way, that is, read somewhere before. but here the author has narrowed the focus and offers history of ideas centred on sex. which is now and always has been matter of great enquiry...

philosophical development in the modern west moves from sexological types, to psychological drives, to libidinal economies, to discursive desires- if there is a theme it is the gradual emancipation, understanding, complexity, of sexuality. from locus in behaviour, as interpreted in the times by say kraft ebbings, then inventive freudian, lacan etc narratives, or later in power dynamics by foucault, it seems sex is in everything but not everything is in discursive, slippery, elusive sex. there are names, ideas, which are somehow familiar, and much bibliography to follow...

if there is a problem for me, it is that this book is from 1997. end discussions on 'queer' and 'bi' and 'trans' etc seem already dated. i have two lesbian nieces, one of whom soon to be mother again with her wife (her turn to be pregnant), i know gay men, i also know queers who are just tired of talking about sexuality. but this is a good intro to start...

[laura]

can't believe this book managed the unthinkable: explaning deleuze to me

[Mahmoud Refat · Rating 3 out of 5]

مدخل مختصر وقيم لأهم النظريات التي تناولت الجنسانية من جوانبها المختلفة بيولوجية وسيكولوجية، للأسف ترجمته العربية شديدة التواضع وأضعفت من محتوي الكتاب.

[Cloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too simple to understand but an essential reading for a Gender or Queer Studies-based thesis.

[Galatea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A broad history of some the big intellectual figures and trends in the West who thought of, theorized, or influenced how others think of sexuality.

A LOT of big names across a wide variety of disciplines here are named, and amazingly, the author does a fantastic job in explaining the ideas of everyone mentioned. The four chapters each have their own themes, first looking at the queer pioneers who advocated for "man-manly love" and for other diverse sexualities, as well as those who viewed sexuality under a medico-legal gaze, attempting to put everyone in their own little box. Afterwards comes Freud, Lacan, and responses to their theories of psychoanalyses, and then Deleuze & Guattari, as well as Bataille and Baudrillard, running the 3rd chapter with the interplay sexuality has with life and with death, ending with Foucault and Queer Theory.

Many more names and points are sure to be overlooked in my pithy summary, please take my word that everyone in this book who makes an appearance is given a remarkable treatment by the author, blending their diverse ideas and threads of thought into a vast tapestry across intellectual history.

This is probably the best thing to an introductory textbook on the theories of sexuality that is out there.

[Philippa St · Rating 5 out of 5]

See

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an academic book, this was a surprisingly enjoyable read. It provided a decent introduction to sexuality from the 19th century sexologists, through Freud and Foucault, to queer theory. I was pleased to encounter large blocks of text (pedagogical features really don't do it for me I'm afraid - maybe annotated further reading per chapter would've been good but no more) and it was quite challenging, especially the chapter on libidinal economies. Freud on female sexuality is just very annoying (castration theory and penis envy - nonsense!) but that's scarcely the author's fault...

[dreamwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

great overview of diverse theories on sexuality.
sadly, it didn't cover that many aspects of 'acts of sexuality' rather than 'identities of sexuality'.
the question of what desire is was discussed but not focussed on.

[Mia Nethaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting book, very up and down hard to tell what the angle is. lots of trigger warnings needed about SA, misogyny and homophobia. psychological and philosophical