Metamorphoses: Towards a Materialist Theory of Becoming

by Rosi Braidotti

The discussions about the ethical, political and human implications of the postmodernist condition have been raging for longer than most of us care to remember. They have been especially fierce within feminism. After a brief flirtation with postmodern thinking in the 1980s, mainstream feminist circles seem to have turned their back on the staple notions of poststructuralist philosophy. Metamorphoses takes stock of the situation and attempts to reset priorities within the poststructuralist feminist agenda.
Cross-referring in a creative way to Deleuze's and Irigaray's respective philosophies of difference, the book addresses key notions such as embodiment, immanence, sexual difference, nomadism and the materiality of the subject. Metamorphoses also focuses on the implications of these theories for cultural criticism and a redefinition of politics. It provides a vivid overview of contemporary culture, with special emphasis on technology, the monstrous imaginary and the recurrent obsession with 'the flesh' in the age of techno-bodies.
This highly original contribution to current debates is written for those who find changes and transformations challenging and necessary. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of philosophy, feminist theory, gender studies, sociology, social theory and cultural studies.

Genres: Feminism, Philosophy, Theory, Nonfiction, Feminist Theory, Academic, Sociology

328 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2001

Reviews

[Mika]

creo que se me ha abierto un tercer ojo y yo misma me he metamorfoseado durante esta lectura en bicho/lobo o cualquier cosa que Braidotti haya dicho aquí.........
gracias isabel por compartir esto conmigo. no sabes lo bonito e interesante que ha sido pfff casi muda

[Steen Ledet]

A fantastic book on embodiment, sexuality, gender and the subject in our technological age. Drawing heavily on Deleuze and Guattari as well as a range of feminist critics, the style may seem difficult but it is worth the work for the insights into who we are now.

[Dario Vaccaro]

Un orribile saggio in cui Rosi Braidotti cerca di unire il femminismo della differenza di genere di Luce Irigaray con il nomadismo filosofico di Deleuze: il risultato è una tesi abbastanza interessante ma argomentata male e scritta peggio, con un'infinita ripetizione di termini altisonanti per esprimere incredibili banalità, pastiche di film, generi letterari, filosofia, frasi ad effetto scontate e irritanti.
Uno dei saggi peggiori che abbia mai letto in vita mia.

[LaanSiBB]

Whether this nomadism is romanticized or needs to be achieved through technological omnipresence, it is interesting to watch the roasting of phallocentrism. Re-reading this book in the age of crispr and hormonal hijack, the "becoming" itself has become more intriguing.

[Sarz]

Helpful for essay on Judith Butler

[[ashes]]

Although this book is almost 20 years old, it has something to say about our life today.
Come prepared, the theory may overwhelm you.

[amyleigh]

Braidotti's work is imaginative and invigorating. Hard to read because of all the words like "cyber-teratological" and you know, real mouthfuls.

[Natalie]

So enjoyable. Lots of good stuff. Postsecularism is a lil concerning to me personally in this one lol

[Golda L]

mi amor, mi vida