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supitslois's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
redbecca's review against another edition
5.0
This is really an excellent book, and very teach-able. It, or individual chapters from it could be used in courses on on Holocaust or trauma studies, affect theory, psychoanalytic reading of popular culture, as well as GLBTQ, transnational culture, social movement history, /or gender pop culture more generally. Cvetkovich accessibly presents complicated and nuanced readings of a variety of texts and connects these readings to the way they are part of public cultures of feeling that we all live with.
Although Cvetkovich is not a historian, her chapter on AIDS activism could be very useful for historians who might be interested in the role that emotions play in politics. I thought her work on the archive and the politics of archives was the only weak one (I am usually annoyed by the somewhat dramatic or arch way that lit people write about "the archive" because they read Foucault or Derrida, even if they don't have extensive experience actually using archives or doing historical research. Historians might induce similar annoyance if they started writing about the importance of "the metaphor" or some other basic literary term.) That aside, her work on messy feelings that disrupt easier activist narratives, whether they are about incest survival, butch-femme experience, or even the Holocaust, is vital and important.
Although Cvetkovich is not a historian, her chapter on AIDS activism could be very useful for historians who might be interested in the role that emotions play in politics. I thought her work on the archive and the politics of archives was the only weak one (I am usually annoyed by the somewhat dramatic or arch way that lit people write about "the archive" because they read Foucault or Derrida, even if they don't have extensive experience actually using archives or doing historical research. Historians might induce similar annoyance if they started writing about the importance of "the metaphor" or some other basic literary term.) That aside, her work on messy feelings that disrupt easier activist narratives, whether they are about incest survival, butch-femme experience, or even the Holocaust, is vital and important.
laura_keoski's review against another edition
4.0
I decided to check this book out, after reading about how an article by Cvetkovich helped to inspire Le Tigre to write the song "Keep On Living".
This book deals with the many intersections between the queer community and the current discussions in trauma theory. It especially delves into issues with "confessing" versus "witnessing", and how the queer community's experiences with coming out create a more positive model for trauma survivor's to tell their stories and heal, contrasted with past models from the feminist movement and psychotherapy.
The writing is dense and heavy on theory, and is equally rich in its interpretation of literary and artistic works. I'm into that sort of thing, so I thought it was great. Honestly, this book covers so much ground related to trauma and sexuality that I wouldn't be doing it justice to even pretend to give a full overview. I'll just say that if you're interested in the topic, you should definitely read this book.
This book deals with the many intersections between the queer community and the current discussions in trauma theory. It especially delves into issues with "confessing" versus "witnessing", and how the queer community's experiences with coming out create a more positive model for trauma survivor's to tell their stories and heal, contrasted with past models from the feminist movement and psychotherapy.
The writing is dense and heavy on theory, and is equally rich in its interpretation of literary and artistic works. I'm into that sort of thing, so I thought it was great. Honestly, this book covers so much ground related to trauma and sexuality that I wouldn't be doing it justice to even pretend to give a full overview. I'll just say that if you're interested in the topic, you should definitely read this book.
emeraldberkowitz's review against another edition
4.0
ok, at first reading I was excited about this book but wished it was less academic language. now I'm working on this project that is about queer archives and yiddish archives and this book is SO HELPFUL and relevant so yay I'm so glad this book exists!
redbecca's review
5.0
This is really an excellent book, and very teach-able. It, or individual chapters from it could be used in courses on on Holocaust or trauma studies, affect theory, psychoanalytic reading of popular culture, as well as GLBTQ, transnational culture, social movement history, /or gender pop culture more generally. Cvetkovich accessibly presents complicated and nuanced readings of a variety of texts and connects these readings to the way they are part of public cultures of feeling that we all live with.
Although Cvetkovich is not a historian, her chapter on AIDS activism could be very useful for historians who might be interested in the role that emotions play in politics. I thought her work on the archive and the politics of archives was the only weak one (I am usually annoyed by the somewhat dramatic or arch way that lit people write about "the archive" because they read Foucault or Derrida, even if they don't have extensive experience actually using archives or doing historical research. Historians might induce similar annoyance if they started writing about the importance of "the metaphor" or some other basic literary term.) That aside, her work on messy feelings that disrupt easier activist narratives, whether they are about incest survival, butch-femme experience, or even the Holocaust, is vital and important.
Although Cvetkovich is not a historian, her chapter on AIDS activism could be very useful for historians who might be interested in the role that emotions play in politics. I thought her work on the archive and the politics of archives was the only weak one (I am usually annoyed by the somewhat dramatic or arch way that lit people write about "the archive" because they read Foucault or Derrida, even if they don't have extensive experience actually using archives or doing historical research. Historians might induce similar annoyance if they started writing about the importance of "the metaphor" or some other basic literary term.) That aside, her work on messy feelings that disrupt easier activist narratives, whether they are about incest survival, butch-femme experience, or even the Holocaust, is vital and important.
bibliocyclist's review
4.0
"To deny sickness and death is to deny the reality of the present."
"Every life is worthy of preservation."
"Every life is worthy of preservation."
rigormorphis's review
4.0
I'm frustrated with the effusive praise Cvetkovich repeatedly gives Michfest - she even devotes an entire section to the "controversies" of Michfest without once mentioning that it excludes trans women, which I wouldn't have thought would even be possible - and I'm also a bit uncomfortable with the way she talks about Brandon Teena in the epilogue. So, on the whole, not the most trans-friendly book, but I'm still giving it four stars because it was a really good, really cathartic read. A lot of what she says are things I really, really needed to hear.