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neoludification's review
4.5
Great collection of bell hooks' writings on cultural studies and feminism. Standout chapters include the interview with Ice Cube, the extensive interview on the author's own life and work, and her short essay on the dangers of censorship. What's really nice about this book is the order in which the chapters are presented: hooks will often refer to "a piece I wrote about..." and then the next chapter is actually that piece. Most of her key concepts also make appearances here and there.
choirqueer's review
5.0
This is a powerful book. It illuminates the depth and breadth of racism at its intersection with sexism, as perpetuated by contemporary media in many forms. bell hooks does not shy away from holding individuals and institutions accountable for their actions. She shows injustice to the reader in ways that most of us have probably not seen it before, while constructing a thorough argument for why it is essential to view injustice in these ways in order to take action against it.
You might consider reading some of hooks's other writing before picking up this one. I felt like I was able to engage more effectively with this book as a result of my having read many of her other books and therefore already being familiar with her perspective and approach. So, try All About Love: New Visions, or Feminism is for Everybody, or Rock My Soul first...and then come back to this one. That said, I absolutely, completely, highly recommend this book; it is an essential piece of reading for people of any race or gender who care about justice.
You might consider reading some of hooks's other writing before picking up this one. I felt like I was able to engage more effectively with this book as a result of my having read many of her other books and therefore already being familiar with her perspective and approach. So, try All About Love: New Visions, or Feminism is for Everybody, or Rock My Soul first...and then come back to this one. That said, I absolutely, completely, highly recommend this book; it is an essential piece of reading for people of any race or gender who care about justice.
vsarna's review
4.0
This has been my favorite bell hooks book so far! I wish I could formally give it 4.5 stars! I didn’t like the transphobic language used in the character discussing the crying game and than transphobic language used in a later chapter (but I totally forgot which one it was oops!), and I didn’t like the last couple of paragraphs in the chapter on Madonna. It felt like a stretch to me but I’ve never been a fan of Freudian psychoanalysis, so most Freudian things feel like a stretch for me! Other than that I got my whole life! The scathing chapter on Madonna was AMAZING, hooks hit the nail on the H E A D!!!!
erint251's review
4.0
Take a drink every time Spike Lee, Madonna, or the phrase "white supremacist capitalist patriarchy" is mentioned.
But seriously, this is a great read. Many of the subjects broached are despairingly relevant to modern "culture war" discussions, and even if you don't agree with all of hooks' takes, they are all excellent at prompting deeper thought.
But seriously, this is a great read. Many of the subjects broached are despairingly relevant to modern "culture war" discussions, and even if you don't agree with all of hooks' takes, they are all excellent at prompting deeper thought.
stefhyena's review
4.0
I was amazed that even though all the movies etc that were discussed in this were around 20 years ago or so this book was politically still so relevant and sadly filling in gaps in our conversation that still exist. Not everything in the book was so current, a couple of times I thought it was showing its age as a text but it remains thought provoking even now (it helped that I had seen some of the movies discussed but hooks keeps us in the loop enough even when we haven't,
hooks is very readable, she can talk about very emotional and personal things without coming across as wishy-washy in any way. She has a surprising generosity of spirit- she does not want to exclude ANYONE from her vision of equity and dignity. She can be deeply critical one moment and in the next paragraph is extending warmth to the same group (men or white people) that she just criticised, however her two agendas of feminist and black power/love/decolonisation are present in every sentence.
She's offering friendship but with conditions (fair ones).
This was a collection of essays and interviews rather than a work that was written to unfold in that order. I prefer a book-length work rather than a collection, nevertheless thematically these supported each other well and it was definitely well worth reading this book.
I'd recommend it to anyone. You need some brains to read it but I think the average amount should do.
hooks is very readable, she can talk about very emotional and personal things without coming across as wishy-washy in any way. She has a surprising generosity of spirit- she does not want to exclude ANYONE from her vision of equity and dignity. She can be deeply critical one moment and in the next paragraph is extending warmth to the same group (men or white people) that she just criticised, however her two agendas of feminist and black power/love/decolonisation are present in every sentence.
She's offering friendship but with conditions (fair ones).
This was a collection of essays and interviews rather than a work that was written to unfold in that order. I prefer a book-length work rather than a collection, nevertheless thematically these supported each other well and it was definitely well worth reading this book.
I'd recommend it to anyone. You need some brains to read it but I think the average amount should do.
mason_lloyd's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
adamantane's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent cultural analysis. While it is obviously heavily rooted in black culture and representations of black bodies, her points about neocolonialist and sexist synergy can also be applied to other minorities of color.