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hauntbug's reviews
21 reviews
The History of Sexuality, Volume 1: An Introduction by Michel Foucault
4.0
concise, convincing, eye-opening -- perhaps scattershot in some brief snippets, otherwise a lil repetitive & regurgitating similar ideas repeatedly ... so depending on your experience in subject matter yo mileage may vary? engaging experience tho, felt a lot of Foucault's models he invoked to present a timeline of developing attitudes (i.e. scientia sexualis / ars erotica, deployment / alliance of sexuality) were decently evaluated. also appreciated the minor detour discussing his theory of power, felt surprisingly welcoming as a newcomer to his work. seemed to appropriate ideas across his work which entices me to read further. warmed up to Foucault's oblique style, felt his flair enhanced my enjoyment, also his structuring of proposing arguments & addressing criticisms directly helped process his views. cool cool
Queer Theory Now: From Foundations to Futures by Whitney Monaghan, Hannah McCann
4.0
thoroughly accessible & enjoyable whistle-stop tour of an endlessly evolving field of studies, steering clear of overwhelming or (as far as i'd like to hope) offering an injustice to the exhaustive amount of thinkers briefed within. also appreciated the structure, not at all scattershot given the approach, seemed to weave ideas in an engaging flow. pinpointing a concrete, essentialist view of the field seems as efficient as stapling jelly to a wall so i'd suggest this text offers enough interpretations to motivate external reading.
The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks
4.0
Enjoyable, earnest touch & personal reflections recounting bell's experiences of "patriarchal violence" are a gem in the rough of often detached & distant feminist texts. Eye-opening & enlightening experience. I like the media analogies, also, even if limited in scope -- plenty contributions in that department by other scholars. I'm not sure if it's effective as a manifesto, although I doubt that's bell's intentions, instead it functions as a stream of consciousness discussion on the masculinist forces restraining men & extends feminist discourse beyond a reductionist antagonisation, which bell decries frequently. RIP
Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide by Henry Jenkins
3.0
Jenkins' deliverance of essential terminology, various concepts he employs to discuss "convergent culture" are theoretically engaging; but how aggressively dated many of the case studies are (no fault of his own) it becomes a slight drag. Overall, the premise of fictional realms expanding across multimedia franchises alongside the audience desire to master scrupulous intertextual references as a collective "participatory culture" are fascinating, alongside the dichotomy he introduces between "popular culture" and "mass media" as a division between 'natural' folk arts against industrialised commodities. Additionally, the chapters drawing on intellectual property and the internet as a force for forging political affiliations via common interests are relevant as ever. I found this tedious to finish, but it left plenty of breadcrumbs to follow with regards to other cultural theorists.
Film as Social Practice by Graeme Turner
3.0
Comprehensive, relatively lightweight whistlestop tour of basic tenets within film theory -- visual arrangements, industrial relations, critical perspectives & aligned within themes of cultural studies vaguely prodding at how identities or ideologies may be reinforced/criticised by cinema. Offers little of its own contributions, largely relying on citing & illuminating paths to essential scholars, although as a congregation it's a wonderfully cohesive text.