Like many queer theorists, sedgwicks writing is dense, and not the easiest to unpack in a single read, but i swear she was an awesome lady who i am definitely grateful to have read in such depth. Eve kosofsky sedgwick died in new york yesterday, at the age of fiftyeight. This has been due, in no small degree, to the influence of eve kosofsky. Queer theory is entering the literary mainstream the. Since the late 1980s, queer studies and theory have become vital to the intellectual and political life of the united states. The books contains several queer readings of literature, but it is the introduction and the title essay which are most famous. Since the late 1980s, queer studies and theory have become vital to the intellectual. Im consistently imp im slowly building up rapport with sedgwick, as im finally starting to wrap my brain around epistemology of the closet, and have been working my way through her oeuvre for a research project. Interview with eve kosofsky sedgwick, english professor at duke university, on queer theory, academic field she has helped create.
Interview with eve kosofsky sedgwick, english professor at duke. The deeper i delved into the book, the more i became reacquainted with sedgwicks indispensable contributions to queer studies and was reminded of what a loss the discipline had suffered with her passing in 2009. Her critical writings helped create the field of queer studies. English literature and male homosocial desire 1985, epistemology of the closet 1990, and tendencies 1993. It is also due to the enormous influence of eve kosofsky sedgwick s between men 1985, which, along with foucaults history of sexuality, provided the theoretical scaffolding for academic queer theory. Eve kosofsky sedgwick was born on may 2nd, 1950, and was raised in a jewish household in dayton, ohio. Sedgwick blends the personal with the theoretical, the literary with the pragmatic, the poetic and the dialogic with the political. Epistemology of the closet by eve sedgwick 1990 according to eve sedgwick, the closet isnt so secret after all.
In her preface to this updated edition sedgwick places the book both. Eve kosofsky sedgwick is best known as a cultural and literary critic, as one of the primary forces behind the development of queer and gaylesbian studies, and as author of several influential books. Her work and her example continue to have a significant effect in shaping the lives and thought of many people. In essays that show how her groundbreaking work in queer theory has developed into a deep interest in affect, sedgwick offers what she calls tools and techniques for nondualistic thought, in the. The literary critic, who taught most recently at the cuny graduate center, is best known for her formative work in the field of queer theory in the books between men and epistemology of the. The late eve sedgwick, pictured here at an exhibit of her art in 2003, leaves behind a sizable archive of her pioneering work in queer theory and. Male homosocial desire and the epistemology of the closet, among many other books, died in 2009. Eve kosofsky sedgwick may 2, 1950 april 12, 2009 was a poet, artist, literary critic and teacher. She is perhaps best known as one of the originators of queer theory. The book appeared around the time that gay and lesbian studies were. Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of queer studies and womens studies.
Then at university i came across a clutch of books, including judith butlers gender trouble and eve kosofsky sedgwicks epistemology. Eve kosofsky sedgwicks most popular book is epistemology of the closet. May 2, 1950 april 12, 2009 was an american academic scholar in the fields of gender studies, queer theory queer studies, and critical theory. Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorization of queerness itself. Eve kosofsky sedgwick science and nature books the. Books by eve kosofsky sedgwick author of epistemology of. Eve kosofsky sedgwick and judith butler showed me the. Her purpose, moreover, in composing this article is to fight against the homogenizing effects of political. Eve kosofsky sedgwick was an academic specializing in the fields of gender studies and queer theory.
A look back at the undergraduate years of eve kosofsky sedgwick, 71, a founder of queer theory, reveals a unique glimpse of where that shock wave first began. Eve kosofsky sedgwick, whose critical writings on the ambiguities of sexual identity in fiction helped create the discipline known as queer studies, died on sunday in manhattan. Sedgwick published several foundational books in the field of queer theory, including between men. One of her most powerful formulations, the concept of homosociality, has come to enjoy rather widespread use across academic disciplines. The weather in proust by eve kosofsky sedgwick lambda. Eve kosofsky sedgwicks article, queer and now, collected in her book tendencies routledge 1994, challenges the dominant cultural conception of what it means to be queer, i. Drawing on the queer theory of eve sedgwick and the ethical theory of michel foucault, carr illuminates isherwoods postwar development of a queer ethos through his focus on the aesthetic, social, and historical politics of the 1930s in his novels prater violet 1945, the world in the evening 1954, and down there on a visit 1962, and in. List of books and articles about eve kosofsky sedgwick. She was survived by her husband, hal sedgwick, whom she married in 1969 when she.
Epistemology of the closet book by eve kosofsky sedgwick. Eve kosofsky sedgwick quotes author of epistemology of. Combining philosophical, legal, literary, and historical approaches towards queerness and human sexuality, sedgwicks text is focused on the destruction of the dichotomous divides used to discuss and categorize. This has been due, in no small degree, to the influence of eve kosofsky sedgwicks critically acclaimed epistemology of the closet. Novelty in normalcy, in the chronicle of higher education 50. Her works reflect an interest in a range of issues, including queer performativity. Her many publications include a dialogue on love beacon, 1999.
Some of the core theorists in the development of queer theory include michael foucault, gayle rubin, eve kosofsky sedgwick, and judith butler. Eve kosofsky sedgwick sedgwicck an american academician specializing in literary criticism and feminist analysis. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Queer theory rejects labels such as gay and straight, referring instead to a sense of identity that subverts presumed norms and social codes. Queer theory is entering the literary mainstream the new york. Eve kosofsky sedgwick science and nature books the guardian. Often examining the intersection of capitalism, gender, heterosexism and the state, queer theory is constantly seeking to break down norms and question the status quo. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Eve kosofsky sedgwick download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. She proposed a less aggressive, less thesisdriven, less angstridden style of critique that would seek to repair the damage of homophobia and other forms of prejudice and violence rather than simply revealing allegedly new and ever more.
Sedgwick published several books considered groundbreaking in the field of queer theory, including between men. It is also due to the enormous influence of eve kosofsky sedgwicks between men 1985, which, along with foucaults history of sexuality, provided the theoretical scaffolding for academic queer theory. Instrumental in developing queer theory, her published works include between men. Eve kosofsky sedgwick has 23 books on goodreads with 14786 ratings. The term queer theory was introduced in 1990, with eve kosofsky sedgwick, judith butler, adrienne rich and diana fuss all largely following the work of michel foucault being among its foundational proponents. Eve kosofsky sedgwick project gutenberg selfpublishing. In the era of queer theory, sedgwicks miraculating writing keeps open a sense of sexuality as not binarized, neither only instrumental nor irreducibly conflictual, even when she is most passionately engaged in the work of advocacy. We spoke to a few queer theory aficionados and came up with this list of 20 mustread queer theory texts.
The college years of eve kosofsky sedgwick, a founder of. Queer theory readers in cultural criticism by iain morland and dino willox. Queer theory is a rapidly growing field in the critical theory tradition. Eve kosofsky sedgwick is distinguished professor of english, cuny graduate center. Eve, the pioneering queer theorist and author of between men. Michael foucaults work on sexuality said that it was a discursive production rather than an essential part of a human, which came from his larger idea of power not being repressive and negative as. Eve kosofsky sedgwick 19502009 was a leading gender and critical theorist. A dialogue on love edition 1 by eve kosofsky sedgwick. Queer theory project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Born in 1950, eve kosofsky sedgwick was a literary theorist who was one of the founders of queer theory. The weather in proust duke university press is the late eve kosofsky sedgwicks madeleinea remembrance of queer theories past. Tendencies, epistemology of the closet, and between men. The us academic and writer eve kosofsky sedgwick, who has died aged 58 of breast cancer, was one of the sharpest and most.
The advent of queer theory caused a shock wave which has affected all intellectual disciplines, as didier eribon, a leading french intellectual, once said. Working from classic texts of european and american writers. Jane hu on the marriage between hal and eve sedgwick, and on eves monumental legacy of work in queer theory. Unlike other books of lgbtq history or queer theory monographs, a queer new york uses a unique multilayered analytic. Queer and now tendencies books gateway duke university press. English literature and male homosocial desire 1985. Eve kosofsky sedgwick the chronicle of higher education. Eve kosofsky sedgwicks epistemology of the closet a. With important essays by such wellknown figures in queer and gender studies as judith butler, daniel boyarin, marjorie garber, michael moon, and eve sedgwick, this book is not so much interested in revealingoutingqueer jews as it is in exploring the complex social arrangements and processes through which modern jewish and homosexual. Eve kosofsky sedgwick may 2, 1950 april 12, 2009 was an american academic scholar in the fields of gender studies, queer theory queer studies, and critical theory. The late eve kosofsky sedgwick, a leader in queer theory, will be sorely missed her insights, her wit, her leadership, and her courage. Background queer theory libguides at university of. The future of queer theory after no future may indeed be a reexploration of sedgwick after sedgwick. Even more impressive was here ability to enter int this was an amazing and very readable work.
Eve kosofsky sedgwicks epistemology of the closet is often approached as one of the most groundbreaking discussions within the study of queer theory. Sedgwick, eve kosofsky 16, january 2004, the l word. A pioneer in queer theory and literary studies, eve kosofsky sedgwick brings together for the first time in touching feeling her most powerful explorations of emotion and expression. Epistemology of the closet, updated with a new preface. English literature and male homosocial desire and the epistemology of the closet, among many other books, died in 2009. The us academic and writer eve kosofsky sedgwick, who has died aged 58 of breast cancer, was one of the sharpest and most committed exponents of queer theory, the exploration of sexual. Working from classic texts of european and american writersincluding melville, james, nietzsche. In essays that show how her groundbreaking work in queer theory has developed into a deep interest in affect, sedgwick offers what she calls tools and techniques for nondualistic. Sedgwick also coedited several volumes and published a book of poetry fat art, thin art 1994 as well as a dialogue on love 1999. Eve kosofsky sedgwick, a pioneer of gay studies and a. Sedgwick published several books considered groundbreaking in the field of queer theory, 1 including between men. A pioneer in queer theory and literary studies, eve kosofsky sedgwick brings together for the first time in touching feeling. Eve kosofsky sedgwick, is one of the most important persons in queer theory.
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