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Sex, Violence and the Body

The Erotics of Wounding

J Hearn editor V Burr editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Palgrave Macmillan

Published:30th Oct '08

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Sex, Violence and the Body cover

Exploring the intricate links between wounding and sexuality, Sex, Violence and the Body addresses themes of power and societal norms.

In Sex, Violence and the Body, the authors delve into the intricate connections between wounding and sexuality, examining how these themes intersect with gender, power, and violence. By drawing on a diverse array of disciplines, including cultural and media studies, sociology, and psychology, the book presents a multifaceted exploration of contemporary social practices. Topics such as sadomasochism, cosmetic surgery, and extreme sports are analyzed to reveal how societal norms shape and are shaped by these practices.

The book not only investigates physical manifestations of violence and sexuality but also challenges the representations and narratives surrounding them. It encourages readers to think critically about the implications of these practices in relation to identity and societal expectations. The authors aim to create a dialogue about how these elements influence personal experiences and broader social dynamics.

With contributions from a range of experts in their respective fields, Sex, Violence and the Body offers a comprehensive perspective on these complex issues. The insights provided by the authors, who are well-versed in their disciplines, contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of the body in discussions of sexuality and violence, making this book a vital resource for both academics and general readers interested in these significant topics.

'Sex and violence are each moments of transgression, trespassing across boundaries. The essays in this startling book, so ably collected by Burr and Hearn, attend to the similarities among various erotic wounds. Whether self-inflicted or done by others, criminal or consensual, textual or corporeal, erotic wounding is more than simply a site of skin-deep pleasure and/or pain. Beneath the epidural lie a host of gendered and sexual inequalities that many of these authors make viscerally visible.' - Michael Kimmel, Professor of Sociology, SUNY Stony Brook, US and author of The Gender of Desire

'A fascinating collection of readings on the interweaving of sexuality and violence in the 'erotics of wounding' men's and women's bodies. Surprises abound the collection encompasses unexpected and controversial viewpoints, theories of the body, sexuality, and the social nature of violence, and deconstruction of popular culture. You'll want to read every chapter.' - Judith Lorber, Professor Emerita, Graduate School and Brooklyn College, CUNY, US; co-author of Gendered Bodies: Feminist Perspectives and author of Breaking the Bowls: Degendering and Feminist Change.

'This is a fascinating, challenging and timely book, drawing together an impressive list of international contributors. Exploring a wide range of issues around the relation between sex, violence and the body, it makes a significant contribution to the literature and will, I have no doubt, appeal to a wide readership across a range of disciplines. What is particularly original is approaching the sex-violence-body nexus through a specific focus on the 'erotics of wounding' and, in each of the subject areas addressed across the 12 chapters, the book clearly sets out the key conceptual issues, debates and challenges in this frequently misunderstood area. This is an important, insightful and challenging book.' - Professor Richard Collier, Newcastle Law School, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

ISBN: 9780230549340

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 551g

242 pages