Modernism's Body: Sex, Culture, and Joyce

by Christine Froula

A study of the work of James Joyce, by feminist scholar Christine Froula, this work is a reading of his critique of the origins and workings of gender in Western culture. It sees Joyce's work as largely self-diagnostic, seeking to discover the masculine psyche of Western culture.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 1996

Reviews

[Janice Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that is outside my usual reading of sociology and economics, but it proved to be valuable for my study of masculinity/femininity.

This interpretation of Joyce unveils his multiple sexual and gender selves. Her argument is that Joyce uses his narratives in an to attempt to resurrect his feminine self that was victim to his culture's masculinization.

It's not an easy read, but it was helpful in understanding how the imposition of masculinity (The Law of the Father and the law of gender) represses boys' attachment to their mother and their femininity. From that it is possible to understand the necessity of males to demean and harm females in order to be considered masculine by their fathers, other men, and boys.

[Linde · Rating 3 out of 5]

feminist approach to modernism, not exactly what I was hoping to find.