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Pornography and Representation in Greece and Rome
Can the pornographic be said to have existed in Greece and Rome? This new group of essays points to some striking similarities between our culture and those of the ancient world, challenging Foucauldian assumptions about the nature of sexuality. Covering such topics as vase painting, tragic and comic drama from fifth-century Athens, Hellenistic philosophy and sex manuals, Roman history, poetry, wall-painting, representations of gladiatorial combat, and romance novels, the contributors approach sexuality from both sides of the feminist pornography debate, including the use of film theory. A path-breaking application of feminist theory to the study of Greek and Roman cultures, this book offers new insight into the notion of sexuality in the ancient world.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 12, 2023
An absolute must-read for feminist Classical scholarship!
August 21, 2016
“The efficacy of our dreams lies not simply in our narratives but in the political choices we make every day—to live out the same (master) dreams or to try to live the alternative dreams we envision.” –Terry Marsh.
One of the challenges of 20th Century philosophy arises from its politics. Whether the philosopher’s interpretive strategy is feminist, Marxist, post-modern or post-colonial, the limits of the philosophy become apparent when they run up against the conditions for the possibility of liberation. Pornography and Representation in Greece and Rome exposes this limit while illuminating the production of patriarchy and oppression through representations of sexuality in ancient Greece and Rome. The series of essays formulate their investigation of the canonical literature and art of Rome and Greece by interpreting the depictions of women and men based on the analysis of contemporary pornography performed by Andrea Dworkin and Catherine McKinnon in the late 1990’s. The essays then draw upon the common notions of Greece and Rome as founding civilizations of Western Culture to show the lineage is not only evident in enlightenment thought or democratic pluralism, but is also deeply tied to Harlequin romances, slasher horror movies, and depictions of rape and violence in contemporary arts. This approach results in some of the best essays of feminist theory and interpretation of the canon that I have ever read.
One of the challenges of 20th Century philosophy arises from its politics. Whether the philosopher’s interpretive strategy is feminist, Marxist, post-modern or post-colonial, the limits of the philosophy become apparent when they run up against the conditions for the possibility of liberation. Pornography and Representation in Greece and Rome exposes this limit while illuminating the production of patriarchy and oppression through representations of sexuality in ancient Greece and Rome. The series of essays formulate their investigation of the canonical literature and art of Rome and Greece by interpreting the depictions of women and men based on the analysis of contemporary pornography performed by Andrea Dworkin and Catherine McKinnon in the late 1990’s. The essays then draw upon the common notions of Greece and Rome as founding civilizations of Western Culture to show the lineage is not only evident in enlightenment thought or democratic pluralism, but is also deeply tied to Harlequin romances, slasher horror movies, and depictions of rape and violence in contemporary arts. This approach results in some of the best essays of feminist theory and interpretation of the canon that I have ever read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews