The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader

by Amelia Jones (Editor)

Feminism is one of the most important perspectives from which visual culture has been theorized and historicized over the past forty years. Challenging the notion of feminism as a unified discourse, this second edition of The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader assembles a wide array of writings that address art, film, architecture, popular culture, new media and other visual fields from a feminist perspective. The essays, 40% of which are new to the second edition, are informed by the authors’ deep attention to historical, geographical, and disciplinary contexts as well as by cutting edge concerns such as globalization, diasporic cultural shifts, developments in new media technologies, and intersectional identity politics. The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader combines classic texts with six specially commissioned pieces, all by leading feminist critics, historians, theorists, artists, and activists. Articles are grouped into thematic sections, each of which is introduced by the editor. Providing a framework within which to understand the shifts in feminist thinking in visual studies, as well as an overview of major feminist theories of the visual, this reader also explores how issues of race, class, nationality, and sexuality enter into debates about feminism in the field of the visual.

Genres: Feminism, Art, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Academic, Gender Studies, Design

736 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2002

About the author

Amelia Jones is an American art historian, art critic and curator specializing in feminist art, body/ performance art, video art and Dadaism. Her written works and approach to modern and contemporary art history are considered revolutionary in that she breaks down commonly assumed opinions and offers brilliantly conceived critiques of the art historical tradition and individual artist's positions in that often elitist sphere.

Amelia Jones studied art history at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Phd from UCLA in 1991.

Jones has taught art history at UC Riverside and is currently the Pilkington Chair of the art history department at Manchester University.

Jones received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2000.

Amelia Jones is the daughter of Princeton Psychology professor Edward E. Jones.

Reviews

[bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has some great pieces on art and intersectional feminism!

[Maura Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite art theory book. Seriously, every essay in this book is great. There's the Laura Mulvey "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" essay - this is classic, but really is one of the best feminist texts ever written. Also, there's a really amazing essay on how soap operas mirror female sexuality - no resolution and multiple climaxes! Awesome essays by Trihn T Minha, Judith Butler, Julia Kristeva, Luce Irigaray, Faith Wilding... the list goes on.

[Ioana Fotache · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, but it felt like a waste of time. The essays that were great were classics which I think most people have already heard of, and they weren't reproduced in full. The book tried really hard to be comprehensive and include as many topics and authors and perspectives as possible, but in doing so the essays were too short and fragmented to actually help you learn much.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great anthology/reference to keep on hand!!!

[Linde · Rating 4 out of 5]

ummm .... this is more a reference book .... full of info

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever. Perfect for teaching on feminism, visual culture, race, and/or politics.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazingly comprehensive anthology.