In 'Sexual Personae', Camille Paglia explores the intricate relationships between art, sexuality, and culture throughout history. She boldly challenges traditional feminist perspectives, arguing that sexual desire is a fundamental driving force behind artistic creation. Paglia's provocative insights draw from a wide range of influences, weaving together mythology, psychology, and sexuality to unveil the hidden dynamics of human behavior. With a blend of passion and intellect, she pushes readers to confront the primal impulses that shape society. Prepare to question your own beliefs as you delve into this essential and contentious text.
By Camille Paglia
Published: 1991
"Art and poetry are conduits to the primal, irrepressible impulses of life and death, weaving the tapestry of human experience where the erotic and the spiritual intertwine."
The fiery, provocative, and unparalleled work of feminist art criticism that launched the exceptional career of one of our most important public intellectuals—"a remarkable book, at once outrageous and compelling, fanatical and brilliant.... One must be awed by [Paglia's] vast energy, erudition and wit" (The Washington Post). Is Emily Dickinson “the female Sade”? Is Donatello’s David a bit of pedophile pornography? What is the secret kinship between Byron and Elvis Presley, between Medusa and Madonna? How do liberals and feminists—as well as conservatives—fatally misread human nature? This audacious and omnivorously learned work of guerrilla scholarship offers nothing less than a unified-field theory of Western culture, high and low, since Egyptians invented beauty—making a persuasive case for all art as a pagan battleground between male and female, form and chaos, civilization and daemonic nature. With 47 photographs.
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“Art and poetry are conduits to the primal, irrepressible impulses of life and death, weaving the tapestry of human experience where the erotic and the spiritual intertwine.”
Sexual Personae
By Camille Paglia
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Camille Paglia is an American cultural critic, social commentator, and academic, renowned for her provocative views on art, culture, and feminism. She is best known for her books 'Sexual Personae' (1990), which explores the interplay between sexuality and art, and 'Free Women, Free Men: Sex, Gender, Feminism' (2017), a collection of essays that critiques contemporary feminist discourse. Paglia's writing is characterized by its erudite analysis, bold claims, and a blending of pop culture with high art. A former professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, she frequently contributes to various publications, engaging readers with her unconventional viewpoints and keen insights into modern society.
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