Tributes to the literary scholar eve kosofsky sedgwick, who died on sunday at age 58, have been trickling onto the blogosphere. Qlqg, anyone working in gay and lesbian studies, in a culture where samesex desire is still structured by its distinctive publicprivate status, at once marginal and central, as the open secret, discovers that the line between straining. Since the late 1980s, queer studies and theory have become vital to the intellectual and political life of the united states. Epistemology of the closet, p 523, eve kosofsky sedgwick. Eve kosofsky sedgwick, a pioneer of gay studies and a.
Epistemology of the closet, updated with a new preface by. Axiomatic the differences between chromosomal sex and gender rubins sexgender system chromosomal sex a. The ability of anyone in the culture to support and honour gay kids may depend on an ability to name them as such, notwithstanding that many gay adults may. The epistemology of the closet by eve kosofsky sedgwick was published in 1990 and is considered a foundational work in the discipline of queer studies. The late eve kosofsky sedgwick, a leader in queer theory, will be sorely. Combining philosophical, legal, literary, and historical approaches towards queerness and human sexuality, sedgwick s text is focused on the destruction of the dichotomous divides used to discuss and categorize expressions and epistemologies. But it was the introduction to sedgwicks epistemology of the closet, titled axiomatic, that i devoured in one sitting. Clearly, rich, straight, white men aint got much they need to.
I have on the most gorgeous deep blue velvet trouser suit, a white frillcollared shirt, and a terribly serious expression. Eve kosofsky sedgwick author visit amazons eve kosofsky sedgwick page. Eve sedgwick presents her 1998 kessler award lecture entitled a dialogue on love. Eve kosofsky sedgwick, axiomatic i am a wound walking out of hospital.
Eve kosofsky sedgwick is distinguished professor of english at city university of new york graduate center. Eve kosofsky sedgwick quotes author of epistemology of. Eve kosofsky sedgwicks article, queer and now, collected in her book tendencies routledge 1994, challenges the dominant cultural conception of what it means to be queer, i. Epistemology of the closc t eve kosofsk sedgwicky, p. Affect, pedagogy, performativity assembles a collection of essays, many of them previously published, by eve sedgwick. Axiomatic epistemology of the closet propose tha manst oyf the majo noder osf thought and knowledg ien. Im not that interested or impressed by her project of examining mostly male queerness in canonical texts, but this is such an accurate description of the frustration you run up against if you try to discuss queerness in any kind of texts. Sedgwick published several books considered groundbreaking in the field of queer theory, including between men.
Epistemology of the closet, updated with a new preface by eve kosofsky sedgwick, 9780520254060, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. She combines an extraordinarily astute philosophical mind with a resilient attachment to the messiness of ordinary life, a sense of how permeated by and yet how resistent to theoretical categories are actual. Eve kosofsky sedgwicks work in between men 1985 and epistemology of the closet 1990 seems to me some of the most enduringly valuable literary criticism of the past few decades. Combining philosophical, legal, literary, and historical approaches towards queerness and human sexuality, sedgwicks text is focused on the destruction of the dichotomous divides used to discuss and categorize expressions and. Working from classic texts of european and american writers including melville, james, nietzsche, proust, and wilde sedgwick analyzes. Eve kosofsky sedgwick died in new york yesterday, at the age of fiftyeight, following a long battle with breast cancer. The us academic and writer eve kosofsky sedgwick, who has died aged 58 of breast cancer, was one of the sharpest and most committed exponents of queer theory, the exploration of. Eve sedgwick, axiomatic by giovanna pompele on prezi. Wgs 210 popular representations of queer sexualities. Epistemology of the closet by eve kosofsky sedgwick.
Axiomatic by eve kosofsky sedgwick by on prezi in her second paragraph, sedgwick insists on the internal incoherence and mutual contradiction of commonsense views i. English literature and male homosocial desire 1985, eve sedgwick writes about the emergence in the late 1980s and early 1990s of queer theory, a new paradigm of literary theory that owes its productivity to the gorgeous generativity, the speculative. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Im constantly amazed by how much eve sedgwicks epistemology of the closet is considered a founding cornerstone of queer theoryqueer studies, while almost no one actually seriously considers her core understandings in axiomatic and their potential consequences. And the specific language we use to cover things up is determined by. May 2, 1950 april 12, 2009 was an american academic scholar in the fields of gender studies, queer theory queer studies, and critical theory. Eve kosofsky sedgwick and judith butler showed me the. Remembering eve kosofsky sedgwick the new york times. Eve kosofsky sedgwick, whose critical writings on the ambiguities of sexual identity in fiction helped create the discipline known as queer studies, died on sunday in manhattan. Axiomatic 1 epistemology of the closet 67 some binarisms i. This 38page guide for epistemology of the closet by eve kosofsky sedgwick includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 5 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. In epistemology of the closet, sedgwick argues that standard binary oppositions limit freedom and understanding, especially in the context of sexuality.
Eve kosofsky sedgwick s epistemology of the closet is often approached as one of the most groundbreaking discussions within the study of queer theory. Combining poetry, wit, polemic, and dazzling scholarship with memorial and autobiography, these essays have set new standards of passion and truthfulness for current theoretical writing. In this subtle piece of methodological groundclearing or mine. She reminds the reader that homosexual panic, or kempfs disease, was coined in the 1920s by psychologist edward kempf and described hysteria attributable to perverse sexual cravings in oneself or another. Eve kosofsky sedgwick and judith butler showed me the transformative power of the word queer. Tendencies brings together for the first time the essays that have made eve kosofsky sedgwick the softspoken queen of gay studies rolling stone. Epistemology of the closet is a book published in by eve kosofsky sedgwick, who is considered one of the founders of queer studies. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. America fictionn men author histors y an criticismd. The essays are loosely connected to one another through the thread of negative affect.
But it was the introduction to sedgwicks epistemology of the closet, titled axiomatic, that i. As she wrote in epistemology of the closet, axiom 1. Eve kosofsky sedgwickepistemology of the closet 1990 along with michel foucaults 1976 history of sexuality volume 1 and judith butlers 1990 gender trouble, sedgwicks 1990 epistemology of the closet is considered one of the key texts of queer theory. What we are made to hide about our sexuality, and how we are told to hide it, tells a lot about our positionality in the world. Axiomatic by eve kosofsky sedgwick by prezi user on prezi. Here, sedgwick claims that pretty much all aspects of society are affected by the categorical homohetero divide. Epistemology of the closet by eve sedgwick 1990 according to eve sedgwick, the closet isnt so secret after all. Eve kosofsky sedgwick touching feeling pdf a pioneer in queer theory and literary studies, eve kosofsky sedgwick brings together for the first time intouching feelingher most powerful explorations. This has been due, in no small degree, to the influence of eve kosofsky sedgwicks critically acclaimed epistemology of the closet. A queer theorists devoted husband and enduring legacy. Click here, here and, for the timess obituary, here.
Eve kosofsky sedgwicks epistemology of the closet a. Epistemology of the closct eve kosofsky sedgwick, p. What hindrances does the born this way argument have on people who dont have that experience. Eve sedgwick axiomatic pdf tart of the introduction to her book epistemologty of the coset eve sedgwick rtlaborates some deceptively simple axioms from which queer studies might. Axiomatic eve kosofsky sedgwick discussion questions is there a benefit to finding out the origin of sexuality, and thus homosexuality. Eve kosofsky sedgwick since the late 1980s, queer studies and theory have become vital to the intellectual and political life of the united states. This has been due, in no small degree, to the influence of eve kosofsky. Eve kosofsky sedgwickepistemology of the closet 1990. Epistbmology of the closet i eve kosofsky sedgwick. Eve kosofsky sedgwick epistemology of the closet 1990 along with michel foucaults 1976 history of sexuality volume 1 and judith butlers 1990 gender trouble, sedgwick s 1990 epistemology of the closet is considered one of the key texts of queer theory. Working from classic texts of european and american writersincluding melville, james, nietzsche, proust, and wildesedgwick analyzes a. The depressing thing about the christmas seasonisnt it.
Eve kosofsky sedgwicks epistemology of the closet is often approached as one of the most groundbreaking discussions within the study of queer theory. Sedgwick argued that an understanding of virtually any aspect of modern western culture would be incomplete or damaged if it failed to incorporate a critical analysis of modern homoheterosexual. Is there a benefit to finding out the origin of sexuality, and thus homosexuality. Roger kimball in tenured radi calsa treatise on educational corruption that must have gone to press before the offending paper was so much as writtencites the title jane austen and the masturbating girl from a modern language asso. Jane hu on the marriage between hal and eve sedgwick, and on eves monumental legacy of work in queer theory. Eve kosofsky sedgwick the chronicle of higher education.
Epistemology of the closet introductionchapter 3 summary. Jane austen and the masturbating girl eve kosofsky sedgwick 1 the phrase itself is already evidence. Eve kosofsky sedgwick, american author born may 2, 1950, dayton, ohiodied april 12, 2009, new york, n. Epistemology of the closet is a book published in 1990 by eve kosofsky sedgwick, who is considered one of the founders of queer studies. Her purpose, moreover, in composing this article is to fight against the homogenizing effects of political correctness upon art and. Sedgwick, a key figure in the development of queer theory, wasnt a household name, unless you count the brouhaha over her 1989 essay jane austen and the masturbating girl, which featured in many of. See, what we do talk about gives other people clues about what skeletons were hiding in our closets.