About the book
In The World of Perversion, James Penney argues that antihomophobic criticism has nothing to lose—and indeed everything to gain—by reclaiming the psychoanalytic concept of perversion as psychic structure. Analyzing the antagonism between psychoanalytic approaches to perversion and those inspired by the work of Michel Foucault, Penney explores how different assumptions about sexuality have determined the development of contemporary queer theory, and how the universalizing approach to homosexuality in psychoanalysis actually leads to more useful political strategies for nonheterosexual subjects. Having established this theoretical context, Penney focuses on works by Georges Bataille, Blaise Pascal, Denis Diderot, and Jacques Lacan, tracing the implications of various sexual and moral understandings of the term perversion, and illustrating how a psychoanalytic approach to the question of perversion enables politicized readings that are foreclosed by a Foucauldian methodology.
Editions of The World of Perversion
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780791467695
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780791467701
- PDF
- ISBN 9780791481677
Read an Excerpt
In The World of Perversion, James Penney argues that antihomophobic criticism has nothing to lose—and indeed everything to gain—by reclaiming the psychoanalytic concept of perversion as psychic structure. Analyzing the antagonism between psychoanalytic approaches to perversion and those inspired by the work of Michel Foucault, Penney explores how different assumptions about sexuality have determined the development of contemporary queer theory, and how the universalizing approach to homosexuality in psychoanalysis actually leads to more useful political strategies for nonheterosexual subjects. Having established this theoretical context, Penney focuses on works by Georges Bataille, Blaise Pascal, Denis Diderot, and Jacques Lacan, tracing the implications of various sexual and moral understandings of the term perversion, and illustrating how a psychoanalytic approach to the question of perversion enables politicized readings that are foreclosed by a Foucauldian methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The World of Perversion about?
In The World of Perversion, James Penney argues that antihomophobic criticism has nothing to lose—and indeed everything to gain—by reclaiming the psychoanalytic concept of perversion as psychic structure. Analyzing the antagonism between psychoanalytic approaches to perversion and those inspired by the work of Michel Foucault, Penney explores how different assumptions about sexuality have determined the development of contemporary queer theory, and how the universalizing approach to homosexuality in psychoanalysis actually leads to more useful political strategies for nonheterosexual subjects. Having established this theoretical context, Penney focuses on works by Georges Bataille, Blaise Pascal, Denis Diderot, and Jacques Lacan, tracing the implications of various sexual and moral understandings of the term perversion, and illustrating how a psychoanalytic approach to the question of perversion enables politicized readings that are foreclosed by a Foucauldian methodology.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The World of Perversion?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Gender studies, gender groups
Where can I read a sample of The World of Perversion?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780791467695
How long is The World of Perversion and how many pages does it have?
The World of Perversion has 259 page(s)
Is The World of Perversion part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series SUNY series in Psychoanalysis and Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The World of Perversion?
James Penney
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The World of Perversion is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780791467695) and paperback(ISBN 9780791467701) and pdf(ISBN 9780791481677)
Where can I buy The World of Perversion online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The World of Perversion from below
Where can I buy The World of Perversion?