About the book
Victorian Fetishism argues that fetishism was central to the development of cultural theory in the nineteenth century. From 1850 to 1900, when theories of social evolution reached their peak, European intellectuals identified all \"primitive\" cultures with \"Primitive Fetishism,\" a psychological form of self-projection in which people believe everything in the external world—thunderstorms, trees, stones—is alive. Placing themselves at the opposite extreme of cultural evolution, the Victorians defined culture not by describing what culture was but by describing what it was not, and what it was not was fetishism. In analyses of major works by Matthew Arnold, George Eliot, and Edward B. Tylor, Peter Melville Logan demonstrates the paradoxical role of fetishism in Victorian cultural theory, namely, how Victorian writers projected their own assumptions about fetishism onto the realm of historical fact, thereby \"fetishizing\" fetishism. The book concludes by examining how fetishism became a sexual perversion as well as its place within current cultural theory.
Editions of Victorian Fetishism
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780791476611
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780791476628
- PDF
- ISBN 9780791477281
Read an Excerpt
Victorian Fetishism argues that fetishism was central to the development of cultural theory in the nineteenth century. From 1850 to 1900, when theories of social evolution reached their peak, European intellectuals identified all \"primitive\" cultures with \"Primitive Fetishism,\" a psychological form of self-projection in which people believe everything in the external world—thunderstorms, trees, stones—is alive. Placing themselves at the opposite extreme of cultural evolution, the Victorians defined culture not by describing what culture was but by describing what it was not, and what it was not was fetishism. In analyses of major works by Matthew Arnold, George Eliot, and Edward B. Tylor, Peter Melville Logan demonstrates the paradoxical role of fetishism in Victorian cultural theory, namely, how Victorian writers projected their own assumptions about fetishism onto the realm of historical fact, thereby \"fetishizing\" fetishism. The book concludes by examining how fetishism became a sexual perversion as well as its place within current cultural theory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Victorian Fetishism about?
Victorian Fetishism argues that fetishism was central to the development of cultural theory in the nineteenth century. From 1850 to 1900, when theories of social evolution reached their peak, European intellectuals identified all \"primitive\" cultures with \"Primitive Fetishism,\" a psychological form of self-projection in which people believe everything in the external world—thunderstorms, trees, stones—is alive. Placing themselves at the opposite extreme of cultural evolution, the Victorians defined culture not by describing what culture was but by describing what it was not, and what it was not was fetishism. In analyses of major works by Matthew Arnold, George Eliot, and Edward B. Tylor, Peter Melville Logan demonstrates the paradoxical role of fetishism in Victorian cultural theory, namely, how Victorian writers projected their own assumptions about fetishism onto the realm of historical fact, thereby \"fetishizing\" fetishism. The book concludes by examining how fetishism became a sexual perversion as well as its place within current cultural theory.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Victorian Fetishism?
History and Archaeology > History > General and world history
Where can I read a sample of Victorian Fetishism?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780791476611
How long is Victorian Fetishism and how many pages does it have?
Victorian Fetishism has 218 page(s)
Is Victorian Fetishism part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series SUNY series, Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Victorian Fetishism?
Peter Melville Logan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Victorian Fetishism is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780791476611) and paperback(ISBN 9780791476628) and pdf(ISBN 9780791477281)
Where can I buy Victorian Fetishism online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Victorian Fetishism?