About the book
Borrowing its title from a 1981 interview of Michel Foucault, Friendship as a Way of Life develops the philosopher's late work on friendship into a novel critique of contemporary GLBT political strategy. Tom Roach brings to life Foucault's scant but suggestive writings on friendship (some translated here for the first time), emphasizing their ethical implications and advancing a new and politically viable concept—friendship as shared estrangement. In exploring the potential of this model for understanding not only social movements such as ACT UP and the AIDS buddy system, but the literary and artistic work of Hervé Guibert and David Wojnarowicz as well, Roach seeks to reclaim a politics of friendship for queer activism. The first book devoted exclusively to Foucault's work on the subject, it reassesses Foucaultian queer theory in light of the recent publication of the philosopher's final seminars at the Collège de France. Its provocative thesis returns Foucault's concept of biopower to its home in sexuality studies and places queer theory front and center in current biopolitical debates.
Editions of Friendship as a Way of Life
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781438439990
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781438440002
- PDF
- ISBN 9781438440019
Read an Excerpt
Borrowing its title from a 1981 interview of Michel Foucault, Friendship as a Way of Life develops the philosopher's late work on friendship into a novel critique of contemporary GLBT political strategy. Tom Roach brings to life Foucault's scant but suggestive writings on friendship (some translated here for the first time), emphasizing their ethical implications and advancing a new and politically viable concept—friendship as shared estrangement. In exploring the potential of this model for understanding not only social movements such as ACT UP and the AIDS buddy system, but the literary and artistic work of Hervé Guibert and David Wojnarowicz as well, Roach seeks to reclaim a politics of friendship for queer activism. The first book devoted exclusively to Foucault's work on the subject, it reassesses Foucaultian queer theory in light of the recent publication of the philosopher's final seminars at the Collège de France. Its provocative thesis returns Foucault's concept of biopower to its home in sexuality studies and places queer theory front and center in current biopolitical debates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Friendship as a Way of Life about?
Borrowing its title from a 1981 interview of Michel Foucault, Friendship as a Way of Life develops the philosopher's late work on friendship into a novel critique of contemporary GLBT political strategy. Tom Roach brings to life Foucault's scant but suggestive writings on friendship (some translated here for the first time), emphasizing their ethical implications and advancing a new and politically viable concept—friendship as shared estrangement. In exploring the potential of this model for understanding not only social movements such as ACT UP and the AIDS buddy system, but the literary and artistic work of Hervé Guibert and David Wojnarowicz as well, Roach seeks to reclaim a politics of friendship for queer activism. The first book devoted exclusively to Foucault's work on the subject, it reassesses Foucaultian queer theory in light of the recent publication of the philosopher's final seminars at the Collège de France. Its provocative thesis returns Foucault's concept of biopower to its home in sexuality studies and places queer theory front and center in current biopolitical debates.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Friendship as a Way of Life?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > LGBTQIA+ Studies / topics
Where can I read a sample of Friendship as a Way of Life?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781438439990
How long is Friendship as a Way of Life and how many pages does it have?
Friendship as a Way of Life has 212 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Friendship as a Way of Life?
Tom Roach
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Friendship as a Way of Life is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781438439990) and paperback(ISBN 9781438440002) and pdf(ISBN 9781438440019)
Where can I buy Friendship as a Way of Life online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Friendship as a Way of Life from below
Where can I buy Friendship as a Way of Life?