About the book
Assembles texts, performances, and personae from American culture to assert the elemental nature
of style
While “style” is equated with fashion or convention in common parlance, Style: A Queer Cosmology defines the term as a mode of expression that makes us more like ourselves and less like everyone else. Taylor Black’s interdisciplinary conceptual analysis assembles texts, performances, and personae from American culture that engage in ethical, creative, and performative modes of what he terms “abundant revelation.” Moving back and forth through time, this book sketches American cosmologies cultivated by iconic and subterranean American artists like Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O’Connor, Nikki Giovanni, and Bob Dylan. Presiding throughout is the book’s conceptual guide: latter-day American and notorious homosexual Quentin Crisp, resurrected here as a philosopher of style.
As a scholarly intervention, Style participates in the critical work of revival and attunement—revitalizing figures, terms, and ideas that have become too familiar. Returning to viewing the critic as a stylist, Style: A Queer Cosmology leans into the study of things and qualities that are immanent and elude paraphrase or social scientific categorization. Style is about the possible rather than the probable, singularity over universals, personality instead of identity, the emergent and not the new—the mystery of becoming.
Editions of Style
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781479824991
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781479825004
- EBook
- ISBN 9781479825011
Read an Excerpt
Assembles texts, performances, and personae from American culture to assert the elemental nature
of style
While “style” is equated with fashion or convention in common parlance, Style: A Queer Cosmology defines the term as a mode of expression that makes us more like ourselves and less like everyone else. Taylor Black’s interdisciplinary conceptual analysis assembles texts, performances, and personae from American culture that engage in ethical, creative, and performative modes of what he terms “abundant revelation.” Moving back and forth through time, this book sketches American cosmologies cultivated by iconic and subterranean American artists like Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O’Connor, Nikki Giovanni, and Bob Dylan. Presiding throughout is the book’s conceptual guide: latter-day American and notorious homosexual Quentin Crisp, resurrected here as a philosopher of style.
As a scholarly intervention, Style participates in the critical work of revival and attunement—revitalizing figures, terms, and ideas that have become too familiar. Returning to viewing the critic as a stylist, Style: A Queer Cosmology leans into the study of things and qualities that are immanent and elude paraphrase or social scientific categorization. Style is about the possible rather than the probable, singularity over universals, personality instead of identity, the emergent and not the new—the mystery of becoming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Style about?
Assembles texts, performances, and personae from American culture to assert the elemental nature
of style
While “style” is equated with fashion or convention in common parlance, Style: A Queer Cosmology defines the term as a mode of expression that makes us more like ourselves and less like everyone else. Taylor Black’s interdisciplinary conceptual analysis assembles texts, performances, and personae from American culture that engage in ethical, creative, and performative modes of what he terms “abundant revelation.” Moving back and forth through time, this book sketches American cosmologies cultivated by iconic and subterranean American artists like Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O’Connor, Nikki Giovanni, and Bob Dylan. Presiding throughout is the book’s conceptual guide: latter-day American and notorious homosexual Quentin Crisp, resurrected here as a philosopher of style.
As a scholarly intervention, Style participates in the critical work of revival and attunement—revitalizing figures, terms, and ideas that have become too familiar. Returning to viewing the critic as a stylist, Style: A Queer Cosmology leans into the study of things and qualities that are immanent and elude paraphrase or social scientific categorization. Style is about the possible rather than the probable, singularity over universals, personality instead of identity, the emergent and not the new—the mystery of becoming.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Style?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > LGBTQIA+ Studies / topics
Where can I read a sample of Style?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781479824991
How long is Style and how many pages does it have?
Style has 304 page(s)
Is Style part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Postmillennial Pop
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Style?
Taylor Black
Who is the Publisher of the book Style?
NYU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Style is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781479824991) and paperback(ISBN 9781479825004) and ebook(ISBN 9781479825011)
Where can I buy Style online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Style from below