The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader

Henry Abelove, Michèle Aina Barale, David M. Halperin

Psychology Press, 1993 - Literary Criticism - 666 pages

Bringing together forty-two groundbreaking essays--many of them already classics--The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader provides a much-needed introduction to the contemporary state of lesbian/gay studies, extensively illustrating the range, scope, diversity, appeal, and power of the work currently being done in the field. Featuring essays by such prominent scholars as Judith Butler, John D'Emilio, Kobena Mercer, Adrienne Rich, Gayle Rubin, and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader explores a multitude of sexual, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic experiences.

Ranging across disciplines including history, literature, critical theory, cultural studies, African American studies, ethnic studies, sociology, anthropology, psychology, classics, and philosophy, this anthology traces the inscription of sexual meanings in all forms of cultural expression. Representing the best and most significant English language work in the field, The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader addresses topics such as butch-fem roles, the cultural construction of gender, lesbian separatism, feminist theory, AIDS, safe-sex education, colonialism, S/M, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, children's books, black nationalism, popular films, Susan Sontag, the closet, homophobia, Freud, Sappho, the media, the hijras of India, Robert Mapplethorpe, and the politics of representation. It also contains an extensive bibliographical essay which will provide readers with an invaluable guide to further reading.

Contributors: Henry Abelove, Tomas Almaguer, Ana Maria Alonso, Michele Barale, Judith Butler, Sue-Ellen Case, Danae Clark, Douglas Crimp, Teresa de Lauretis, John D'Emilio, Jonathan Dollimore, Lee Edelman, Marilyn Frye, Charlotte Furth, Marjorie Garber, Stuart Hall, David Halperin, Phillip Brian Harper, Gloria T. Hull, Maria Teresa Koreck, Audre Lorde, Biddy Martin, Deborah E. McDowell, Kobena Mercer, Richard Meyer, D. A. Miller, Serena Nanda, Esther Newton, Cindy Patton, Adrienne Rich, Gayle Rubin, Joan W. Scott, Daniel L. Selden, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Barbara Smith, Catharine R. Stimpson, Sasha Torres, Martha Vicinus, Simon Watney, Harriet Whitehead, John J. Winkler, Monique Wittig, and Yvonne Yarbro-Bejarano

Contents

• Epistemology of the Closet: 45
• Deviance Politics and the Media: 62
• Some Reflections on Separatism and Power: 91
• Why Bring It Up?: 99
• Hispanics AIDS and Sexual Practices: 110
• Containing African AIDS: 127
• Sexual Indifference and Lesbian Representation: 141
• Black Nationalism and the Homophobic Impulse: 159
• HeartBeat and Prime Time Lesbianism: 176
• Commodity Lesbianism: 186
• The Spectacle of AIDS: 202
• Sontags Urbanity: 212
• Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back in the Water: 221
• Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence: 227
• A Cartography of Homosexual Identity and Behavior: 255
• Lesbian Identity and Autobiographical Differences: 274
• Toward a ButchFemme Aesthetic: 294
• Imitation and Gender Insubordination: 307
• The Surgical Construction of Gender: 321
• THE USES OF THE EROTIC: 339
• Looking for Trouble: 350
• Robert Mapplethorpe and the Discipline of Photography: 360
• Freud Male Homosexuality and the Americans: 381
• THE EVIDENCE OF EXPERIENCE: 397
• Is There a History of Sexuality?: 416
• The Historical Roots of the Modern: 432
• Angelina Weld Grimké Harlem Renaissance: 453
• Capitalism and Gay Identity: 467
• COLLECTIVE IDENTITIESDISSIDENT IDENTITIES: 477
• A New Look at Institutionalized Homosexuality: 498
• Lesbians in Cherry Grove 19601988: 528
• Hijras as Neither Man Nor Woman: 542
• Tearooms and Sympathy or The Epistemology of the Water Closet: 553
• Double Consciousness in Sapphos Lyrics: 577
• Cherríe Moragas Loving in the: 595
• Sighting Gay Desire in Ann Bannons Beebo Brinker: 604
• Sexuality in Nella Larsens Passing: 616
• Subjectivity and Transgression in Wilde and Gide: 626
• The Somagrams of Gertrude Stein: 642
• Suggestions for Further Reading: 653

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader
• Editors: Henry Abelove, Michèle Aina Barale, David M. Halperin
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Psychology Press, 1993
• ISBN: 0415905192, 9780415905190
• Length: 666 pages
• Subjects: Literary Criticism / Semiotics & Theory; Social Science / Gender Studies; Social Science / LGBTQ+ Studies / Gay Studies; Social Science / LGBTQ+ Studies / General; Social Science / LGBTQ+ Studies / Lesbian Studies; Social Science / Media Studies; Social Science / Sociology / General