The Cultural Politics of Fur [Paperback]

Julia V. Emberley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1998

"A fascinating account of the powerful roles fur has played in various cultures and of the historical and political forces at work in the play of its meanings."--Jonathan Culler, Cornell University

"In this well-written treatise, Emberley . . . views fur through widely disparate lenses. . . . Emberley is able to make us understand all the viewpoints she presents. . . . A valuable book on a little-explored subject."--Library Journal

"This is a strong and intelligent work on a controversial topic. Emberley's book is much more intellectually sophisticated than anything else I've seen on this subject."--Valerie Steele, Editor, Fashion Theory

"Julia Emberley's book is a complex, wide-ranging, and fascinating feminist critique of the history and meaning of fur and fashion. Particularly unique is her integration of indigenous voices into the debates."--Lucy Lippard, author of The Pink Glass Swan: Selected Feminist Essays on Art

Fur has been sparking controversies ever since sumptuary laws marked it as a luxury item and as a sign of medieval class privilege. Drawing on wide-ranging historical and contemporary sources, Julia V. Emberley explains how a material good has become both a symbol of wealth and sexuality, and a symptom of class, gender, and imperial antagonisms.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this well-written treatise, Emberley (women's and gender studies, Univ. of Northern British Columbia) views fur through widely disparate lenses. In the case of the animal rights movement, fur is seen as gratuitous violence and gross cruelty. To the Dene and Inuit people, it is a source of income and survival. Emberley guides us through these contrasting images with a low-key insistence that fur is exactly what our culture makes of it: status symbol, fashion find, or political point. Emberley is able to make us understand all the viewpoints she presents, but she never allows us to catch on to her perspective or her passion. Still, this is a valuable book on a little-explored subject, especially the discussion of "mother as hunter" in Native peoples' society. It is unfortunate that Emberley appears so detached from it all. Recommended for specialized collections in feminism and native studies.?Alicia Graybill, Lincoln City Libs., Neb.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A fascinating account of the powerful roles fur has played in various cultures and of the historical and political forces at work in the play of its meanings." Jonathan Culler, Cornell University "This is a strong and intelligent work on a controversial topic. Emberley's book is much more intellectually sophisticated than anything else I've seen on the subject." Valerie Steele, author of Fetish: Fashion, Sex, and Power

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 249 pages
• Publisher: Cornell Univ Pr (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801484049
• ISBN-13: 978-0801484049
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.