Amanda Fernbach argues that classic fetishism, as outlined by Sigmund Freud, never has been up to the task of explaining all cultural fetishisms. Exploring decadent, magical, matrix, and immortality fetishism, she shows how fetishism in all of its modes is an important conceptual tool for contesting postmodern malaise and for providing utopian tools for a post-human existence. Examining a wide range of texts and scenes, she argues that we should examine the new forms of fetishism emerging from the fringes of the pop culture scene in order to understand their complexities as they move into broader cultural contexts. She skillfully deploys these concepts of fetishisms in discussing topics such as sexual difference, queer identities, computer culture and the "post-human" as well as applying them to her objects of study: cross-cultural dressers, technofetishists, cyberspace cowboys, cyborgs, geekgirls, and SM/fetish culture.
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Book Description
At the dawn of the new millennium, Western culture is marked by various fantasies that imagine our future selves and their forms of embodiment. These fantasies are part of a rapidly growing cultural discourse about the future of the human body; the ever more illusive boundary between the human, the animal, and the technological; and the cultural consequences of greater human-technological integration.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Amanda Fernbach takes on a truly impressive range of discourses and themes." -- Emily Apter, chair of the department of comparative literature, UCLA
"The author has brought together a great deal of thinking that challenges or expands traditional Freudian theory of fetishism." -- John Maynard, School of English, New York University
"The author has brought together a great deal of thinking that challenges or expands traditional Freudian theory of fetishism." -- John Maynard, School of English, New York University
From the Back Cover
At the dawn of the new millennium, Western culture is marked by various fantasies that imagine our future selves and their forms of embodiment. These fantasies are part of a rapidly growing cultural discourse about the future of the human body; the ever more illusive boundary between the human, the animal, and the technological; and the cultural consequences of greater human-technological integration.
Amanda Fernbach argues that classic fetishism, as outlined by Sigmund Freud, never has been up to the task of explaining all cultural fetishisms. Exploring decadent, magical, matrix, and immortality fetishism, she shows how fetishism in all of its modes is an important conceptual tool for contesting postmodern malaise and for providing utopian tools for a post-human existence. Examining a wide range of texts and scenes, she argues that we should examine the new forms of fetishism emerging from the fringes of the pop culture scene in order to understand their complexities as they move into broader cultural contexts. She skillfully deploys these concepts of fetishisms in discussing topics such as sexual difference, queer identities, computer culture and the "post-human" as well as applying them to her objects of study: cross-cultural dressers, technofetishists, cyberspace cowboys, cyborgs, geekgirls, and SM/fetish culture.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What I Thought Was A Photography Book Was A Really Cool Textbook,
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This review is from: Fantasies of Fetishism: From Decadence to the Post-Human (Paperback)
When I ordered this book I thought I was purchasing a book of fantastic, surrealistic Fetish photographs. I was totally surprised with what arrived in the mail. I wasn't at all disappointed however, because I loved this text book of cultural and gender studies. It helped that the author looked like my daughter so that gave me a favorable first impression. Where in the world were these kinds of classes when I was attending college? I feel so cheated when I read text books like this one. It's fun reading and there are plenty of photographs and illustrations included and discussed in the volume. It was difficult to put the book aside even though it does have it's share of academic jargon but not enough to get in the way of the volume's readability. I particularly enjoyed the insights that the book provided into my own tastes. It's one thing to know that you instinctively like something, but it's something else entirely to learn why you may be intrigued by that particular thing. This is definitely an eye opening book. I'm still jealous of current college students who have the option of taking classes that would use a textbook like this one. It's a page turner and I can't recall feeling that way about any other text book I've ever studied. I suspect other people were also fooled about the book's subject by the wonderful cover illustration. I couldn't help but notice that as of the date of this review there are two used copies of the hardback edition are for sale as collectables. It is a most unusual text book that can become a successful seller in the non-text book and collectable market. That fact alone is a wonderful recommendation for reading it even if you aren't "post-human."
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