Gossips, Gorgons and Crones: The Fates of the Earth [Paperback]

Jane Caputi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1993

Gossips, Gorgons & Crones is the first comprehensive analysis of nuclear-age culture and the accompanying return of female Powers. Based in feminist, pre-patriarchal, and Native American philosophies, this book provides a biting critique of patriarchal practices, myths, and values, including family values.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The advent of atomic and nuclear weaponry has greatly influenced American society since 1946. In this strong, insightful book, Caputi (American studies, Univ. of New Mexico) investigates and critiques the influence of nuclear sensibility on American society. Her comprehensive and sharply defining analysis covers the nuclear family, incest, serial killers, advertising, pornography, politics, and language. Caputi asks us to turn away from patriarchal customs and toward a spiritual understanding that is analogous to the Furies, Medusa, and the ancient mothers of Native American spirituality. Her critique is learned, scholarly, and far-reaching. Recommended for collections in women's studies, ecology, sociology, and American studies.
- Gail Wood, SUNY Coll. of Technology Lib., Alfred
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Jane Caputi is a professor of American studies at the University of New Mexico. She is author of The Age of Sex Crime and worked with Mary Daly on Webster's First New Intergalactic Wickedary of the English Language.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bear & Company (October 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879181053
• ISBN-13: 978-1879181052
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,090,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blew my mind, June 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Gossips, Gorgons and Crones: The Fates of the Earth (Paperback)

People use that phrase all the time til it has no meaning but when I read this book it really did blow my mind. A powerful trip through modern culture that really holds nothing back. I was in a daze after reading this book but am so very glad I did. It gave me a whole new perspective on why modern society is so messed up. It condems the social construct that allows people to hurt and even distroy one another and our home the earth with out remorse. I totally love this book and wish more people would read it.

Do Not read this book if you are attached to the cultural ideal of Men being automatically better than Women & that they only have worth if the are dominating somesome.

I just wish I could write a review as brilliently as Jane Caputi writes so more people would check out this awesome book!

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and Poorly researched, September 1, 2002

By 

Hadar Aviram (Albany, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gossips, Gorgons and Crones: The Fates of the Earth (Paperback)

I'm sorry, but this book just did not work for me. I sympathize with many eco-feminist notions, but this book makes poorly researched and shaky claims, seeking to link together variables that have no connection, making generalized, fluffy arguments.

The main point of this book is, of course, the linkage between patriarchial society and the nuclear age. The writer provides very strange and eclectic examples from popular culture which are vague, at best, and more often it seems that the writer sought to locate casual references to suit her claim. For example, in several places, the writer refers to titles of different articles about nuclear weapons and about the dangers of maleness (incest - which she seems to regard as a general trait of fatherhood) which happen to appear in the same issue of Time or Newsweek - not as a coincidence, but as a joint issue. She looks at the cover of a magazine, citing different article names, and we're supposed to reach a conclusion that this linkage is not coincidental, and that it is part of the alleged male-nuclear conspiracy.

The writer analyzes similar material in opposite ways when it supports her argument - first identifying the bomb with the male, then with the female. She seems to have thrown the darts before marking the target.

Another disturbing factor is the generalized and problematic, to say the least, condemnation of what the writer describes as "nuclear fatherhood". All fathers are compared, as a general group, to Reagan and Freddy Krueger. Need I say more?

I did find the spiritual contents of this book (such as the idea of the Gorgon) fascinating and useful - especially due to the (regrettable) lack of serious and intelligent discussion of Feminist spirituality as a deserving issue and not merely a bag of love spells. I wish these contents could be given to us separately, and not within a poorly researched scholarly work that does not give credit to its readers as intelligent beings who can evaluate material by themselves, without being spoonfed the conclusions which by no means stem from the material. As a woman who cares deeply about women's issues and about this planet, I believe this book does damage to the general cause by alienating 99.99% of the people who could be responsive to eco-feminism and its ideas. It's sad, really.