Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture [Paperback]

David A Gerstner (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 2011

The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture covers gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (GLBTQ) life and culture post-1945, with a strong international approach to the subject.

The scope of the work is extremely comprehensive, with entries falling into the broad categories of Dance, Education, Film, Health, Homophobia, the Internet, Literature, Music, Performance, and Politics. Slang is also covered. The international contributors come from a wide array of backgrounds: scholars, journalists, artists, doctors, scientists, lawyers, activists, and an enormous range of ideologies and points of view are represented. Major entries provide in-depth information and consider the intellectual and cultural implications of their subjects in a global context. Information is completely up-to-date, including full coverage and analysis of such current or ongoing issues as same-sex marriage/civil union and the international AIDS epidemic. Additionally, there are important appendices covering international sodomy laws and archival institutions, which will be of great value to researchers. The Encyclopedia is fully cross-referenced and many entries carry a bibliography. Where possible internet references have been given and there is a full index.

The combination of its wide scope, determined international coverage and appendices make the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture a uniquely ambitious work and an extremely rich source of information. It is a priority addition for all libraries serving scholars and students with an interest in GLBTQ culture, history and politics across the disciplines.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In his introduction, editor Gerstner states that he does not mean this book to be definitive but aims to provide a broad look at queer cultural production across the world since 1945. The term queer is used as opposed to what Gerstner says are Western, white, middle-class terms such as gay or lesbian.Queer allows a broader look at sexual and gender differences across the world without imposing Western values.

More than 1,000 entries focus on people and other topics in broad categories such as dance, film, health, literature, music, and politics. A smattering of entries cover queer slang terms. Entries encompass many nations and cultures; contributors come from Bolivia, China, Israel, South Africa, Turkey, and Israel, to name but a few locations. Special attention is paid to views other than Western European and North American.

Three appendixes list research archives, queer organizations, and sex laws by country. The last appendix has some inaccuracies, for example, listing countries that either don't exist (Darussalam) or have changed names (Zaire). Fortunately, a Web site cited in the text provides more up-to-date information.

For researchers or browsers, the work offers a wide range of interesting reading. All of the articles are cross-referenced, and flipping through the book is also aided by the thorough index, the thematic list of entries, and the alphabetic list of entries provided at the beginning of the text. Garland's Gay Histories and Cultures: An Encyclopedia and Lesbian History and Cultures: An Encyclopedia (both 2000) are broader in coverage of all time periods, but they do not cover all the international topics addressed in the Routledge volume. This title will be worth the investment for public and academic libraries that seek broad coverage in queer issues. Steve Stratton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"This Encyclopedia ranges widely, thematically and internationally, and is bang up to dat, even expatiating on such ongoing issues as same-sex marriage/civil partnerships or unions, and on the new global plague of AIDS." - Reference Reviews

'...a worthy addition to queer studies collections in large public and all academic libraries' -  Library Journal

"This title will be worth the investment for public and academic libraries that seek broad coverage in queer issues" - Library Journal

"Thematically arranged categories allow for productive browsing across subjects approached from an international perspective" - Booklist

"This unique, well-executed volume will appeal to general readers interested in popular culture and scholars in academic disciplines like sociology and queer studies....Highly recommended" - Choice

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 784 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (May 19, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415569664
• ISBN-13: 978-0415569668
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,533,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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