Tendencies

"Because of the polymorphousness of its disciplinary perversity, Tendencies, taken together with Sedgwick's two previous books, virtually defines the new field of queer studies. The opulent availability of an embodied self who also happens to be a brilliant reader marks Sedgwick's effort throughout this volume. It is also what allows one the tutelary space for taking, not only pleasure from her work, but courage from her example."James Creech, author of Closet Writing/Gay Reading "Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick is deservedly recognised as the primum mobile of lesbian & gay studies. Yet her real achievement lies not so much in the creation of a new academic discipline, as in the profound implications her work carries for the rest of the academy, and the wider world beyond. For she assigns an absolutely fundamental, constitutive role to homophobia in the construction of Modernity, and its myriad institutions, discourses, pleasures, and pains. Tendencies provides a marvelously exhilarating excursion across the range of her interests and involvements. . . . She is the most consistently intelligent, courageous, perceptive, daring and sensible critic currently writing in the United States. I strongly recommend panic-buying."Simon Watney, author of Policing Desire

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick is Distinguished Professor of English, CUNY Graduate Center. Her many publications include A Dialogue On Love (Beacon, 1999); Fat Art/Thin Art (Duke, 1994); Tendencies (Duke, 1993); and Epistemology of the Closet (California, 1990).

Foreword: T Times xi Queer and Now 1 Queer Tutelage Privilege of Unknowing: Diderot's The Nun 23 Tales of the Avunculate: The Importance of Being Earnest 52 Is the Rectum Straight?: Identification and Identity in The Wings of the Dove 73 Memorial for Craig Owens 104 Crossing of Discourses Jane Austen and the Masturbating Girl 109 Epidemics of the Will 130 Nationalisms and Sexualities 143 How to Bring Your Kids Up Gay: The War on Effeminate Boys 154 Across Genders, Across Sexualities Willa Cather and Others 167 A Poem Is Being Written 177 Divinity: A Dossier, A Performance Piece, A Little-Understood Emotion (written with Michael Moon) 215 White Glasses 252 Bibliography 267 Index 275