Grotesque Touch: Women, Violence, and Contemporary Circum-Caribbean Narratives

Amy K. King's book explores how violence between women in contemporary Caribbean and American texts is rooted in plantation slavery, and how media reuse salacious and stereotypical depictions to confront its legacy. It examines the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, ability, and nationality in these depictions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2021
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

In her groundbreaking book, Amy K. King delves into the profound connection between violence between women in contemporary Caribbean and American texts and the legacy of plantation slavery. Through a comprehensive analysis of a wide range of media, including films, television shows, novels, short stories, poems, book covers, and paintings, King uncovers how contemporary media reuses salacious and stereotypical depictions of relationships within the plantation system to confront its enduring impact in the present. By examining the vestiges of these relationships, which span enslavers and enslaved women, employers and domestic servants, lovers and rivals, King challenges the characters' ability to imagine non-abusive approaches to power and agency.

King's work stands as a pioneering exploration, surpassing previous studies in its examination of the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, ability, and nationality in U.S. and Caribbean depictions of violence between women in the aftermath of slavery. Through her meticulous analysis, King sheds light on the complex web of factors that contribute to these violent narratives and highlights the urgent need for a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the historical and cultural contexts that shape them.

This book is a crucial contribution to the field of gender studies, cultural studies, and history, offering valuable insights into the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence and the ongoing legacy of slavery. It will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone seeking to understand the complex dynamics of power and oppression in contemporary society.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469664644