Male Bodies Unmade: Picturing Queer Selfhood

Male Bodies Unmade explores white men's disunified physicality in modern and contemporary art, focusing on erotic polysemy and disrupting art history's Western narratives.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

Male Bodies Unmade delves into the fragmented physicality of white men in modern and contemporary art, while also addressing the erotic polysemy that challenges the visual ethos of Occidental patriarchy. Art historian Jongwoo Jeremy Kim's approach is shaped by his own status as an immigrant, a polyglot queen, drawn to extravagant fantasies of misbehaving bodies that are, in reality, foreign territories, colonies of misbelief. Through six case studies that explore configurations of irrational anatomy and lustful self-extinction, this book celebrates the lessons and pleasures of disrupting art history's predominantly Western narratives.

Introduction:
Male Bodies Unmade explores the fragmented physicality of white men in modern and contemporary art, while also addressing the erotic polysemy that challenges the visual ethos of Occidental patriarchy. Art historian Jongwoo Jeremy Kim's approach is shaped by his own status as an immigrant, a polyglot queen, drawn to extravagant fantasies of misbehaving bodies that are, in reality, foreign territories, colonies of misbelief. Through six case studies that explore configurations of irrational anatomy and lustful self-extinction, this book celebrates the lessons and pleasures of disrupting art history's predominantly Western narratives.

Disunified Physicality:
The book delves into the disunified physicality of white men in modern and contemporary art, highlighting the ways in which they are represented as fragmented and disjointed. This portrayal reflects the broader societal pressures and expectations placed on men, which often lead to a sense of dislocation and disunity within their bodies. The artists in Male Bodies Unmade challenge these stereotypes by creating works that celebrate the diversity and complexity of male bodies, highlighting their strength, vulnerability, and sexuality.

Erotic Polysemy:
One of the key themes of Male Bodies Unmade is the erotic polysemy that questions the visual ethos of Occidental patriarchy. The book explores the ways in which male bodies are often represented as objects of desire and conquest, but also as sites of vulnerability and vulnerability. The artists in Male Bodies Unmade challenge these binary perceptions by creating works that blur the lines between the erotic and the political, the pleasurable and the painful.

Jongwoo Jeremy Kim's Approach:
Jongwoo Jeremy Kim's approach to art history is informed by his own status as an immigrant. As a polyglot queen, he is drawn to extravagant fantasies of misbehaving bodies that are in truth foreign territories, colonies of misbelief. Kim's work celebrates the lessons and pleasures of disrupting art history's predominantly Western narratives, challenging the hegemonic narratives that have shaped our understanding of art and culture.

Case Studies:
The book includes six case studies that focus on configurations of irrational anatomy and lustful self-extinction. These case studies explore the ways in which male bodies are often subjected to violence and aggression, but also how they can be used to resist and subvert these forces. The artists in Male Bodies Unmade use their bodies as sites of resistance and transformation, creating works that challenge the dominant narratives of masculinity and power.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Male Bodies Unmade is a groundbreaking book that delves into the fragmented physicality of white men in modern and contemporary art, while also addressing the erotic polysemy that challenges the visual ethos of Occidental patriarchy. Through its exploration of the lessons and pleasures of disrupting art history's predominantly Western narratives, the book offers a fresh perspective on the male body and its place in art and culture.

Weight: 870g
Dimension: 185 x 264 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520392588