The Body and the French Revolution: Sex, Class and Political Culture

This book, first published in 1989, explores how the French Revolution diminished the body and its historic dignity and authority, leading to major crises of public culture. It argues that the revolutionary middle class created a new public world with myths such as the division between public and private, male and female worlds, and masculine values.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 198 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book, first published in 1989, delves into the profound transformations that occurred in 1789 with the French Revolution and the enduring impact it has had on contemporary society. It goes beyond a mere recounting of historical events with global repercussions; rather, it represents the cornerstone of the middle-class dominance that still shapes social, cultural, and political realms today. One particularly significant aspect of this dominance is the diminishing dignity and authority of the human body, despite its prominent place in consumer culture as an object of adornment and beautification.

The argument presented in this book is that the French Revolution played a pivotal role in this decline of the body. It explores revolutionary models of behavior and their implications for public life, shedding light on how myths such as the distinction between public and private, male and female worlds, and masculine values like objectivity were integral to the new public world created by the revolutionary middle class.

The book also examines the ways in which the body has been subjected to various forms of control and manipulation throughout history, from religious and political institutions to modern-day advertising and media. It raises important questions about the power dynamics at play and the ways in which individuals and societies negotiate the boundaries between body and self.

Through its comprehensive analysis, this book offers a valuable insight into the complex relationship between the French Revolution, the body, and contemporary society. It serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of this historical event and its profound implications for our understanding of politics, culture, and identity.

Weight: 385g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032126494