The Poetics of Cruising: Queer Visual Culture from Whitman to Grindr

The Poetics of Cruising is a groundbreaking new history of urban cruising that explores the relationship between cruising, photography, and the visual in the work of leading poets from Walt Whitman to Eileen Myles. It argues that this moment is not only optical but visual, warranting comparison with the ways in which we behold still and moving images. The book reveals the ambivalence at the heart of this erotic search, where power may be unevenly distributed across glances and gendered and racialized bodies are marked. It is a must for scholars of queer and LGBTQ literature and culture, modern and contemporary poetry, visual studies, and the history of sexuality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2022
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

The Poetics of Cruising is a groundbreaking new history of urban cruising that delves into the intricate relationship between cruising, photography, and the visual in the work of renowned poets from the nineteenth century to the twenty-first century. In his exploration, Jack Parlett questions the very essence of what occurs during this fleeting moment of perception, known as cruising, and the motivations behind it. He argues that cruising is not merely an optical experience but also a visual one, comparable to the way we observe still and moving images.

Throughout the history of poets cruising, Parlett highlights the rich interplay between the verbal and the visual, the transient and the fixed. He examines the fascination with daguerreotypes by Walt Whitman, the hybrid photographic works of Langston Hughes, and the admiration for Hollywood movie stars by Frank O'Hara. These examples illustrate how poets have incorporated the visual into their work, blurring the boundaries between the spoken word and visual representation.

Looking at someone engaged in cruising, as depicted in this history, involves capturing, contemplating, and aestheticizing the moment. It is a way of engaging with the ever-changing dynamics of urban time and the complexities of human relationships. However, this act of observation also reveals the ambivalence inherent in cruising, where power dynamics can be unevenly distributed through glances and gendered and racialized bodies are marked.

Parlett's innovative approach to the study of cruising, coupled with his astute analysis and compelling archival material, makes The Poetics of Cruising a must-read for scholars of queer and LGBTQ literature and culture, as well as modern and contemporary poetry. The book offers a fresh perspective on the visual erotic economy associated with gay cruising, highlighting its historical roots and its relevance in the contemporary world.

In conclusion, The Poetics of Cruising is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the complex relationship between cruising, photography, and the visual. Through its insightful analysis and engaging narrative, Parlett provides a fresh perspective on this often overlooked aspect of urban culture. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on queer and LGBTQ studies and will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone with an interest in the intersections of sexuality, art, and culture.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 139 x 216 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517911041