We the Parasites

A. V. Marraccini's debut book explores how we inhabit works of art, arguing that our sense of longing informs and changes our relationship to them. It tells a strange love story and makes a slantwise argument about reading with the body, urging us to think about the delicious joy of art and its necessary thievery for its continuance and our own.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 150 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: UEA Publishing Project

In her captivating debut book, A. V. Marraccini delves into the intricate relationship between humans and works of art, exploring how our sense of longing shapes and transforms our engagement with them. Through a rich tapestry of interconnected themes, including fig wasps, Updike, Genet, Twombly, Rilke, jewel heists, and a vivid portrayal of histories and myths from classical antiquity, Marraccini weaves a captivating narrative that doubles as a thought-provoking exploration of the body's role in reading and the profound implications of knowledge and desire.

"We the Parasites" emerges as a remarkable masterpiece, a dazzlingly erudite disquisition of the erotics of criticism. Marraccini's writing is adorned with stunning sentences that leave readers breathless, while her exquisite sensibility infuses every page. She forces you to pause, compelling you to engage in a thoughtful contemplation about the sheer delight that art brings, the immense growth and terror it engenders within us, and the essential role that thievery and parasitism play in both the perpetuation of art and our own personal development.

Lauren Elkin, the author of "Flâneuse: Women Walk The City," aptly remarks that "in 1964, Sontag famously proclaimed that we need an erotics of art. Since then, numerous works of criticism have paid lip service to this aspiration, but few have successfully accomplished it." In "We the Parasites," Marraccini achieves what many have sought but failed to attain—a profound erotics of art that restores the adventurous essence of both art and criticism.

Encountering a work of art in this book is not merely a passive act of observation but an immersive experience that evokes a range of emotions, from seduction to contamination. Marraccini encourages readers to engage with art on a visceral level, to taste, kiss, and be seduced by it, allowing art and criticism to reclaim their dangerous and thrilling nature. Through her meticulous exploration of the interplay between the human body and artistic expression, Marraccini offers a fresh perspective on the art-reading experience, challenging us to think beyond the confines of our intellect and embrace the full spectrum of our sensory and emotional faculties.

"We the Parasites" is a literary triumph that captivates readers with its intellectual rigor, poetic beauty, and provocative ideas. It is a testament to the power of literature to inspire, challenge, and transform our understanding of the world. As Marraccini invites us to embark on this perilous journey of artistic exploration, we are left with a profound appreciation for the complexities of the human experience and the endless possibilities that art offers us.

Dimension: 198 x 129 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915812186