Tendencies

Back of the Book

Tendencies brings together for the first time the essays that have made Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick "the soft-spoken queen of gay studies" (Rolling Stone). Combining poetry, wit, polemic, and dazzling scholarship with memorial and autobiography, these essays have set new standards of passion and truthfulness for current theoretical writing.

The essays range from Diderot, Oscar Wilde, and Henry James to queer kids and twelve-step programs; from "Jane Austen and the Masturbating Girl" to a performance piece on Divine written with Michael Moon; from political correctness and the poetics of spanking to the experience of breast cancer in a world ravaged and reshaped by AIDS. What unites Tendencies is a vision of a new queer politics and thought that, however demanding and dangerous, can also be intent, inclusive, writerly, physical, and sometimes giddily fun.

Why You Should Read It

Tendencies offers readers a profound exploration of critical thought, blending personal insight with rigorous intellectual analysis. In this collection of essays, Sedgwick's brilliance shines through as she navigates complex topics related to literature, culture, and identity. What makes the book compelling is Sedgwick's ability to engage readers with her sharp observations and nuanced perspectives, inviting them into a dialogue that challenges conventional notions. The essays, ranging from discussions on pedagogy to examinations of queer theory, showcase Sedgwick's versatility and her commitment to fostering deeper understandings of human experience. For those seeking intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking essays that transcend disciplinary boundaries, Tendencies provides an enriching reading experience that resonates with clarity and intellectual depth.

Memorable Passage

That's one of the things that "queer" can refer to: the open mesh of possibilities, gaps, overlaps, dissonances and resonances, lapses and excesses of meaning when the constituent elements of anyone's gender, of anyone's sexuality aren't made (or can't be made) to signify monolithically.

About the Author

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick (1950–2009) was an American scholar and pioneer in queer studies who left an indelible mark on the fields of gender and sexuality studies. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Sedgwick's groundbreaking work challenged conventional norms and fostered a deeper understanding of identity, desire, and the intersections of power. Her influential writings, including Epistemology of the Closet and Between Men, expanded the discourse surrounding queer theory and transformed the academic landscape. Sedgwick's significance lies in her ability to articulate complex concepts with clarity and precision, opening up new avenues of thought in the study of human relationships and societal structures. Her contributions to critical theory and the exploration of non-normative sexualities make her a figure worth knowing for those interested in the evolution of gender and sexuality studies.

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Lisa Borst