Bestial Traces: Race, Sexuality, Animality
In contemporary race and sexuality studies, the topic of animality emerges almost exclusively in order to index the dehumanization that makes discrimination possible. Bestial Traces argues that a more fundamental disavowal of human animality conditions the bestialization of racial and sexual minorities. Hence, when conservative politicians equate homosexuality with bestiality, they betray an anxious effort to deny the animality inherent in all sexuality.

Focusing on literary texts by Edgar Allan Poe, Joel Chandler Harris, Richard Wright, Philip Roth, and J. M. Coetzee, together with philosophical texts by Derrida, Heidegger, Agamben, Freud, and Nietzsche, Peterson maintains that the representation of social and political others as animals can be mitigated but never finally abolished. All forms of belonging inevitably exclude some others as "beasts." Though one might argue that absolute political equality and inclusion remain desirable, even if ultimately unattainable, ideals, Bestial Traces shows that, by maintaining such principles, we exacerbate rather than ameliorate violence because we fail to confront how discrimination and exclusion condition all social relations.
1110948219
Bestial Traces: Race, Sexuality, Animality
In contemporary race and sexuality studies, the topic of animality emerges almost exclusively in order to index the dehumanization that makes discrimination possible. Bestial Traces argues that a more fundamental disavowal of human animality conditions the bestialization of racial and sexual minorities. Hence, when conservative politicians equate homosexuality with bestiality, they betray an anxious effort to deny the animality inherent in all sexuality.

Focusing on literary texts by Edgar Allan Poe, Joel Chandler Harris, Richard Wright, Philip Roth, and J. M. Coetzee, together with philosophical texts by Derrida, Heidegger, Agamben, Freud, and Nietzsche, Peterson maintains that the representation of social and political others as animals can be mitigated but never finally abolished. All forms of belonging inevitably exclude some others as "beasts." Though one might argue that absolute political equality and inclusion remain desirable, even if ultimately unattainable, ideals, Bestial Traces shows that, by maintaining such principles, we exacerbate rather than ameliorate violence because we fail to confront how discrimination and exclusion condition all social relations.
24.0 In Stock
Bestial Traces: Race, Sexuality, Animality

Bestial Traces: Race, Sexuality, Animality

by Christopher Peterson
Bestial Traces: Race, Sexuality, Animality

Bestial Traces: Race, Sexuality, Animality

by Christopher Peterson

Paperback

$24.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

In contemporary race and sexuality studies, the topic of animality emerges almost exclusively in order to index the dehumanization that makes discrimination possible. Bestial Traces argues that a more fundamental disavowal of human animality conditions the bestialization of racial and sexual minorities. Hence, when conservative politicians equate homosexuality with bestiality, they betray an anxious effort to deny the animality inherent in all sexuality.

Focusing on literary texts by Edgar Allan Poe, Joel Chandler Harris, Richard Wright, Philip Roth, and J. M. Coetzee, together with philosophical texts by Derrida, Heidegger, Agamben, Freud, and Nietzsche, Peterson maintains that the representation of social and political others as animals can be mitigated but never finally abolished. All forms of belonging inevitably exclude some others as "beasts." Though one might argue that absolute political equality and inclusion remain desirable, even if ultimately unattainable, ideals, Bestial Traces shows that, by maintaining such principles, we exacerbate rather than ameliorate violence because we fail to confront how discrimination and exclusion condition all social relations.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780823245215
Publisher: Fordham University Press
Publication date: 12/12/2012
Pages: 208
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christopher Peterson is Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Communication
Arts at the University of Western Sydney. He is the author of Kindred Specters: Death, Mourning,
and American Affinity
.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

1 Aping Apes: Edgar Allan Poe s "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and Richard Wright s Native Son 22

2 Slavery's Bestiary: Joel Chandler Harris's Uncle Remus Tales 50

3 Autoimmunity and Ante-Racism: Philip Roth's The Human Stain 74

4 Ashamed of Shame: J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace 113

Afterword 147

Notes 155

Bibliography 183

Index 197

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews