It is widely acknowledged that the unhuman plays a significant role in the definition of humanity in contemporary thought. It appears in the thematization of "the Other" in philosophical; psychoanalytic; anthropological; and postcolonial studies; and shows up in the "antihumanism" associated with figures such as Heidegger; Foucault; and Derrida. One might trace its genealogy; as Freud did; to the Copernican; Darwinian; and psychoanalytic revolutions that displaced humanity from the center of the universe. Or as Karl Marx and others suggested; one might lose human identity in the face of economic; technological; political; and ideological forces and structures.With dazzling breadth; wit; and intelligence; Unhuman Culture ranges over literature; art; and theory; ancient to postmodern; to explore the ways in which contemporary culture defines humanity in terms of all that it is not. Daniel Cottom is equally at home reading medieval saints lives and the fiction of Angela Carter; plumbing the implications of Napoleons self-coronation and the attacks of 9/11; considering the paintings of Pieter Bruegel and the plastic-surgery-as-performance of the body artist Orlan.For Cottom; the unhuman does not necessarily signify the inhuman; in the sense of conspicuous or extraordinary cruelty. It embraces; too; the superhuman; the supernatural; the demonic; and the subhuman; the supposedly disjunctive animal; vegetable; and mineral kingdoms; the realms of artifice; technology; and fantasy. It plays a role in theoretical discussions of the sublime; personal memoirs of the Holocaust; aesthetic reflections on technology; economic discourses on globalization; and popular accounts of terrorism. Whereas it once may have seemed that the concept of culture always; by definition; pertained to humanity; it now may seem impossible to avoid the realization that we must look at things differently. It is not only art; in the narrow sense of the word; that we must recognize as unhuman. For better or worse; ours is now an unhuman culture.
#1918963 in eBooks 2013-05-31 2013-05-31File Name: B00CY2HJCY
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Two StarsBy CCWThe editing of the kindle version is terrible. The book itself is now quite dated.8 of 16 people found the following review helpful. An Academic Work on the Cultural Implications of DisneyBy A CustomerThis book does not aim to be a tell-all of the behind the scenes workings of Walt Disney World. It is; rather; a look at the implications that Disney World has on the experience of its visitors. The book provides an interesting look at how Disney reinforces social norms (specifically the heterosexual family consumer unit) and controls experiences. I really enjoyed reading this book; and found the writers personal experiences to be very enjoyable.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not for the casual reader of Disney informationBy Penny MilfordUnlike the description; which makes it sound so fun enticing; this book is not for anyone reading for pleasure. It is an entry in a scholarly series from Duke University Press; and is listed as relating to "Cultural studies; American studies". Its not for the casual reader; or anyone looking to learn more about the Disney phenomena. There are photos (bw) without captions; and its up to the reader to wade through the nearby text to figure out what they refer to. I tried; I really tried; to read this book; but I cannot. Two stars because I feel that the info on this page (and the back cover) tout this book as being a light-hearted book for the general reader; which it is not. Its so elitist; I will probably throw it in the trash; rather than donate it to my local library sale. If you want to learn more about the Disney parks; movies; etc.; this is not the book for you.