What was different about the environments that women created as architects; designers and clients at a time when they were gaining increasing political and social status in a male world? Through a series of case studies; Womens Places: Architecture and Design 1860-1960; examines in detail the professional and domestic spaces created by women who had money and the opportunity to achieve their ideal. Set against a background of accepted notions of modernity relating to design and architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; this book provides a fascinating insight into womens social aspirations and identities. It offers new information and new interpretations in the study of gender; material culture and the built environment in the period 1860-1960.
#4104029 in eBooks 2003-09-02 2003-09-02File Name: B000PLXC36
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. AmbivalentBy Mark LevineAn unquestionably serious study of an undeniably significant manifestation of race in the 18th century; with ramifications a century later; but a very dense and overly academic text makes this tough going. Somehere in here is an argument that minstrelsy was far from the purely racist phenomenon that many would take it to be then and now; but it often seems as if Lott makes the case for its ambiguity by citing such abundant and seemingly contradictory documentation and opinion--- everything from Walt Whitman to the Frankfurt school; and with (as some readers point out) a great deal of Freudian babble--- that one might conclude that a minstrel show; after all an unsophisticated form of mass entertainment6--- might be about just about anything. And; though I have read a good deal on related subjects and on the period; I was lost in Lotts case for the interconnectness of minstrelsy with working-class politics before the Civil War. Sean Wilentzs book on the subject was complex enough without blackface; racial; or sexual ambiguity thrown into the mix. A too ambitious effort; I think.11 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Interesting perspectiveBy AmyI chose to use this book in a paper that I wrote for my Race and Realism class. I was not able to grasp everything that the author had to say about blackface minstrelsy but what I did find was an interesting perspective. I dont necessarily agree with the whole phallic aspect and the need to "size up" to the African-American race; but I do want to agree with the fact that there was a fascination in the race and I think that is what Lott is trying to get across to the readers. There were many angles that could be taken with this book and it was incredibly useful to my paper. I enjoyed it and it was easy to apply to many of the novels written by Twain; Harper; Crane and Chesnutt.10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Interesting subjectBy d macThe subject of the book is fascinating; and the author is clearly very knowledgeable. My one complaint is that the writing style is at times impenetrable; seemingly on purpose; as if the author is hinting at things he does not want to say in plain English. But the book is well worth the effort.