First published in 1986 to wide critical acclaim, The Sexual Perspective was a ground breaking book, bringing together the work of artists who were gay/lesbian/queer/bisexual. For the first time painting, sculpture and photography which reflected the artist's sexual orientation was freely talked about and analysed, and placed within its artistic, social and historical context, challenging the conventional view that issues of sexual identity had no place within art. The Sexual Perspective traces the influence of Renaissance artists on later generations of artists; it also looks at the way photography was appropriated to express a range of sexual interests, and scrutinises the codes to convey feelings which could not be openly shown. Artists discussed include
Duncan Grant, Ethel Walker, Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, Harmony Hammond and Jody Pinto. Emmanuel Cooper's broad approach includes the discussion of the lives of artists to illuminate their work, particularly in the view of social and legal constraints. Other themes include the limitations of representation and the role of
art in defining and shaping attitudes. Since the publication of The Sexual Perspective , two significant developments have taken place. In an original chapter, illustrated with new
pictures, Cooper discusses increased Lesbian visibility within the visual arts, and the thoughtful response to the AIDS
epidemic. Cooper writes clearly and entertainingly about art, sexuality and gender. Lavishly illustrated, often rarely seen images, the author's text is a vital contribution to current debates about art, gender, identity and sexuality.
By:
Emmanuel Cooper Imprint: Routledge Country of Publication: United Kingdom Edition: 2nd edition Dimensions:
Height: 280mm,
Width: 216mm,
Spine: 31mm
Weight: 816g ISBN:9780415111003 ISBN 10: 0415111005 Pages: 396 Publication Date:08 September 1994 Audience:
College/higher education
,
General/trade
,
Primary
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active
Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Mirror of the Soul 2. Free from the Itch of Desire 3. Genius has no Sex 4. Sexual Aesthetes 5. The Soul Identified with the Flesh 6. The Sexual Code 7. Breaking Out: Private Faces in Public Places 8. The New Women 9. The Divided Subject 10. Veiling the Image 11. Lesbians Who Make Art 12. There I Am 13. Shouting and Singing Notes Index
Emmanuel Cooper
Reviews for The Sexual Perspective: Homosexuality and Art in the Last 100 Years in the West
... a useful, provocative, and wide-ranging collection.... <br>- The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism <br>