The Explicit Body in Performance - Tapa dura

"I would...encourage people to take the time to read it. It will give them and insight into the world of feminist performance art and a knowledge of contemporary radical ideas in the deconstruction of gender." -"Lesbian Sex Scandals ..."gives in-depth analyses and explorations of the works of "explicit body" artists..and..provides valuable historical back-round on the movements and artists that inspired thier work. ...this is a valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in feminism and performance art.." -D.C. Culbertson, "Baltimore Alternative ..."undoubtedly an important contribution to performance studies..." -"Lesbian Review of Books

The Explicit Body in Performance interrogates the avant-garde precedents and theoretical terrain that combined to produce feminist performance art. Among the many artists discussed are:
* Carolle Schneemann
* Annie Sprinkle
* Karen Finley
* Robbie McCauley
* Ana Mendieta
* Ann Magnuson
* Sandra Bernhard
* Spiderwoman
Rebecca Schneider tackles topics ranging across the 'post-porn modernist movement', New Right censorship, commodity fetishism, perspectival vision, and primitivism. Employing diverse critical theories from Benjamin to Lacan to postcolonial and queer theory, Schneider analyses artistic and pop cultural depictions of the explicit body in late commodity capitalism.
The Explicit Body in Performance is complemented by extensive photographic illustrations and artistic productions of postmodern feminist practitioners. The book is a fascinating exploration of how these artists have wrestled with the representational structures of desire.