The History of Sexuality: The Will to Knowledge v. 1

£3.58

Brilliant, but requires grounding in order to fully appreciate. - This was the second book by Foucault which I endeavored to read, the first being the classic Discipline and Punish. The first time I made my way through this short book I was aware, on some level at least, that I was approaching the topic of human sexuality in both an ingenius and idiosyncratic manner. However, by the time I had finished it I was well aware that I hadn t grasped what was being conveyed adequately. In retrospect I think that this may have been due to the difference between the respective nodal points in which Foucault grounds his theories, or, more precisely, in which Foucault generalises the otherwise ungeneralisable material in order to accommodate the ill-prepared reader to accepting the asubjective position neccesary to appreciate fully his historicism. It seems to be a rhetorical tactic deployed in order to break molar conceptualisations through the use of spectres of these very forms of conceptualisations, which are masterfully used in order to demonstrate their own transparency.I have in mind specifically the concepts of panopticism and biopower (and later governmentality). The former is fully operative throughout Discipline and Punish and allows the reader a way in in order to begin to grasp the historical dynamic operative behind the disciplines. However, the latter, which is operative throughout the present book, is, in my opinion at least, far more wide-ranging and thus far more abstract. To grasp it in its (non) totality is quite difficult. For this reason I recommend that the serious reader undertake a small amount of background research. The lecture courses given by Foucault at the College de France prior to the release of the History (Psychiatric Power, The Abnormals and Society Must Be Defended) are most helpful as well as being extremely interesting (with Security, Territory, Population being an excellent follow up to the theory). By studying them the reader is allowed to observe the week by week formation of Foucault s late thought, I found that after doing so I was quite literally able to follow Foucault s argument word for word, with many of his examples sparking off many other examples given in the lecture courses.In addition to this I think it extremely helpful, if not necceary, to have a relatively decent understanding of previous theories of societal sexual repression. It seems that the book is, at base, a polemic on the Marxo-Freudian theories of Reich, Marcuse and the Frankfurt School generally, once again by being able to recognise this one can uncover the deeper layers of Foucault s thought.Apart from the need for some moderate background knowledge I found the History quite a pleasant read. It was relatively straightfoward and, in contrast to most works connected with structuralism, required little de-coding. If, like one of the previous reviewers, you bought this short book and felt, as I did at first, that you didn t get enough out of it then I can t recommend enough that you do the background reading, I guarentee that it s well worth it.Hopefully this suggestion will help to exorcise the figure of the disgruntled reviewer, that shrill poltergeist who haunts and antagonises the otherwise open space given us by Amazon in which to express one s thoughts about the fine wares on display. Then again, anyone who feels the need to use said space to blow off steam everytime something escapes their grasp will undoubtably be far too lazy to undertake such a venture. Who knows, they may even learn something new and not need to resort to barely veiled homophobic insults?

The Will to Cloud the Issue - The inane self-contradictory ramblings of a man with serious issues concerning his own sexuality.He purports to prove that there was no sexual repression by constantly referring to the enormous amount of repression present during the Victorian age. He seems to feel that the amount of discussion surrounding sex is the main problem and then proceeds to discuss it. The book is a mass of self-contradictory postulations and dubious historical references. A book so completely devoid of the logical objective reasoning he claims to bring to the subject that it begs the question what is he really on about.

A well-presented work of enlightened essence - Readable and digestable is very much what can characterise the style of the book. In content, Foucault explores the creation of sexual categories and their relevance to the power structures of the capitalist society. It is a clear treatise on sexual fascism and how it is used to the ends of the power structure. Inherent within the book, and it is this which makes it different from other attempts, is the manner in which Foucault views the conditioning of sexuality as part of our Western scientific tradition. In certain respects, he is unscathed by that same tradition in the way he comments on sexuality and its deployment as a tool for power. In this way, the book does not reflect a critique of the capitalist economy more than a realisation of the way power is ingrained within the structures of the political economy and the psyche of the people.

so much more than a history of sexuality - This, the first volume of French philosopher Michel Foucault s tripartite study of sexuality is as idiosyncratic as the man himself. Unlike the works of a number of his colleages, this book is highly accessible and of interest to any broadminded reader, although it would be of particular interest to students of philosophy, sociology, gender, politics, religion, history etc etc.. I personally have recommended H.O.S.1 to a number of friends and have yet to receive a negative response. While more of an intellectual curiosity than a full blown philosophy, Foucault s concepts reverberate far beyond the parameters of the book s subject.

The History of Sexuality: The Will to Knowledge v. 1

The History of Sexuality: The Will to Knowledge v. 1£3.58

The History of Sexuality: The Will to Knowledge v. 1

£3.58