Autotheory as Feminist Practice in Art, Writing, and Criticism

(Paperback)

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Autotheory--the commingling of theory and philosophy with autobiography--as a mode of critical artistic practice indebted to feminist writing and activism. In the 2010s, the term "autotheory" began to trend in literary spheres, where it was used to describe books in which memoir and autobiography fused with theory and philosophy. In this book, Lauren Fournier extends the meaning of the term, applying it to other disciplines and practices. Fournier provides a long-awaited account of autotheory, situating it as a mode of contemporary, post-1960s artistic practice that is indebted to feminist writing, art, and activism. Investigating a series of works by writers and artists including Chris Kraus and Adrian Piper, she considers the politics, aesthetics, and ethics of autotheory.

Reviews

A useful intellectual history of the 'autotheoretical impulse.'--Art in America

Autotheory as Feminist Practice, then, excels as a "here we are now" grounding; a nervy, contemporary feminist art history syllabus.--Hyperallergic

A comprehensive monograph that poses a real range of considerations for both artistic and literary autotheory scholarship and practice.--Contemporary Women's Writing

Rather than being a dense theoretical tome, the text is populated with a number of sensuous, defiant, provocative film stills and photographs of multivalent artworks. Among the most evocative aspects of the text is a general aim at decentring. Fournier gives considerable attention to inverting margins, both structurally and conceptually.--The Humber Literary Review

Anyone interested in contemporary feminist art and writing practices would benefit from reading Fournier's book about this exciting new way of infiltrating theory that has hitherto been dominated by a patriarchal, Eurocentric elite.--BookArts

This book is captivating--reading it is an experience akin to the first moment venturing into Judith Butler's Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity.--Woman's Art Journal

Autotheory as Feminist Practice is a great tool for discussion and exchange, and not simply a guide. It is a wonderfully rich source, and surely an essential contribution not only to those interested in autotheory: Many of the discussions in it are relevant to anyone engaging with wider concerns in contemporary art, writing, and criticism.--Passage

Author Bio

Lauren Fournier, a writer, independent curator, and artist, teaches critical theory, art history, and artists' writing at the University of Toronto, where she is a postdoctoral fellow in visual studies.