Overview

In Erotic Innocence James R. Kincaid explores contemporary America's preoccupation with stories about the sexual abuse of children. Claiming that our culture has yet to come to terms with the bungled legacy of Victorian sexuality, Kincaid examines how children and images of youth are idealized, fetishized, and eroticized in everyday culture. Evoking the cyclic elements of Gothic narrative, he thoughtfully and convincingly concludes that the only way to break this cycle is to acknowledge--and confront--not only the sensuality of children but the eroticism loaded onto them. undefinedDrawing on a number of wide-ranging and well-publicized cases as well as scandals involving such celebrities as Michael Jackson and Woody Allen, Kincaid looks at issues surrounding children's testimonies, accusations against priests and day-care centers, and the horrifying yet persistently intriguing rumors of satanic cults and ""kiddie porn"" rings. In analyzing the particular form of popularity shared by such child stars such Shirley Temple and Macaulay Culkin, he exposes the strategies we have devised to deny our own role in the sexualization of children. Finally, Kincaid reminds us how other forms of abuse inflicted on children--neglect, abandonment, inadequate nutrition, poor education--are often overlooked in favor of the sensationalized sexual abuse coverage in the news, on daytime TV talk shows, and in the elevators and cafeterias of America each day. This bold and critically enlightened book will interest readers across a wide range of disciplines as well as a larger general audience interested in American culture.

Full Product Details

9780822321934

Table of Contents

Reviews

... a sane and sarcastic study by Professor Kincaid which should make all the abuse-freaks shut up... Kincaid's idee maitresse ... is that all this chatter has little to do with protecting children and everything to do with feeding ghastly concealed adult appetites ... full of wisdom and sanity. --The Spectator, 26 August, 2000 [A book of] centred wisdom and muscular rationality. --Paula Fass, The Washington Times There is much in Erotic Innocence that is provoking, annoying, and amusing... --James Campbell, The New York Times Book Review Fascinating and thoughtful ... Kincaid's ideas deserve a fair hearing and consideration. --Richard P. Kluft, Journal of the American Medical Association Kincaid's most trenchant (and bravely comic) pages take up the dream of child seduction that Victorian writers like Lewis Carroll initiated and follow it into contemporary narratives. --Marina Warner, Village Voice Literary Supplement A stunning and stinging book--more than entertaining, it is medicinal. This is Kincaid at his powerful, funny, learned, and sinuous best. --Nina Auerbach, author of Our Vampires, Ourselves Brave, wise, original, and exuberantly engaging ... A brilliant and humane piece of cultural criticism. --Joseph Litvak, author of Strange Gourmets

... a sane and sarcastic study by Professor Kincaid which should make all the abuse-freaks shut up... Kincaid's idee maitresse ... is that all this chatter has little to do with protecting children and everything to do with feeding ghastly concealed adult appetites ... full of wisdom and sanity. --The Spectator, 26 August, 2000 [A book of] centred wisdom and muscular rationality. --Paula Fass, The Washington Times There is much in Erotic Innocence that is provoking, annoying, and amusing... --James Campbell, The New York Times Book Review Fascinating and thoughtful ... Kincaid's ideas deserve a fair hearing and consideration. --Richard P. Kluft, Journal of the American Medical Association Kincaid's most trenchant (and bravely comic) pages take up the dream of child seduction that Victorian writers like Lewis Carroll initiated and follow it into contemporary narratives. --Marina Warner, Village Voice Literary Supplement A stunning and stinging book--more than entertaining, it is medicinal. This is Kincaid at his powerful, funny, learned, and sinuous best. --Nina Auerbach, author of Our Vampires, Ourselves Brave, wise, original, and exuberantly engaging ... A brilliant and humane piece of cultural criticism. --Joseph Litvak, author of Strange Gourmets

A stunning and stinging book-more than entertaining, it is medicinal. This is Kincaid at his powerful, funny, learned, and sinuous best. -Nina Auerbach, author of Our Vampires, Ourselves Brave, wise, original, and exuberantly engaging, Erotic Innocence really does intervene in the contemporary cultural scene, both exposing its hypocritical awfulness and articulating models for a world in which children and adults could live much more happily than we do now. A brilliant and humane piece of cultural criticism. -Joseph Litvak, author of Strange Gourmets

""" ... a sane and sarcastic study by Professor Kincaid which should make all the abuse-freaks shut up... Kincaid's idee maitresse ... is that all this chatter has little to do with protecting children and everything to do with feeding ghastly concealed adult appetites ... full of wisdom and sanity.""--The Spectator, 26 August, 2000 ""[A book of] centred wisdom and muscular rationality.""--Paula Fass, The Washington Times ""There is much in Erotic Innocence that is provoking, annoying, and amusing..."" --James Campbell, The New York Times Book Review ""Fascinating and thoughtful ... Kincaid's ideas deserve a fair hearing and consideration.""--Richard P. Kluft, Journal of the American Medical Association ""Kincaid's most trenchant (and bravely comic) pages take up the dream of child seduction that Victorian writers like Lewis Carroll initiated and follow it into contemporary narratives.""--Marina Warner, Village Voice Literary Supplement ""A stunning and stinging book--more than entertaining, it is medicinal. This is Kincaid at his powerful, funny, learned, and sinuous best.""--Nina Auerbach, author of Our Vampires, Ourselves"" Brave, wise, original, and exuberantly engaging ... A brilliant and humane piece of cultural criticism.""--Joseph Litvak, author of Strange Gourmets"

Author Information

James R. Kincaid is Aerol Arnold Professor of English at the University of Southern California. He is the author of Annoying the Victorians.

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