Overview
From its beginnings inTwilightfan-fiction to its record-breaking sales as an e-book and paperback, the story of the erotic romance novelFifty Shades of Greyand its two sequels is both unusual and fascinating. Having sold over seventy million copies worldwide since 2011, E. L. James's lurid series about a sexual ingénue and the powerful young entrepreneur who introduces her to BDSM sex has ingrained itself in our collective consciousness. But why have these particular novels-poorly written and formulaic as they are-become so popular, especially among women over thirty? In this concise, engaging book, Eva Illouz subjects theFifty Shadescultural phenomenon to the serious scrutiny it has been begging for. After placing the trilogy in the context of best-seller publishing, she delves into its remarkable appeal, seeking to understand the intense reading pleasure it provides and how that resonates with the structure of relationships between men and women today.Fifty Shades, Illouz argues, is a gothic romance adapted to modern times in which sexuality is both a source of division between men and women and a site to orchestrate their reconciliation. As for the novels' notorious depictions of bondage, discipline, and sadomasochism, Illouz shows that these are as much a cultural fantasy as a sexual one, serving as a guide to a happier romantic life. TheFifty Shadestrilogy merges romantic fantasy with self-help guide-two of the most popular genres for female readers. Offering a provocative explanation for the success and popularity of theFifty Shades of Greynovels,Hard-Core Romanceis an insightful look at modern relationships and contemporary women's literature.
Full Product Details
Author: Eva Illouz (The Hebrew University of Jersalem)
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Dimensions:
Width: 1.40cm
, Height: 0.10cm
, Length: 2.10cm
Weight: 0.142kg
ISBN: 9780226153698
ISBN 10: 022615369
Pages: 104
Publication Date: 22 May 2014
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
Hard-Core Romance is a wonderfully creative piece of cultural analysis. Writing from a feminist-sociological perspective, Illouz tells us how Fifty Shades of Grey became an international best-seller by providing fantasy resolutions to real-life female dilemmas and self-help for the douleurs of contemporary heterosexuality. A most timely intervention. (Laura Kipnis, author of How to Become a Scandal)
"""Hard-Core Romance is a wonderfully creative piece of cultural analysis. Writing from a feminist-sociological perspective, Illouz tells us how Fifty Shades of Grey became an international best-seller by providing fantasy resolutions to real-life female dilemmas and self-help for the douleurs of contemporary heterosexuality. A most timely intervention."" (Laura Kipnis, author of How to Become a Scandal)"""
Author Information
Eva Illouz is professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and president of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. She is the author of seven books, most recently Saving the Modern Soul: Therapy, Emotions, and the Culture of Self-Help. She lives in Jerusalem.
