Reading from Behind: A Cultural Analysis of the Anus

by Jonathan A. Allan

Overview

In a playful, yet scholarly romp through "low" and "high" culture, Jonathan Allan asks why—since we all have one and use it every day—do we squirm at the mere mention of the anus? How is it that Kim Kardashian's derriere can break the internet, Pippa Middleton's behind can create a "butt lift" craze, and yet we cannot handle a discussion of anality? And why, given that we all have one, has the anus been caught up in the very "ground zero of gayness"?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780889773899
Publisher:	University of Regina Press
Publication date:	03/04/2016
Series:	The Exquisite Corpse , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	824 KB

About the Author

Jonathan A. Allan is Canada Research Chair in Queer Theory and Assistant Professor of Gender and Women's Studies at Brandon University. He is at work on his second book, Uncut: The Foreskin Archive.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction: No Wrong Doors: An Entryway 1

Chapter 1 Anal Theory, or Reading from Behind 23

Chapter 2 Orienting Virginity 49

Chapter 3 Topping from the Bottom: Anne Tenino's Frat Boy and Toppy 63

Chapter 4 Orienting Brokeback Mountain 81

Chapter 5 Spanking Colonialism 111

Chapter 6 Unlocking Delmira Agustini's "El Intruso" 129

Chapter 7 Shameful Matrophilia in Doña Herlinda y su hijo 147

Chapter 8 Vengeful Vidal 169

Notes 189

References 223

Index 241

Editorial Reviews

"An excellent read not just about the 'behind,' but about representation and the meaning-making we do about the human body, and more specifically, about masculinity, sexuality, power, and relationships. This book is for anyone coming to grips with the complexity of gender and sexuality."

Robert Heasley

"A remarkably fresh and original contribution. With Reading from Behind, Allan emerges as a widely respected critical voice of his generation"

David William Foster

Looks at the subject of the 'booty' with remarkable enthusiasm.” —Attitude

“Jonathan Allan has come up with a whole theory of the arsehole.” —Dazed and Confused

“Readers outside the academy will be rewarded with a fine example of textual analysis-and, possibly, a new appreciation of the anus as the most democratic and empowering of our body parts.” —Literary Review of Canada

“A serious work of theory, exploring the backside as a site of humiliation and disgust.” —The Guardian

“Allan's work is, in a sense, groundbreaking ... opening up a whole new field of study ... Allan's book should be required reading.” —The Independent

“Assholes are like opinions: Everyone has them – but no one has more opinions on assholes than Jonathan Allan.” —VICE

“A remarkably fresh and original contribution to contemporary queer studies. I am confident that, with Reading from Behind, Allan will emerge as a widely respected critical voice of his generation.” —David William Foster, author of Sexual Textualties: Essays on Queer/ing Latin American Writing

“Entertaining and informative.” —Merrill Cole, author of The Other Orpheus: A Poetics of Modern Homosexuality

“Allan reorients studies of anality.” —Todd Reeser, author of Masculinities in Theory

From the Publisher