Obscene Gestures: Counter-Narratives of Sex and Race in the Twentieth Century

Obscene Gestures examines twentieth-century moralist controversies surrounding literary and artistic works, revealing how these controversies affected their critical reception and commercial success. It argues that breaking sexual taboos in these works often comes with cultural cachet and increased sales, but these benefits are distributed unequally, leading to the persistence of exclusive hierarchies and inequalities. The book draws on sources as diverse as Supreme Court decisions, nightclub comedy, congressional records, and cultural theory.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Fordham University Press

Drawing on a wide range of sources, including Supreme Court decisions, nightclub comedy, congressional records, and cultural theory, Obscene Gestures delves into the complex and multifaceted moralist controversies surrounding literary and artistic works from the 20th century. Spanning from Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer to Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Kathy Acker, Robert Mapplethorpe, 2 Live Crew, Tony Kushner, and others, the book explores the various vectors of these controversies. Patrick S. Lawrence, the author, delves into notorious obscenity debates to reassess the divergent legacies of artworks that were challenged or banned due to their taboo sexual content. By examining how these controversies impacted their critical reception and commercial success, Lawrence reveals how racial, gender, and sexual stereotypes, as well as pernicious ethnographic reading practices, shaped these outcomes.

The book begins with early postwar touchstone cases and continues through the civil rights, feminist, and LGBTQ+ movements, providing a comprehensive historical framework. Lawrence demonstrates that breaking sexual taboos in literary and cultural works often carries cultural cachet and leads to increased sales. However, these benefits are not distributed equally, perpetuating exclusive hierarchies and inequalities.

Obscene Gestures builds upon recent studies of obscenity in literary history and canon formation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, extending their insights into the postwar period when broad legal latitude for obscenity was established. At the same time, charges of obscenity still carried immense symbolic and political weight. The rise of social justice movements around this time provides essential context for understanding the application of legal precedents, changes in the publishing industry, and the diversification of the canon.

Through its comprehensive analysis, Obscene Gestures sheds light on the complex interplay between art, morality, and society, challenging readers to reconsider the ways in which cultural norms and taboos have shaped the reception and legacy of literary and artistic works. It is a valuable contribution to the field of cultural studies and provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the 20th-century moralist controversies.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781531500092