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Hard-Core Romance
"Fifty Shades of Grey," Best-Sellers, and Society
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book is ideal for readers interested in cultural studies, feminist sociology, contemporary women's literature, and anyone curious about the social impact and literary analysis of popular phenomena like Fifty Shades of Grey.
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See moreFrom its beginnings in Twilight fan-fiction to its record-breaking sales as an e-book and paperback, this book tells the story of the erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels. It subjects the Fifty Shades cultural phenomenon to the serious scrutiny it has been begging for.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
From its beginnings in Twilight fan-fiction to its record-breaking sales as an e-book and paperback, the story of the erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey and 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 the Fifty Shades cultural 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. The Fifty Shades trilogy 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 the Fifty Shades of Grey novels, Hard-Core Romance is an insightful look at modern relationships and contemporary women's literature.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
"Hard-Core Romance is a wonderfully creative piece of cultural analysis. Writing from a feminist-sociological perspective, Illouz reveals how Fifty Shades of Grey became an international bestseller by providing fantasy resolutions to real-life female dilemmas and self-help for the pains of modern heterosexual relationships. A most timely intervention." (Laura Kipnis, author of How to Become a Scandal)
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780226153698
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 22 May 2014
Country: United States
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Audience: Tertiary education
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 1.0mm
Width: 14.0mm
Height: 21.0mm
Weight: 142g
Pages: 104
Collections
About the Author
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.
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