Georges Bataille: Core Cultural Theorist Georges Bataille: Core cultural theorist

Long recognized in France as a central figure in French cultural thought, the range and significance of Batille′s ideas are now being grasped in the English speaking world. His influence on Derrida, Foucault, Kristeva and Baudrillard is now more clearly understood and Bataille has emerged as a front-rank cultural theorist who posed questions and paradoxes that were extraordinarily prescient. This book offers a comprehensive and detailed presentation and analysis of the full range of his writings - political, philosophical, aesthetic, literary, anthropological and cultural. And tackles his thoughts on waste, sacrifice, death, eroticism, surplus, ecstasy and drunkenness, offering the best available guide to this challenging and utterly unique thinker.

Long recognized in France as a central figure in French cultural thought, the range and significance of Batille's ideas are now being grasped in the English speaking world.

For much of the post-war period, Bataille was dismissed as an oddball. However, his influence on Derrida, Foucault, Kristeva and Baudrillard is now more clearly understood. Bataille has emerged as a front-rank cultural theorist who posed questions and paradoxes that were extraordinarily prescient.

This book demonstrates why Bataille should be regarded as a significant figure. It offers a comprehensive and detailed presentation and analysis of the full range of his writings - political, philosophical, aesthetic, literary, anthropological and cultural. And tackles his thoughts on waste, sacrifice, death, eroticism, surplus, ecstasy and drunkenness, offering the best available guide to this challenging and utterly unique thinker.

The book will be of interest to students of cultural studies, sociology, philosophy and French studies.

Content: Introduction PART ONE: COMING INTO BEING: THE CONTINUITY OF THE LIFE PROCESS Birth and the Incomprehensible Wonder of Existence Materiality Sexual Differentiation and Otherness Language PART TWO: SOCIAL LIFE AND THE ORGANISATION OF SOCIETY The Nature of Society Social Bonding and Communication Religion and the Sacred Taboo and Transgression Expenditure and Sacrifice Exchange and the Commodification of the Economy PART THREE: HUMAN BECOMING Work and Play Sexual Attraction Eroticism and the Urge towards Death Sickness and Laughter Mastery and Servitude Meditation and Inner Experience PART FOUR: SOVEREIGNTY AND THE IMPOSSIBLE Writing and Reading Literature and Art Confrontations with the World Knowing and Un-Knowing Sovereignty Death The Impossible

Long recognized in France as a central figure in French cultural thought, the range and significance of Batille's ideas are now being grasped in the English speaking world. His influence on Derrida, Foucault, Kristeva and Baudrillard is now more clearly understood and Bataille has emerged as a front-rank cultural theorist who posed questions and paradoxes that were extraordinarily prescient.

This book offers a comprehensive and detailed presentation and analysis of the full range of his writings - political, philosophical, aesthetic, literary, anthropological and cultural. And tackles his thoughts on waste, sacrifice, death, eroticism, surplus, ecstasy and drunkenness, offering the best available guide.

"Recent years have seen an upsurge of interest in the writings of Georges Bataille. Long recognized in France as a central figure in French cultural thought, the range and significance of his ideas is now appreciated in the English-speaking world." "This book demonstrates why Bataille is regarded as a significant figure in cultural theory. It offers a comprehensive and detailed presentation and analysis of the full range of his writings. Bataille wrote on an amazing variety of topics - political, philosophical, aesthetic, literary, anthropological and cultural. All are represented here, with objective and helpful commentaries from the author."--BOOK JACKET Paul Hegarty demonstrates why Georges Bataille should be regarded as a significant figure, offering a helpful commentary. The full variety of the writer's work is represented here, political aesthetic, literary, anthropological and cultural