Autotheory as Feminist Practice in Art, Writing, and Criticism

Autotheory--the commingling of theory and philosophy with autobiography--as a mode of critical artistic practice indebted to feminist writing and activism.

In the 2010s, the term "autotheory" began to trend in literary spheres, where it was used to describe books in which memoir and autobiography fused with theory and philosophy. In this book, Lauren Fournier extends the meaning of the term, applying it to other disciplines and practices. Fournier provides a long-awaited account of autotheory, situating it as a mode of contemporary, post-1960s artistic practice that is indebted to feminist writing, art, and activism. Investigating a series of works by writers and artists including Chris Kraus and Adrian Piper, she considers the politics, aesthetics, and ethics of autotheory.

Author: Lauren Fournier
Publisher: MIT Press
Published: 04/12/2022
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.60d
ISBN13: 9780262544887
ISBN10: 0262544881
BISAC Categories:
- Art | Criticism & Theory
- Social Science | Feminism & Feminist Theory
- Art | History | Contemporary (1945- )

About the Author
Lauren Fournier, a writer, independent curator, and artist, teaches critical theory, art history, and artists' writing at the University of Toronto, where she is a postdoctoral fellow in visual studies.