Queer Encyclopedia of the Visual Arts

The Queer Encyclopedia of the Visual Arts is a comprehensive work showcasing the enormous contribution of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer artists to painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and architecture. International in scope, this book from the editors of glbtq.com contains over 200 detailed entries written by some of the most passionate and accomplished scholars in their fields. Included are profiles of significant artists; overviews of artistic movements and eras, such as the Renaissance, Pop Art, and Latin American art; articles discussing the artistic representations of androgyny, lesbian and gay bodies, and many other subjects; and surveys of topics like censorship, pornography, and AIDS activism. It also features a complete bibliography and indexes.

Library Journal

This carefully organized reference work does an admirable job of looking at the history of elite and popular art with a queer eye. Almost 200 short essays explore representations of same-sex desire across time (from homoeroticism in Classical sculpture to the postmodern lesbian photography of Deborah Bright) and space (from cross-dressing in African art to AIDS activism in contemporary U.S. art). Taken as a whole, the essays offer the best introduction to the major themes and artists associated with queer art currently available. The entries are arranged alphabetically and conclude with both a brief bibliography and See also cross references. Summers (English, emeritus, Univ. of Michigan, Dearborn) understands sexual identity as a historical construct and avoids anachronistically claiming that Donatello or Parmigianino, for example, are "queer artists." Likewise, the claims made by the authors of the entries, a variety of scholars and artists, are both precise and measured. Bottom Line Impressive in scope, this work is strongly recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.-Katherine C. Adams, Bowdoin Coll., Brunswick, ME Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.