Ars Erotica: Sex and Somaesthetics in the Classical Arts of Love

Description

The term ars erotica refers to the styles and techniques of lovemaking with the honorific title of art. But in what sense are these practices artistic and how do they contribute to the aesthetics and ethics of self-cultivation in the art of living? In this book, Richard Shusterman offers a critical, comparative analysis of the erotic theories proposed by the most influential premodern cultural traditions that shaped our contemporary world. Beginning with ancient Greece, whose god of desiring love gave eroticism its name, Shusterman examines the Judaeo-Christian biblical tradition and the classical erotic theories of Chinese, Indian, Islamic, and Japanese cultures, before concluding with medieval and Renaissance Europe. His exploration of their errors and insights shows how we could improve the quality of life and love today. By using the engine of eros to cultivate qualities of sensitivity, grace, skill, and self-mastery, we can reimagine a richer, more positive vision of sex education.

Richard Shusterman is the Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Humanities at Florida Atlantic University. His books include Pragmatist Aesthetics (published in fifteen languages) as well as Body Consciousness and Thinking through the Body. For his pioneering work in philosophy and somaesthetics the French awarded him as Chevalier des Palmes Academiques.

'With a panoramic horizon that draws upon the full compass of sexual culture, world philosopher Richard Shusterman in his Ars Erotica elevates and ennobles sexuality by finding the crucial isomorphisms between deference and a situated, contrapuntal musicality, between artistry and the intensity of pleasure, between sensual imagination and intelligent practice. Shusterman continues his somaesthetic revolution by taking the stodgy professional discipline to task with a sex education that seeks to refine rather than contain, and to elevate rather than ignore this vital aspect of the human experience.' Roger T. Ames, Peking University 'The unending struggle to reconcile the 'base' demands of the desiring body with the elevating aspirations of culture defines human history. Drawing on his pioneering work in somaesthetics, Richard Shusterman displays extraordinary erudition in presenting the ways in which seven great civilizations have fashioned an ars erotica seeking to do justice to both.' Martin Jay, University of California, Berkeley 'In the impressive and ground-breaking new book, Ars Erotica: Sex and Somaesthetic in the Classical Arts of Love, the somaesthetic philosopher and historian, Richard Shusterman, captures the human somaesthetic expressions and movements in time and cultures in all its width, through what he calls Ars Erotica ... Ars Erotica should be read as a book of enlightenment to everyone who wants to enrich their knowledge of somaesthetic and aesthetics art of living and who further want to understand more of the hidden power of gender and erotic visions.' Line Joranger, Psychology of Women Quarterly 'Richard Shusterman's latest book is a tour de force through the broad (multi)cultural and temporal horizon of his investigation. In this connection, vagueness is factored in, for all the careful legitimization of terminology at the beginning of the volume, especially the option for ars erotica, Shusterman must ultimately present a whole realm of love forms, physical as well as idealized and even mystical in nature. Above all, this investigation, which promises to become a standard work, makes the originally somewhat abstract program of somaesthetics tangible and convincing.' Madalina Diaconu, Polylog 'The historical and geographical scope of the book is breath-taking ... The complexity and detail of the material addressed entail that Ars Erotica may be read in a number of ways ... and ... has consequences for how we live our lives and care for our bodies. The extraordinary scholarship, and indeed courage, of Ars Erotica demands the initiation of much needed debates, not least with feminist and queer theorists. It is an important text, and is so beyond its place in the development of aesthetics or indeed somaesthetics. It should, as Shusterman hopes, serve in developing the understanding, criticism, and ultimately practice, of our own sexual cultures and their inherent aesthetics.' The British Journal of Aesthetics '... An absolutely trailblazing work ... Ars Erotica sheds light on a path worthy of future study and it has definitely established Shusterman's role in the history of aesthetics as a major one.' Max Ryynanen, Slovak Journal of Aesthetics