Disturbing Attachments: Genet, Modern Pederasty, and Queer History (Theory Q) Kindle Edition

Amin's biggest contribution here is his notion of detachment genealogy. Queer heroes, he posits, are constantly undermined as full human beings (with flaws as well as talents). In decentering the 'greatness' of heroes like Genet, Amin contends that we might have a more fully realized queer history and theory. Very readible prose and an excellent (if polemic) piece, this book features discussions of Genet, Daddy/Boy roleplay, and so much more with which contemporary queer life is obsessed. Must-read for any queer scholar or reader interested in queer studies

Kadji Amin’s, Disturbing Attachments, cuts through offerings, in Queer Theory, of a fantasy driven utopianism of homoerotic relations by dipping toes into a controversial modern pederasty. Amin’s book sits in “attachment” in order to decode its affects on power dynamic play within the state—a queering to social dominance. “Attachment” and “disturbance” is also understood through genealogy and temporality—one recalling the other. Overall, Disturbing Attachments creates a space for pederasty to exist and to move in and out of queer futures.

Amin encourages a critical self-inquiry of queerness and historicity in order to move towards a queer history by suggesting what he terms deidealization and attachment genealogy. These are methodological tools to deflate our attachments to the history of queer pain only as injury. Amin himself does not make value judgements on controversial practices such as modern pederasty. Rather, he creates a demoralized landscape in which we may begin to talk about these practices and analyze their historical origins in order to work through disturbing attachments to histories of hurt. Amin shows readers that by deflating ideals, discomfiting attachments to historical contexts of race and geopolitics, can be revealed.

This book had a good framework but seemed to be working toward a project of appeasing the academics. Well, if they are assigning it and loving it then the goal has been met. However, this text is the typical PhD dissertation turned book for the sake of it kinda book.I am sure the work is brilliant, just not sure if it needed to be written in such a mode.

Convoluted writing. What could be explained in 10 words is explained in 20. This is a laborious slog that is inaccessible to a general audience--disappointing as the discussion of modern pederasty deserves a greater spotlight.