: Merck provides readings across diverse genres, including opera, drama, and film. She specifically examines the unacknowledged significance of the "lesbian hand" and the "early retirement of the phallus" in these works.
Merck uses a "kaleidoscopic" approach, blending psychoanalysis and contemporary theory to examine how sexuality is often shifted onto the human face. Key studies within the collection include:
: The text draws surprising links between seemingly unrelated topics, such as: In Your Face: 9 Sexual Studies (Sexual Cultures...
The relationship between and historical perceptions of prostitution. The role of dogs in anti-pornography propaganda.
: The book’s introduction analyzes the public debate surrounding Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, focusing on how the definitions of "sex" and "sexual relations" became legally and culturally blurred. : Merck provides readings across diverse genres, including
The gendering of "wild" versus "tame" behaviors during the . Key Conclusions
Mandy Merck’s (2000) is a provocative exploration of how sex and sexuality are represented—and often displaced—within modern media, art, and high-profile scandals. Part of the Sexual Cultures series from NYU Press , the book argues that even in a culture saturated with "sexy" imagery, the actual representation of sex remains an aggressive, confrontational act. Core Themes and Essays Key studies within the collection include: : The
The book concludes with a deep dive into the intersection of desire and disgust. It analyzes cultural figures like (of Deep Throat fame) and Camille Paglia to explore how the face becomes a site of "desecration" through specific sexual acts. Ultimately, Merck illustrates that while postmodern criticism often treats sex as a mere abstraction, its physical representation continues to provoke visceral, "in your face" reactions. In Your Face: 9 Sexual Studies (Sexual Cultures, 7)