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Configuring Masculinity in Theory and Literary Practice, edited by Stefan Horlacher. Leiden & Boston: Brill Rodopi, 2015. 318 pp. ISBN: 978-90-04-29899-6 (hb) / 978-90-29900-9 (e-bk)
This collection of thirteen essays brings together some exciting work being done in masculinities studies these days. Most of the contributions focus on reading masculinities through literary studies, and all are valuable models that can serve new students and seasoned scholars alike in their attempts to make sense of changing notions of gender identity in the humanities. While not all of the texts explored might be relevant to whatever area or era you are working in or on, the methodology of most will help you see new ways of reading texts you might have already read, taught or written about, and so I suggest reading them all, no matter your field.
The collection opens with three essays that provide broad and thorough introductions to key developments in the field over time. Stefan Horlacher's introduction, entitled "Configuring Masculinity", is a succinct exploration of just what is and what might be this "new field of research" called masculinity studies. For those new to the field, Horlacher's review of the field's development serves as an important first step toward future studies; for those who've been at it a while, it serves as a good take on just how we can make this field matter, not just to literary studies, but to all inquiries into the humanities. Along the way his historical review argues that the move towards the consideration of literary performances of masculinities is a turn that: "could be crucial for the future development of masculinity studies and for any endeavor to overcome the increasing fragmentation and partitioning of the field" (p. 5). He then moves into the usual brief introductions to the contributions he has gathered. What is missing in this useful introduction is a brief conclusion that might speculate just what he expects these contributions to lead readers to as they join those in siting and sensing masculinities in literature.
Todd W....