Keynote
A keen, ardent celebration of unbridled female ambition in the work of Taylor Swift and Sylvia Plath
Book Title
The Slicks
Subtitle
On Sylvia Plath and Taylor Swift
Cover Image
“Nelson is a gleaming star in a vast sky.”—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times
Body
In The Slicks, Maggie Nelson positions culture-dominating pop superstar Taylor Swift and feminist cult icon Sylvia Plath as twin hosts of the female urge toward wanting hard, working hard, and pouring forth—and as twinned targets of patriarchy’s ancient urge to disparage, trivialize, and discipline creative work by women rooted in autobiography and abundance.
A buoyant melding of popular culture and literary criticism, The Slicks is a captivating and unexpected assessment of two iconic female artists by one of the most revered and influential critics of her generation.
A buoyant melding of popular culture and literary criticism, The Slicks is a captivating and unexpected assessment of two iconic female artists by one of the most revered and influential critics of her generation.
List Price
$12.00
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About the Author
Credit: Sarah St Clair Renard
Upcoming Events
Maggie Nelson reading and in conversation about THE SLICKS at Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Date:
Location:
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC in Los Angeles, CAview map
LOCATION: Wallis Annenberg Hall Presented by USC. “Fame, Gender, and the Scrutiny of Cultural Icons,” featuring Maggie Nelson (The Slicks) in conversation with Karen Tongson and Nate Sloan. Click here for details.
Praise
“In a trenchant feminist critique, Nelson expounds on fame, ambition, and the patriarchal silencing of women by focusing on two cultural icons: poet Sylvia Plath and singer/songwriter Taylor Swift. . . . A sensitive meditation on women’s quests.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Nelson’s The Slicks pairs Sylvia Plath and Taylor Swift in a smart exploration of what it means to be a woman creating under public scrutiny. . . . Blending pop culture and literary criticism, Nelson provides insightful joint portraits of two artists who have defined their generations.”—Alta Journal
“Reading Maggie Nelson is like drinking from a well. It refreshes and brings clarity to the mind. . . . She makes her arguments out of complete, sound reason, yet beneath the surface readers discern her personality and emotions. They sparkle undeniably.”—Amy Y.Q. Lin, The Rumpus
