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Dead Girls
288 pages, 2018
Alice Bolin's debut collection of poignant, insightful essays deftly blends the personal and political in its exploration of American culture through the lens of our society's obsession with dead women. Injecting a healthy dose of humor into her analysis, she shines a critical eye on literature and pop culture, the way media consumption reflects American society, and her own place within it.
From her essays on Joan Didion and James Baldwin to Twin Peaks, Britney Spears, and Serial, she illuminates our widespread fascination with women who are abused, killed, and disenfranchised—and whose bodies (dead and alive) are used as props to bolster a man's story. From chronicling life in Los Angeles to explore the "Dead Girl Show" to analyzing literary witches and werewolves, this collection challenges the narratives we create and tell ourselves.
Alice Bolin's Dead Girls explores the cultural obsession with dead girls in literature and media. It's a fascinating look into how this obsession reflects societal attitudes towards women, and how it can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
The book digs into the intersection of true crime and feminism. Bolin examines how the fascination with female victims can often overshadow their stories and reduce them to mere objects of fascination.
Bolin offers a sharp critique of popular culture and its portrayal of women. She encourages readers to question and challenge these portrayals, promoting a more thoughtful consumption of media.
Dead Girls is not just a cultural analysis, but also a collection of personal essays. Bolin shares her own experiences and reflections, adding a personal touch to her research and making the book more relatable.
Through her exploration of the 'dead girl' trope, Bolin helps readers understand the role of women in society and the challenges they face. It's a great read for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of gender dynamics in contemporary society.
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Alice Bolin's Dead Girls is a remarkable, deeply insightful exploration of America's obsession with dead girls and the darker truths it reveals about our society.
Roxane Gay - Feminist writer, professorDead Girls is a brilliant and thought-provoking essay collection that explores the power of narrative, cultural obsession, and the ways in which society uses women's bodies as a tool for constructing fear.
Megan Abbott - Crime fiction authorAlice Bolin's Dead Girls is a sharp-eyed critique of contemporary America's fixation on sensationalized female victimhood, with insights that are both profound and disturbing.
Emma Cline - Novelist, short-story writerDead Girls is a necessary and revealing collection of essays on the portrayal of women as victims in popular culture, shedding light on the dark corners of our obsessions.
Lena Dunham - Actress, filmmaker, writerAlice Bolin's Dead Girls is a groundbreaking work that interrogates our cultural fixation with female victims and the narratives that surround them.
Carmen Maria Machado - Short story authorRecommendations
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