Wayne Koestenbaum
Wayne Koestenbaum is an American poet, cultural critic, and professor known for his work on a wide range of topics including art, music, and celebrity culture. He has published numerous books and essays, and his writing often explores themes of identity, desire, and the intersection of high and low culture.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Jackie Under My Skin
Interpreting an Icon
This book delves into the cultural phenomenon surrounding Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, exploring her enduring allure and iconic status in American society. Through a blend of personal reflection, cultural critique, and historical analysis, the narrative examines how Jackie became a symbol of elegance, mystery, and resilience. The author dissects the public's fascination with her life, style, and persona, offering insights into the ways she has been mythologized and the impact of her image on contemporary culture.
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2. The Queen's Throat
Opera, Homosexuality, and the Mystery of Desire
A provocative blend of cultural criticism, memoir, and musicology that investigates the erotic and aesthetic power of the operatic diva, arguing that male gay desire often centers on the soprano voice and the throat as a site of longing; it reads performances, recordings, and biographies to trace how vocal timbre, theatricality, and celebrity create fantasies of sovereignty, excess, and identity while reflecting on nostalgia, gender, and the politics of listening.
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4. Humiliation