Curious Disciplines
Curious Disciplines
Mina Loy and Avant-Garde Artisthood
The transnational modernist Mina Loy (1882-1966) embodied the avant-garde in many literary and artistic media. This book positions her as a theorist of the avant-garde and of what it means to be an artist. Foregrounding Loy's critical interrogation of Futurist, Dadaist, Surrealist, and "Degenerate" artisthood, and exploring her poetic legacies today, Curious Disciplines reveals Loy's importance in an entirely novel way. Examining the primary texts produced by those movements themselves--their manifestos, magazines, pamphlets, catalogues, and speeches--Sarah Hayden uses close readings of Loy's poetry, prose, polemics, and unpublished writings to trace her response to how these movements wrote themselves, collectively, into being.
Curious Disciplines will encourage many scholars to consult Loy's published work with a fresh, inter-arts perspective and a renewed understanding of the avant-garde art circles of the early twentieth century.'--The Review of English Studies
This authoritative study is an impressive contribution to the literature [on Loy]. . . . Highly recommended.'--Choice
A critical voice generating much energy and liveliness. Set aside time to read this book.'--American Literary History
This will be regarded as the best book about Mina Loy's writing and as a useful history of the avant-garde.'--Keith Tuma, editor of Anthology of Twentieth-Century British and Irish Poetry
Sarah Hayden is a lecturer in twentieth- and twenty-first-century American literature and culture at the University of Southampton, England.
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One. Loy and Futurist Artisthood
Chapter One. The Futurist Artist TM
Chapter Two. Apprehending the Futurist
Chapter Three. Extracting an Artist from Futurism
Part Two. Loy and Dadaist Artisthood
Chapter Four. Artist-Vectors of the Dada Virus
Chapter Five. Dadaist Virginology
Chapter Six. Dadaist Play, Parody, and Politics
Part Three. Loy and Surrealist Artisthood
Chapter Seven. The Surrealist: Revolutionary, Explorer, or Researcher?
Chapter Eight. Writing Insel as/and the Surrealist Artist
Part Four. Loy and "Degenerate" Artisthood
Chapter Nine. Avant-Garde Artisthood in the Era of "Degenerate Art"
Chapter Ten. Reconstructing Insel as "Degenerate" Icon
Chapter Eleven. "Degenerate" Artisthood in New York
Part Five. Loy's Legacies
Chapter Twelve. Susana Gardner
Chapter Thirteen. Judith Goldman
Chapter Fourteen. Laura Moriarty
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
