The Power of Cute by Simon May

The Power of Cute

By

  • Genre Philosophy
  • Released
  • Size 12.32 MB

Description

An exploration of cuteness and its immense hold on us, from emojis and fluffy puppies to its more uncanny, subversive expressions

Cuteness has taken the planet by storm. Global sensations Hello Kitty and Pokémon, the works of artists Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons, Heidi the cross-eyed opossum and E.T.—all reflect its gathering power. But what does “cute” mean, as a sensibility and style? Why is it so pervasive? Is it all infantile fluff, or is there something more uncanny and even menacing going on—in a lighthearted way? In The Power of Cute, Simon May provides nuanced and surprising answers.

We usually see the cute as merely diminutive, harmless, and helpless. May challenges this prevailing perspective, investigating everything from Mickey Mouse to Kim Jong-il to argue that cuteness is not restricted to such sweet qualities but also beguiles us by transforming or distorting them into something of playfully indeterminate power, gender, age, morality, and even species. May grapples with cuteness’s dark and unpindownable side—unnerving, artful, knowing, apprehensive—elements that have fascinated since ancient times through mythical figures, especially hybrids like the hermaphrodite and the sphinx. He argues that cuteness is an addictive antidote to today’s pressured expectations of knowing our purpose, being in charge, and appearing predictable, transparent, and sincere. Instead, it frivolously expresses the uncertainty that these norms deny: the ineliminable uncertainty of who we are; of how much we can control and know; of who, in our relations with others, really has power; indeed, of the very value and purpose of power.

The Power of Cute delves into a phenomenon that speaks with strange force to our age.

More Simon May Books

  • Love

    Love

    Simon May

    Philosophy

  • The Power of Cute

    The Power of Cute

    Simon May

    Philosophy

  • Religion

    Religion

    Daniel T. Potts, Martin Goodman, Robin Osborne, Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Elaine Pagels, William O´Reilly, Malise Ruthven, Harvey Whitehouse, Armin W Geertz, Benedetta Berti, Pär Stenbäck, Göran Rosenberg, Jayne Svenungsson, Adrian Wooldridge, Janne Haaland Matlary, Simon May, Ariel Glucklich, Jessica Frazier, Marco Pasi, A.N. Wilson, Gary Lachman, Richard Miles, Reza Aslan, Esther Benbassa, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Candida R. Moss, John Scheid, Mona Siddiqui, Julius J. Lipner, Wolfgang Palaver & Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad

    Nonfiction

  • Cambridge Critical Guides

    Cambridge Critical Guides

    Simon May

    Philosophy

  • Love

    Love

    Simon May

    Philosophy

  • How to Be a Refugee

    How to Be a Refugee

    Simon May

    Biographies & Memoirs

  • Nietzsche on Freedom and Autonomy

    Nietzsche on Freedom and Autonomy

    Ken Gemes & Simon May

    Philosophy

  • Innovation Sucks!

    Innovation Sucks!

    Alan Watkins & Simon May

    Marketing & Sales

  • Religion

    Religion

    Pär Stenbäck, Göran Rosenberg, Jessica Frazier, Armin W Geertz, Candida R. Moss, Richard Miles, Martin Goodman, Robin Osborne, John Scheid, Julius J. Lipner, Daniel T. Potts, Adrian Wooldridge, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad, Elaine Pagels, Mona Siddiqui, Reza Aslan, Esther Benbassa, Wouter J. Hanegraaff, A.N. Wilson, Gary Lachman, Simon May, Malise Ruthven, Harvey Whitehouse, Marco Pasi, Benedetta Berti, William O´Reilly, Jayne Svenungsson, Ariel Glucklich, Janne Haaland Matlary & Wolfgang Palaver

    Nonfiction

  • Bobby the Blackbird goes to see the King

    Bobby the Blackbird goes to see the King

    Simon May

    Fiction for Kids