Cool Guys and the Second Sex

What connects academic stars like Andrew Ross or Edward Said, and provocative directors like Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee? In her book, Susan Fraiman introduces the concept of "cool masculinity" and explores the gender politics in the works of men who fit into this category. Fraiman shows that "cool" rebel men actively distance themselves from the feminine, and their progressive reputation often masks the patriarchal models that underlie it. Acknowledging the cultural significance of the scholars and artists discussed, the author invites a critical reading of their works, which allows the contradictory logic of "coolness" to become visible. Unraveling complex gender codes and relying on an intersectional approach, she offers not just criticism, but a comprehensive rethinking of the feminist optic in the context of the 21st century.

Susan Fraiman is a professor at the University of Virginia.