Description
Book Synopsis: Simon Wu joins the ranks of Cathy Park Hong and Jeremy Atherton Lin with this expansive and deeply personal essay collection which explores the aesthetics of class aspiration, the complications of creating art and fashion, and the limits of identity politics.In Robyn's 2010 track Dancing on My Own, the Swedish pop-singer chronicles a night on the dance floor in the shadow of a former lover. She is bitter, angry, and at times desperate, and yet by the time the chorus arrives her frustration has melted away. She decides to dance on her own, and in this way, she transforms her solitude into a more complex joy.
Taking inspiration from Robyn's seminal track, emerging art critic and curator Simon Wu dances through the institutions of art, capitalism, and identity in these expertly researched, beautifully rendered essays. In “For Everyone,” Wu explores the complicated sensation of the Telfar bag (often referred to as “the Brooklyn Birkin”) and asks whether fashion can truly be revolutionary in a capitalist system—if something can truly be “for everyone” without undercutting someone else. In “A Model Childhood” he catalogs the decades’ worth of clutter in his mother’s suburban garage and its meaning for himself and his family. Throughout, Wu centers the sticky vulnerability of living in a body in a world where history is mapped into every choice we make, every party drug we take, and every person we kiss.
Wu’s message is that to dance on your own is to move from critique into joy. To approach identity with the utmost sympathy for the kinds of belonging it might promise, and to look beyond it. A deeply felt and ultimately triumphant anthem about the never-ending journey of discovering oneself, Dancing on My Own introduces a brilliant new writer on the rise.
Details
Discover a brilliant new voice in art criticism with Dancing on My Own: Essays on Art, Collectivity, and Joy. This expansive and deeply personal essay collection by Simon Wu will take you on a journey through the aesthetics of class aspiration, the complexities of art and fashion, and the boundaries of identity politics. With every turn of the page, Wu's expertly researched and beautifully rendered essays captivate and inspire.
Inspired by Robyn's iconic track, Dancing on My Own, Wu infuses his work with the same transformative power. Just like the song's protagonist, Wu explores the idea of turning solitude into a more profound joy. Through his exploration of the institutions of art, capitalism, and identity, he shatters the boundaries and invites us to dance to our own rhythm.
One of the thought-provoking essays in this collection, "For Everyone," delves into the provocative world of the Telfar bag, often referred to as "the Brooklyn Birkin." Wu sparks a conversation about the true revolutionary potential of fashion within a capitalist system. Can something truly be "for everyone" without undermining someone else? Dive deep into this exploration of fashion's power and its societal implications.
Wu's ability to unearth the significance of even the most mundane objects is showcased in "A Model Childhood." In this essay, he takes you on a journey through his mother's suburban garage, filled with decades' worth of clutter. Discover the personal and familial meanings behind these seemingly insignificant items and how they contribute to our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Throughout his collection, Wu emphasizes the beauty and vulnerability of embracing personal identity. He challenges us to look beyond the confines of society's expectations and norms. Wu's message is clear - to dance on your own is to move from critique to joy, to celebrate the complexities of who you are, and to find the power within.
Don't miss the opportunity to experience this triumph of personal discovery. Join Simon Wu on his exploration of art, collectivity, and joy by getting your copy of Dancing on My Own today. Click here to unlock the transformative power of Wu's words. Dance to your own rhythm, embrace your identity, and discover a whole new perspective on life.
Discover More Best Sellers in History & Criticism
Shop History & Criticism
Georgia O’Keeffe: To See Takes Time
$27.99


$10.99


Medieval Calligraphy: Its History and Technique (Lettering, Calligraphy, Typography)
$19.99


The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
$31.99


Danzig Baldaev: Drawings from the Gulag
$30.64


$30.81


Open Questions: Thirty Years of Writing about Art
$39.95


Color: A Natural History of the Palette
$2.10
