This study explores the concept of fetishism as a strategy for expressing social and political discontent in American literature, and for negotiating traumatic experiences particular to the second half of the twentieth century.

CHRISTOPHER KOCELA is Assistant Professor of English at Georgia State University, USA.

PART I: FETISHISM FROM THEORY TO FICTION A Parallax History of Fetish Theory No Ideas but in Fetishes: Reed's Mumbo Jumbo PART II: FICTIONS OF THE FEMALE FETISH Queering Lesbian Fetishism in Pynchon's V. Resighting Gender Theory: Butler's Lesbian Phallus in Acker's Pussy PART III: POMO-PORNOLOGIES Domesticating Fantasy: S/M Fetishism and Coover's Spanking the Maid Narrating the Death Drive: Automotive S intho Mosexuality and John Hawkes's Travesty Conclusion: Longing on a Large Scale: Underworld and Europe Central