Summary
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…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780691271149 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0691271143 |
| Author: | Simon May |
| Publisher: | Princeton University Press |
| Imprint: | Princeton University Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 256 |
| Release Date: | 31 May 2025 |
| Weight: | 252g |
| Dimensions: | 123mm x 154mm x 219mm |
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Critics Review
“May is a lively guide to the uncanny world of Cute, his analysis keen and his sense of humour sharp. You won’t look at Kim Jong-il and Donald Trump in the same way again.”—Francesca Carington, Tatler
“A short, snappy treatise… . A playful riposte to our self-conscious, drearily introspective age.”—Frankie McCoy, Standpoint
”[May] posits that our mania for cute can have sinister repercussions, and might even explain the rise of Donald Trump.”—Kate Wills, Evening Standard
Simon May
Simon May is visiting professor of philosophy at King’s College London. His books include Jump! A New Philosophy for Conquering Procrastination, How to Be a Refugee, and Love: A New Understanding of an Ancient Emotion.
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