Monstrous Motherhood
In these essays, art becomes a language for both thinking and feeling at the same time.Boekenkrant.com
In her literary nonfiction debut ‘Monstrous Motherhood’, essayist and critic Jozefien Van Beek investigates the expectations, anxieties and contradictions surrounding motherhood. Drawing inspiration from films, artworks, and feminist thinkers, she poses a central question: is it perhaps not only mothers who are monstrous, but motherhood itself?
Across cultural history, mothers have been depicted as smothering, neglectful, controlling, or downright terrifying – from classic films such as ‘Psycho’ and ‘Carrie’, to the paintings of Alice Neel, or the personal reflections of Joan Didion and Chantal Akerman. Weaving together autobiography, cultural criticism, and analytical insight, Van Beek revisits her own experiences, from childhood to becoming a mother herself.
Van Beek’s radical intimacy and sharp reflections make this an intellectually stimulating book.Tzum
‘Monstrous Motherhood’ is an astute, personal and thought-provoking essay collection that examines the myths shaping our understanding of motherhood. Written in a personal and literary style, Van Beek situates her story within a rich social and cultural context.
A penetrating analysis of the fears and paradoxes of modern motherhood.De Morgen
