Cultural Encyclopedia of the Breast [Hardcover]

Independent scholar Smith has edited the work of 44 contributors . . . on the topic of breasts. The 141 signed essays range in length from one to three pages each; most are U.S. centric. Entries such as 'Breast Milk,' 'Eating Disorders,' 'Maidenform,' 'Mammograms' and 'Public Art' explore 'the cultural aspect of this body part and cultural obsession' from 'prehistory to the present' and include suggestions for further reading. While scholarly volumes exist on breast feeding, breast cancer, and the history of the breast, the publisher is correct in asserting this title as being the first related cultural encyclopedia. VERDICT A useful reference source for academic and public library collections, especially those supporting interest or study in womens, gender, and sexuality studies; social sciences; and history.Adding these books to your library collection may bring a blush to the catalogers face, but, all joking aside, here are two volumes that place the two most formidable of body parts, the breast and the penis, in a cultural context. Neither book looks to exhaust its subject but to consider each organs role in art, history, medicine, literature, and society.Entries run the gamut of physiology to fashion, fetish to film, La Leche League to locker rooms. The majority of entries in each book are thoughtful, well-researched articles on a specific topic and the significance of the breast or penis to the topic. All are signed and come with see also references and a list of additional resources for further reading. Both books have browsable tables of contents instead of indexes. The volume on the penis contains more medical articles and includes entries on the vagina. Sample entries include Bris, Circle jerk, Plaster casters, and Spanish fly. Some entries in the breast volume feel like filler articles that dont advance or relate to the subject at all (see Barbie dolls or Red light districtsthe latter references breasts only very briefly). There are a few black-and-wl$