The wig: a hairbrained history

Abstract

"Whether in a courtroom or a dressing room, wigs come in many forms and represent many things: from power, to sexuality, parody, health, self-identity, and disguise. Wigs are present at parties and in chemotherapy rooms, in pop music and contemporary art. In this witty and eloquent book, Luigi Amara reflects on the curious history of the wig and along the way takes a sideways look at Western civilization. Amara shines light on the starring role played by the wig throughout history, from ancient Egypt to the court of Louis XIV, and from British courtrooms to drag shows today. Containing many striking and unusual images, the book will appeal to a wide audience, from those interested in the history of fashion to readers of philosophy, art, culture, and aesthetics."--book jacket.

Contents

An otherworldly prologue -- A theory of disguise -- Casanova, wigs and masks -- The she-wolf of the night: Messalina -- The rage called wig -- Samson at the Roland-Garros -- The counter-philosophy of the wig -- The future was a purple wig -- The mannequin and the dark object of desire -- Andy Warhol's wig -- The hemisphere in a wig -- On the other side of the mirror of horror -- Musical curls -- Capillary plagiarism -- The indiscreet charm of hair -- On remains and other relics -- Dressing up justice -- Towering hairdos -- Abbé de Choisy; or, the inner woman -- Cindy Sherman in Simulationland -- Death will come and shall be wearing a wig -- a bald wig in search of a head -- In and out of the theatre -- Stony hair -- Wigs at the extremes of crime -- On nudity; or Venus in a wig -- Reinvention by hair -- Devotional hairstyles -- The chimeric wig -- That old camp stridency -- The tangled mop of fetish -- A knife named guillotine -- The discourse of false hair -- Bedside reading.