"in this theory of envious aggression as critical aggression…the ideal or good object envied and phantasmatically attacked is attacked precisely because it is idealized and good—as if the real source of antagonism is less the object than idealization itself."

sianne ngai in ugly feelings on melanie klein’s “envy and gratitude” 

whateverjeanne:

Instead of what could have been (Miami poolside manicures, a dexatrim overdose á la Kelly Taylor)

What the switch from formal to modal difference enables is a analysis of the transitions from one pole to the other: the passages whereby affects acquire the semantic density and narrative complexity of emotions, and emotions conversely denature into affects. -Sianne Ngai, Ugly Feelings

let’s do performative readings of Ugly Feelings; watch The Bachelor and other forms of romantic seepage; and otherwise redistribute intensity. 

i cant believe im not in the sun. i also cant believe i cant find my beloved copy of ugly feelings. having some ugly feelings about that, obviously. also a little tiny bit about the 90210 reference, since my adolescent self hates that show and all the low-brow high school heteronormativity it represents. (sorry, jeanne.) also: bad clothes. 

i want to redistribute intensity, though. 

sianne ngai at lang on monday

i love ugly feelings and am psyched about her new work on aesthetic categories.