This edited volume is an inquiry into the representation of intimate relationships in a diverse array of media including cinema, arts, literature, picture books, advertising and popular music. It examines artistic portrayal of intimate relationships as a subversion of the boundaries between the representable and the non-representable, the real and the surreal, the visceral and the ideal, the embodied and the abstracted, the configured and transfigured. The essays focus on artistic mediation of intimacy in diverse relationships, including heterosexual, same-sex, familial, sibling' , political, and sadomasochistic. The collection offers new interdisciplinary and multicultural perspectives on current trends in the study of popular representations of intimacy; representations that affect and formulate people's most personal inspirations, desires, angsts, dreams and nightmares in an increasingly alienated, industrialized world.      

'Intimate Relationships does not only engage scholars in fields such as Cinema, Literature and Visual culture, but is inclusive of various national, ethnic, sexual, cultural and political identities. Most importantly, the collection recognizes that intimacy is a complex concept that can neither be quantified nor contained within the realm of romantic / erotic love. As a result, Intimate Relationships provides a new definition of intimacy and the manners in which it can be qualified.'

-          Dr. Dror Abend-David, Lecturer in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of Florida, USA

'A stunningly original contribution to scholarship on the multi-faceted topic of intimacy. Offering insightful analyses of material ranging from film to literature, from internet sites to pop music, and encompassing such diverse subjects as bodily functions, mainstream pleasures, and inter-generational relationships, these essays offer new critical perspectives and food for thought. Ambitious in scope, this collection is dazzling and challenging; the variety of approaches and cultures, and the wide choice of primary materials, will fascinate readers wishing to deepen their understanding of this essential aspect of being human.'

-          Dr Elisabetta Girelli, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, St Andrews University, UK