Queer theory and politics originated in the 1990s and continue to be influential today. Pdf queer is often used as an umbrella term by and for persons who identify. Nationally known gender activist riki wilchins combines straightforward prose with concrete examples from lgbt and feminist politics, as well as her own life, to guide the reader through the ideas that have forever altered our understanding of bodies, sex and desire. Debates in transgender, queer, and feminist theory.
Queer theory says we should not be defined by our gender, sexual orientation, sexual acts and personal identities, and that we should challenge the societal construct that forces us to. I raise this issue because i want to present a queer decolonial theory that repositions the queer subaltern in a principal space within queer theory. Sex is introduced to explain skeletal structure, mental aptitude, posture, emotional disposition, aesthetic preference, body fat, sexual orientation and responsiveness, athletic ability, social dominance, shape and weight, artistic ability. The editors, noreen giffney and eve watson, have chosen queer theory, a subfield of sexuality studies, as an interlocutor for the clinical contributors, because it is at the forefront of theoretical considerations of sexuality, as well as being both reliant upon and suspicious of psychoanalysis as. A onestop, nononsense introduction to the core of postmodern theory, particularly its impact on queer and gender studies. Critics point to the relatively fixed aspects of genetics, whilst queer theorists focus on interactions with others. In butlers view, queer activities like drag and unexpected identifications and sexual practices reveal the arbitrariness of conventional gender distinctions by. Eve kosofsky sedgwick 19502009 michel foucault eve kosofsky sedgwick american academic scholar in fields of gender studies, queer theory, and critical theory considered one of the founders of the queer theory in the early 90s discussed the social meanings and violent force. Her work appears in places such as wsq and journal of curatorial studies. Like that element, we can contain queer theory, and it will fill even overflow our container. Differences in terminology and methods are discussed, including butlers emphasis on performance and foucaults reliance on formulations such as. At the end, the queer community adopts the symbols of hypermasculinity, and leather goes from this macho heterosexual clothing to the main accessory in gay clubs. In an alternate view, pinar 1998 argued queer theory brings sexuality and desire to the fore and.
Queer theory a companion to literary theory wiley online. A queer theory of fashion photography does not posit that the photographic image may foster propositional knowledge in the viewers, but rather that it moves them to engage corporeally with the. The editors, noreen giffney and eve watson, have chosen queer theory, a subfield of sexuality studies, as an interlocutor for the clinical contributors, because it is at the forefront of theoretical considerations of sexuality, as well as being both reliant upon and suspicious of psychoanalysis as a clinical practice and discourse. Apr 12, 2017 this chapter provides an overview of queer theory, along with examples of how we and others have applied queer theory in social psychology research. It aims at deconstructing identities as coherent or stable, preferring an inclusive and flexible conception of identities. Queer theory is entering the literary mainstream the new.
Feminist theory and queer theory university of georgia. Queer theory introduction sex aint as simple as restroom signs suggest. Callis purdue university, west lafayette, in, usa scholars writing on the topic of bisexual identity frequently lament the lack of bisexual representation in works of queer theorists. The state of queer and queer theory, ever the postpostmodern concepts, is as elusive to nail down as mercury. If you have ever wanted to be a leather daddy, been puzzled by performativity, tried to measure bisexuality, or wondered whether diana, princess of wales could be a gay icon, queer theory is required reading. However, though the problem has been noted, it has yet to be addressed within the. Opies queer portraits emerged during a time of unprecedented queer activism in the public sphere, in the context of the aids crisis. Amy raffel editor is a phd candidate at the cuny graduate center. Many books are written from this perspective, and they inform university coursesleeds university, for example, offers an ma in gender, sexuality and queer theory.
Queer theory originating in the early 1990s, queer theory comprises a diverse body of intellectual inquiry. As with many young fields, there are subdivisions within the school of thought and different theorists have their own viewpoint that often conflicts with others. Most of queer theory is firmly located in the human ities. Most of queer theory is firmly located in the human itiesin departments of literature, film, and cultural studies. Queer theory is a field of poststructuralist critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of queer studies and womens studies. Queer theory emerged from feminist theory in the early 1990s wilson, 2011, and has been used to answer the criticisms of the coming out theory ohnstad, 2009. Jan 28, 2015 queer theory grew out of feminism and gender studies in the 1990s in this theory the word queer is not necessarily a synonym for gay but rather a position that rejects conventions or mainstream expressions of all types of behaviour including sexuality and gender. Since the early 1990s, the term queer has been strategically taken up to signify a wideranging and unmethodical resistance to normative models of sex, gender, and sexuality. Queer theorists also seek to contextualize categories such as homosexuality or heterosexuality by looking at them discursively and analyzing the. It serves as the magicians assistant to whitenesss disappearing act.
Coming out theory identified stages a person needed to go through before comfortably identifying as a. Foucault is not the origin of queer theory, nor is queer theory the destination of foucaults thinking. Queer theory identify it as a significan schoot l o f thought, whic h those in pursuit of genera knowledgl shoule bde familia withr i, s to risk domesticating it, an d fixing it in ways that quee r theory resist fixins g itself. How has queer theory influenced the ways we think about gender. It rejects the essentialist nature of theories of identity based on binary oppositions like malefemale, gaystraight and argues there is another space outside which is. Towards a gay hagiography 1995 furthered the discussion on michel foucaults contributions. Heavily influenced by the work of eve kosofsky sedgwick, judith butler, and lauren berlant, queer. Queer theory is one of the most contested and intellectually complex movements in contemporary sexual politics. Background queer theory libguides at university of. In this lecture on queer theory, professor paul fry explores the work of judith butler in relation to michel foucaultshistory of sexuality. Throughout the chapter, we highlight the differences between queer theory, queer research methodologies, queer studies, and queer as an identity category.
Often examining the intersection of capitalism, gender, heterosexism and the state, queer theory is constantly seeking to break down norms and question the status quo. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Jan 14, 2014 queer theory queer theory rejects conventional or mainstream behaviour, including sexual identity, but also a range of identities including race, disability and gender. Though the reasonerotic dualism seems to be an aspect of the original culturenature dualism, the heterosexualqueer dualism is a fairly recent development, as it is only in the past century that the concept of homosexual and. Carefully interrogating the arguments of supporters and. So heres what queer theorists most want you to understand. Pdf on jan 1, 2016, bernadette calafell and others published queer theory find, read and cite all the research you need on. Lecture 23 queer theory and gender performativity overview.
Queer theory grew out of feminism and gender studies in the 1990s in this theory the word queer is not necessarily a synonym for gay but rather a position that rejects conventions or mainstream expressions of all types of behaviour including sexuality and gender. If sex is not just about reproduction, it is not just about genes, xy chromosomes, and hormones either. It takes as its premise the notion that specific psychological, political, and cultural codes have elevated heterosexuality to the status of a sexual given. The routledge queer studies reader routledge literature. This sense of a threatening queerness is shaping new directions in queer theory that resonate across the americas, especially where nonconforming sexualities continue to be situated within the aftermath of colonialism, the discontents of nationalism and the regulatory oppression of neocolonial rule. Differences in terminology and methods are discussed, including butlers emphasis on performance and foucaults reliance on formulations such as powerknowledge and the deployment. Keywords feminist theory, queer theory, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender. Queer theory has been challenged for privileging male over female experience.
Throughout the chapter, we highlight the differences between queer theory, queer research methodologies. This sense of a threatening queerness is shaping new directions in queer theory that resonate across the americas, especially where nonconforming sexualities continue to be situated within the aftermath of colonialism, the discontents of nationalism and the regulatory oppression of. Pdf the normalization of queer theory david halperin. An introduction 1996 and tamsin spargos foucault and queer theory 1999 offered brief, functional syntheses of more recognized theories and their authors. Queer theory describes the school of thought that deals with sexual identity, human sexuality, and gender. This chapter provides an overview of queer theory, along with examples of how we and others have applied queer theory in social psychology research.
Although this use of queer marks a process of resignification as new meanings and values are associated with what was once a term of homophobic abuse, there is always an important sense in which queer. English departments and many other disciplines have adopted the principles of queer theory and train their students to read through this lens. Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of queer studies and womens studies. In order for the archive to function, it requires users, interpreters, and cultural.
Sedgwick developed along with judith butler, a professor at the university of california, berkley, is a prism through which scholars examine literary texts. That aside, the term queer can be used, loosely, as a synonym for trendy gay and lesbian studies and even for gaylesbian identity. The multiple definitions of queerare examined, to foster an understandingthe positions. If queer theory is a school of thought, then its one with a highly unorthodox view of discipline.
Though the reasonerotic dualism seems to be an aspect of the original culturenature dualism, the heterosexual queer dualism. What is queer theory definition of queer theory define. Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorisation of queerness itself. This sense of queer theory s builtin obsolescence might be read as evidence less of queer theory s inevitable decline than its transitory and always transformational potential. We spoke to a few queer theory aficionados and came up with this list of 20 mustread queer theory texts. If you have ever wanted to be a leather daddy, been puzzled by performativity. First, queer theory can help accounting scholars to disrupt heteronormativity, undermining a harmful dichotomous system of sexual categorisation that accounts for lgbt sexualities in restrictive ways. Jun 05, 2014 queer theory emerged from feminist theory in the early 1990s wilson, 2011, and has been used to answer the criticisms of the coming out theory ohnstad, 2009.
The analysis that comes from queer theory even queer of color critique, then, rests on the. Yet for social scientists and historians, much of this research may seem to be of questionable import. However, thi boos k doe nos t attemp tto stabilis the e mobil fiele d. Queer theory fikry major reference works wiley online. Queers of color have been forced to construct paradigms while reinscribing queer theory with race and culture. Queer theory is a rapidly growing field in the critical theory tradition. Queer theorys origin is hard to clearly define, since it came from multiple critical and cultural contexts, including feminism, poststructuralist theory, radical movements of people of color, the gay and lesbian movements, aids activism, many sexual subcultural practices such as sadomasochism, and postcolonialism. Pdf queer theory is an indispensable tool for researchers asking questions about the roles of power, discourse, and knowledge in the development and. We often talk about people as if they have particular attributes as things inside themselves they have an identity, for example, and we believe that at the heart of a person there is a fixed and true identity or character even if were not sure that we know quite what that. Hence, queer explores the discrepancy between gender identity, anatomical sex and sexual desire, resisting hegemonic heterosexuality. That is, queer theory assumes that events, attitudes, rela. If queer theory talks about redefining genres or questioning its nature, masculinity in angers film is put on trial. The ashgate research companion to queer theory noreen giffney and michael orourke isbn. Queer theory and the problem of identity queer theory is not about advocacy it does not argue that the portrayal of a more diverse range of gay men and lesbians in public culture would somehow solve the problem of representation the image of the fake homosexual is not challenged by the production of more real ones.
Queer theory is an interdisciplinary paradigm for studying sexualities. The age of consent and the ending of queer theory mdpi. Tara burk author is a philadelphiabased art historian. Queer theory is a part of the field of queer studies whose roots can be found in womens studies, feminist theory, and gay and lesbian studies, as well as postmodern and poststructuralist theories. Judith halberstam, writing about transgender archives in in a queer time and place, notes that the archive is not simply a repository. Coming out theory identified stages a person needed to go through before comfortably identifying as a gay male or lesbian ohnstad, 2009. Queer theory, sexual identity, and mainstream film rob cover1 this paper begins by raising questions about the role of queer theory in media critique, centering on a discussion of four recent mainstream masscirculation. The first assertion of queer theory is the recognition of the role of interpretation in understanding all aspects of human life.
The ways in which opie presents nonnormative subjects on their own terms, against brilliant planes of color, is an example of visibility that complements the brash cultural activism of that historical moment. She has a masters degree in contemporary art history from the institute of fine arts nyu and has taught. Black wholes and the geometry of black female sexuality, differences 6. Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorization of queerness itself. An introduction, annamarie jagose provides a clear and concise explanation of queer theory, tracing it as part of an intriguing history of samesex love over the last century, from midcentury homophile movements to gay liberation, the womens movement and lesbian feminism, to the reappropriation of the term queer. Jan 30, 2018 queer theory is motivated by a concern with identity but, paradoxically, is also anti. The domain of knowledge known as queer theory has developed at an astonishing pace over the past decade. Queer theory is a study that became widely known in the early 1990s, but its studies date back to as early as the 1960s. Queer definition is differing in some way from what is usual or normal.
Queer theory is entering the literary mainstream the. Indeed suspicion about the ongoing usefulness of queer theory is a better measure of its viability than widespread institutionalization and normalization. The routledge queer studies reader provides a comprehensive resource for students and scholars working in this vibrant and interdisciplinary field the book traces the emergence and development of queer studies as a field of scholarship, presenting key critical essays alongside more recent criticism that explores new directions. This discussion paves the way for research that attempts to queer accounting theory and knowledge so it may hold lgbt sexualities and queer lives.
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