Queer space in indian fiction and film by sucheta mallick choudhuri an abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctor of philosophy degree in english in the graduate college of the university of iowa december 2009 thesis supervisors. Introducing queer theory of identity and judith butler. In this way you can improve your facebook supporters. Queer theory s 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. Despite its ubiquity in critical social inquiry, queer theory remains one of the. Like that element, we can contain queer theory, and it will fill even overflow our container. New york university press 2003 abstract this book is a succinct, pedagogically designed introduction. It serves as the magicians assistant to whitenesss disappearing act. This new take on queer theory explores the ways in which sexuality, subjectivity and sociality have. Lecture 23 queer theory and gender performativity overview.
Choice a critical introduction to queer theory explores the ways in which sexuality, subjectivity and sociality have been discursively produced in various historical and cultural contexts. 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. We begin with queer of color theory as a critical response to racism in white queer theory and to heterocentrism in. A critical introduction to queer theory explores the ways in which sexuality, subjectivity and sociality have been discursively produced in various historical and cultural contexts. Queer theory is motivated by a concern with identity but, paradoxically, is also anti. The movements of theory and the movements of political action never follow one from. We will begin the course by developing a critical understanding of queer theory through reading foundational texts by michel foucault, judith butler, eve. Edelmans book doesnt just show us what a queer reading practice should look like for, after all, film. My dissertation extends the work of queer theory, opening its insights to the practices of teaching while also considering teaching as a way to reflect back on the central questions of queer theory. A critical introduction to queer theory nikki sullivan. Currently other queer theorists find themselves housed in departments like english and comparative literature.
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. Introducing queer theory into the undergraduate classroom. Linnell secomb,university of sydney this book is a succinct, pedagogically designed introduction. Gender criticism is an extension of feminist literary criticism, focusing not just on women but on the construction of gender and sexuality, especially lgbtq issues, which gives rise to queer theory. It also attracted significant criticism, however, for both its substance and its style.
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. In this lecture on queer theory, professor paul fry explores the work of judith butler in relation to michel foucaultshistory of sexuality. The analysis that comes from queer theory even queer of color critique, then, rests on the. We will focus on very recent work in queer studies much of it published after 2000 and, as a group of scholarteachers, think through what have emerged as some of the key issues, questions, and debates in this wing of gender studies. 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. Choice a critical introduction to queer theory explores. Sullivan 2003 a critical introduction to queer theory a. Heavily influenced by the work of eve kosofsky sedgwick, judith butler, and lauren berlant, queer.
Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorization of queerness itself. Pdf queer theory is an indispensable tool for researchers asking questions about. Provides comprehensive coverage of the relevant issues within queer theory and incorporates provocative and highly contentious debates around sadomasochism, fetishism, and transgenderism. An introduction by paul chamness reecemiller and hidehiro endo lawrence king. Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of queer studies and womens studies. Pdf this chapter provides an overview of queer theory, along with. Differences in terminology and methods are discussed, including butlers emphasis on performance and foucaults reliance on formulations such as powerknowledge and the deployment. Just as importantly, however, the course will introduce. As the word queer was used to describe homosexuals in the nineteenth century, queer theory traces its lineage from the study of sexuality in its private and public forms. Michael warner, in his introduction to fear of a queer planet. Queer theory follows feminist theory and gaylesbian studies in rejecting the idea that sexuality is. Nikki sullivan, a critical introduction to queer theory.
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. Explores the ways in which sexuality, subjectivity and sociality have been discursively produced in various historical and cultural contexts the book begins by putting gay and lesbian sexuality and politics in historical context and demonstrates how and why queer theory emerged in the west in the late twentieth century. Introduction to queer theory new york university press. Clear, engaging, and very readable introduction to queer theory. Queer was a spell word for gay and lesbian people during the 1980s it was adopted by several. Collectively, they rethink queer critique in relation to a number of historical emergencies, to borrow from walter benjamin, of both national and global consequence. Critical queer studies association for queer anthropology. Queer theory has made significant contributions to the ways we understand gender, sexuality, identity, discourse and material bodies. Queer theory queer theory rejects conventional or mainstream behaviour, including sexual identity, but also a range of identities including race, disability and gender. Sullivan goes on to provide a detailed overview of the complex ways in. The book begins by putting gay and lesbian sexuality and politics in historical context and demonstrates how and why queer theory emerged in the west in the late. Constructing queer knowledge in educational contexts. Proceeding from this definition, our seminar investigates the theoretical work of queer people of color, primarily in the u. Greene in this essay, i have sought to introduce queer theory as a development in literary and cultural theory that english teachers and their students will find applicable to reading, writing, and thinking about academic.
Queer theory is a study that became widely known in the early 1990s, but its studies date back to as early as the 1960s. Jenny alexander, department of media and film, university of sussex, sexualities. Introduction queer as pejorative previously, reappropriated culturally marginal sexual selfidentifications or theoretical model developed out of gay and lesbian studies. 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. But i also understand these words as sharing conceptual space with eve sedgwicks definition of queer as the open mesh of possibilities, gaps, overlaps. One response to introducing queer theory of identity and judith butler leannpoole20708 says. It is still an introduction to critical theory written by a teacher of critical theory and lit. Perceived inverse relationship with normative academicism, queer as inherently against normativity. Queer theory insists that all sexual behaviors, all concepts linking sexual behaviors to sexual identities, and all categories of normative and deviant sexualities, are social constructs, sets of signifiers which create certain types of social meaning. Rereading her introduction, queer and now, i am reminded of the potent sense of possibility opened up 20 years ago by the idea of queer theory. Finally, the bibliographies for further reading that close each chapter have been expanded and updated.
Gender criticism suggests that power is not just top down or patriarchala man dominating a woman. These contributing authors therefore survey much of the core themes, ideas, thinkers, and epistemological concerns of critical theory as a structure of thought, keeping alive many of the basic concepts and approaches that the critical theory tradition has at its core and the flame of rational. 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. These are the names of boys who lost their lives as a result of bullying in just a little over one years time between february, 2008 and april, 2009. Seeing parallels between queer theory and the works of marx and feminist theorists, seidman contends that queer theory is an important addition to the thinking about politics and culture. Introduction in this essay i want to give a short introduction in the ideas of queer theory, the connections between these ideas and feminism and furthermore i will talk a bit about queer politics. Foucault is not the origin of queer theory, nor is queer theory the destination of foucaults thinking.
One thing that hasnt changed, however, is the purpose of this book. The state of queer and queer theory, ever the postpostmodern concepts, is as elusive to nail down as mercury. Background queer theory libguides at university of. 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. So heres what queer theorists most want you to understand. However, thi boos k doe nos t attemp tto stabilis the e mobil fiele d. The palgrave handbook of critical social psychology, pp. Deconstructing queer theory steven seidman peter fletcher. What is queer theory definition of queer theory define.
Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorisation of queerness itself. A critical introduction to queer theory sullivan, nikki on. 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. A critical introduction to queer theory is a relatively accessible place to start, but ultimately unsatisfying. Final papers are due 1210 by 5pm by email please send as a. Description of the book a critical introduction to queer theory. Even sympathetic readers of butlers work, for example, worried read more. A critical introduction to queer theory edinburgh university press. Queer theory introduction sex aint as simple as restroom signs suggest. A critical introduction to queer theory sage journals. So, if there is no single correct account of sexuality, then contemporary views of particular relationships and.
Finally, there is the queer theory of the books subtitle. A critical introduction to queer theory edition 1 by. A critical introduction to queer theory by nikki sullivan edinburgh. The book begins by putting gay and lesbian sexuality and politics in historical context and demonstrates how and why queer theory emerged in the. A commonplace meaning attributed to the term revolves around being nonconforming in terms of sexuality and gender. A critical introduction to queer theory is a book i will be keeping on my shelves, and i would recommend it to students new to queer theory and queer textual analysis as a reference point from whence to begin their own explorations. A critical introduction to queer theory by nikki sullivan.
Introducing queer theory in international relations. The book begins by putting gay and lesbian sexuality and politics in historical context and demonstrates how and why queer theory emerged in the west in the late twentieth century. Again referring to fuss, seidman suggests that the goal of queer theory is to destabilise the hold which gay theory, and the heterohomo binary, has produced. As classroom text, sullivans work is heady with vibrant debate and slim heuristics.
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