Jr Sem: Queer Theory

Queer is a complicated term with a long, often fraught history. For the most part, it has been more recently adopted to invoke genders and sexualities that lie outside traditional, 'normative' constellations, though critics of the term often focus on its problematic all-encompassing use as a synonym for gay and lesbian, its popular co-optability, and its potential prioritization of one facet of identity at the expense of others. This seminar will interrogate queer theory and queer studies as fields of interdisciplinarity. We will pay particular attention to questions of desire, identity, citizenship, bodies, pleasure, and the construction of gender and sex. We will also examine the relationships between queerness and race, class, material conditions, age, able-bodiedness, and community formation. Throughout our term we will read groundbreaking theoretical and historical works and also examine relevant literature, film, television, and popular culture.