Queer Theory, Politics & Activism: The Radical Potential of Queer-World-Making

“Queerness is a longing that propels us onward, beyond romances of the negative and toiling in the present. Queerness is that thing that lets us feel that this world is not enough, that indeed something is missing…Queerness is essentially about the rejection of a here and now and an insistence on potentiality or concrete possibility for another world.”

-Jose Esteban Munoz, from Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity

This course will examine the ways in which queerness—as an identity, a politics, a theory, and a praxis—can enable a better, more egalitarian society. Although much of the course will focus on queerness as a sexuality, the facilitator and readings also understand queerness as something that transcends sexual desire, and can instead be understood as any non-normative modality that rejects oppression and embraces potentiality. In addition, the class will nuance the difference between mainstream LGBT politics and radical queer politics (with a proclivity for the latter).

The class structure will consist of readings/discussions, film screenings/discussions, participant-led activities/presentations, guest speakers, and field trips (for example, we may attend/critique the Pride March and juxtapose that with a trip to the Twin Cities Trans March). In addition, the class will work on a group activist project that addresses an issue of importance to queer communities. Possible examples might include: a group zine project that informs queer-folk about queer resources in the Twin Cities, organizing a talk for the broader community, organizing a protest outside of a non-queer-friendly establishment, etc.

Possible themes of readings, films and discussions will include: Intro to Queer Theory; Radical Queer Critiques of Gay Marriage, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell & Hate Crime Legislation; Queer of Color Critique; Queer/Disability Studies; Queering Discipline/the Prison Industrial Complex and the Queer Community; International Queer Discourse; Queers & Labor; Queers & Immigration; Queer/Sex-Positive Lifestyles & Desire; Queer Affect; Transgender Theory; Queer Performance (drag & beyond!); and more (to be decided with help of participants)!!!!