CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2009
| Author | Watson, Amy Jean |
|---|---|
| Title | Being Inappropriate: Queer Activism in Context |
| Summary | This thesis offers a genealogical approach to queer activism. Starting from the gay liberation movement in the late 1960s, I depict the materialized of queer activism in the form of Queer Nation. After, which I examine contemporary queer activist networks. Out of theoretical discourse, political events and conceptual problems in the United States, queer activism and theory emerged as a disruption. I depict deliberations of identity as essence and as basis for political action which shifted into the concept of identity as a relational process of practices, as can be seen in the political undertakings of ACT UP. Yet, queer activism is not without its limitations. Specifically, I consider particular practices of Queer Nation as well as mainstream gay and lesbian pride parades. These limitations largely depict queer activism as being class- and race-blind. Moreover, I engage with a critical view of the pink economy and the commodification of queer/gay and lesbian social identities. I take into account the speculation that consumerism has the capacity to depoliticize queer subjects. Contemporary queer activist networks are reformulating as a response to critical engagements with queer activism, the pink economy and a portrayal of the queer subject as commodified. They are engaging in “power-to-do” as part of a relational process. As such, the practices that these sites of activism engage in are indicators that there is an ongoing critique against identity politics, homonormativity and consumerism. Furthermore, as these contemporary queer activist movements are found within the larger context of an anti-capitalism discourse, they offer a critique on consumerism and commodification and can be seen as turning toward an engagement with the political economy. |
| Supervisor | Cerwonka, Allaine |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2009/watson_amy.pdf |
Visit the CEU Library.
© 2007-2021, Central European University