CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Myo, Aung Zaw |
|---|---|
| Title | Queer Counterpublics in the Queer Time (2011-2023) of Burma |
| Summary | This thesis explores how Burmese queer people apply old and new strategies in different temporalities of queer time (2011-2023). Reading an adoption of the term LGBT, by Burmese queer people can fall into the traps of “homosexuality” as “a Western import” [by local homophobes] or “Western imperial imposition” (Massad 2007). Taking a decolonial stance, this research will show that Burmese queer people are not “passive agents of the West”. Building on the interview data with nine interview subjects, a discourse analysis on publications of an LGBT NGO, and slogans and protest writings within the Spring Revolution, I will highlight the tensions and frictions between global and local discourses. Identifying a decade of 2011-2023 as queer time in Burma (Joanna Mizielinska and Robert Kulpa 2011) based on the abrupt changes of the internet freedom (2011-) and the military coup (2021-), oddly erotic experience of identity formation in Burma will be shown. Throughout nascent queer activism, Burmese queer people “dubbed” (Boellstorff 2006) some Western sexualities, and tactics such as identity politics but went beyond binarism of “puppets of globalization” and “veneer over tradition”. They also managed to curate queer counterpublics (Berlant and Warner 2005), inviting other subordinate fellows. Lastly, this thesis will also highlight that Burmese queer people succeeded to delink the ideals of manliness with heterosexuality. |
| Supervisor | Renkin, Hadley Zaun |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/myo_aung-zaw.pdf |
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