Alexis lothian feminist and queer science fiction in america. Universities have also labeled this area of analysis sexual diversity studies, sexualities studies or lgbtq studies. Aug 26, 2016 suggesting socalled queer fiction which doesnt centre intersectional queer main characters allows all queers to be disempowered from their own narratives. Nationally known gender activist riki wilchins combines straightforward prose with concrete examples from lgbt and feminist politics, as well as her own life, to guide the reader through the ideas that have forever altered our understanding of bodies, sex and desire. Tipping the velvet by sarah waters, oranges are not the only fruit by jeanette winterson, the song of achilles by madelin. They mentioned tanya huffs valor series, ammonite by nicola griffith id also add slow river, the daughters of a coral dawn trilogy by katherine v. Extended readings of novels by five of the most important modern science fiction authors illustrate the affinity between science fiction and critical theory, in each case concentrating on one major novel that resonates with concerns proper to critical theory. In which i talk all things queer nonfiction, recommending to you some of my recent faves.
So of course there should be great science fiction stories about them. These 25 queer ya novels including superheroes, romance, smalltown. Apr 28, 2014 a onestop, nononsense introduction to the core of postmodern theory, particularly its impact on queer and gender studies. That is to say, male and female behaviour and roles are not the result of biology but are constructed and reinforced through media and culture butler argues that there are a number. Phedre is a sex worker equally trained in the arts of the bedroom and the kingdoms court. Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorisation of queerness itself. Science fiction as a young persons first queer theory jstor. This sense of queer theory s builtin obsolescence might be read as evidence less of queer theory s inevitable decline than its transitory and always transformational potential. If you are flaming you dont have to come out to anyone, they already know. This page provides resources for sf literary scholars. As the owner of a small press specializing on queer speculative fiction, i face a constant and continually frustrating challenge to get the books we publish into the hands of queer readers.
Some of the books already appeared in this post about queer reads, but most i havent yet shared. A crossdressing man meets a suitclad soul whose gender defies definition. Queer theory in education brings together the most prominent and promising scholars in the field of educationprimarily but not exclusively in curriculumin the first volume on queer theory in education. Heaven, hell, olympus, and valhalla are all alternative universes different from the familiar material realm. Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorization of queerness itself. Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of queer studies and womens studies. I have been going on for a little while how i am on a big queer non fiction kick and i thought it would.
Queer universes opens with wendy pearsons awardwinning essay on reading sf queerly and goes on to include discussions about sextrapolation in new wave science fiction, stray penetration in william gibsons cyberpunk fiction, the queering of nature in ecofeminist science fiction, and the radical challenges posed to conventional science. Knowledge, documentation, and love in the novels of. Queer has been associated most prominently with bisexual, lesbian and gay subjects, but its analytic framework also includes such topics as. All about how gay men were ignored by us culturepoliticians. This time i wanted to look at some queer lgbt relationships in science fiction and fantasy. The first book in the phedres trilogy, this lengthy page novel is epic in many senses of the word. Science fiction and queer theory by wendy gay pearson. Plato reflected deeply on the parallel realities, resulting in platonism, in which the upper reality is perfect while the lower earthly reality is an. The sum of all potential parallel universes that constitute reality is often called a multiverse. Queer theory in literature by alexa dumity on prezi.
Sexualities in science fiction by wendy gay pearson. A onestop, nononsense introduction to the core of postmodern theory, particularly its impact on queer and gender studies. My reading this month was sporadic and a bit random, but here is a summary of my reading for february. Starting in the 1970s, a range of authors brought deconstructionist critical approaches to bear on issues of sexual identity, and especially on the construction of a normative straight ideology. Sexualities in science fiction, edited by wendy gay pearson, veronica hollinger, and joan gordon, is a collection of academic essays on, as it says, sexualities in science fiction. The cambridge companion to science fiction edited by edward james november 2003. Queer theory is a field of university of california, santa cruz in 1990 and a special issue of differences. Including more than 30 essential works of science fiction criticism in a single volume, this is a comprehensive introduction to the study of this enduringly popular genre. Definitions and boundaries of the genre the many forms of science fiction, from time travel to inner space ideology and identity. Science fiction and queer theory wendy pearson iml 295. Science fiction needs to reflect that the future is queer. In the list below, some books focus on sexual identities as a major theme, while others just have a gay character or two. Indeed, for many people, it is the ideational content of sf that is its primary characteristic.
List of books and articles about queer theory online research. While the three terms are generally synonymous and can be used interchangeably in most cases, there is sometimes an. Queer theory developed out of an examination of perceived limitations in the traditional identity politics of recognition and selfidentity. Offer some general comments on the usefulness of queertheoretical frameworks to the study of sf. Chosen by the highly scientific method of asking my father what words he didn. A journal of feminist cultural studies she edited based on that conference queer theory focuses on mismatches between sex, gender and desire. Yet queer is a category still in the process of formation. So heres what queer theorists most want you to understand.
Queer theory introduction sex aint as simple as restroom signs suggest. Queer theory is derived largely from poststructuralist theory, and deconstruction in particular. Queer young adult fiction is exploding right now, but with so much out there, how can you figure out what to read next. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. What is queer theory definition of queer theory define. All types of literature have critics, just as all other forms of art. Tiny valkyrie and femmefantastic hit on how hard it is to find queer scifi. Lgbtq people will pilot spaceships, colonize planets, battle aliens, invent warp engines, and discover all sorts of intergalactic weirdness. List of books and articles about queer theory online. A parallel universe, also known as a parallel dimension, alternate universe, or alternate reality, is a hypothetical selfcontained plane of existence, coexisting with ones own. 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. Heavily influenced by the work of eve kosofsky sedgwick, judith butler, and lauren berlant, queer.
Queer studies is the critical theory based study of issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity usually focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex lgbti people and cultures. How and why to take a break from feminism and dont. Like some of the other books on this list, a book of tongues doesnt shy away from a frank look at rook and. Science fiction books science fiction needs to reflect that the future is queer. I have been going on for a little while how i am on a big queer nonfiction kick and i thought it would. But despite the success of these authors, sf still clings to an. An anthology of essential writings covers such topics as. We use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. There are several things i liked about the movie the soundtrack, of course, the focus on families of choice, baby groot. Popular queer fiction books showing 150 of 3,847 tipping the velvet paperback by. Judith halberstam, writing about transgender archives in in a queer time and place, notes that the archive is not simply a repository. I have yet to read any aromantic or agender books key. Indeed suspicion about the ongoing usefulness of queer theory is a better measure of its viability than widespread institutionalization and normalization. Judithbutler a contemporary approach to gender representation was introduced by judith butler 1990 who suggests that gender is not the result of nature but is socially constructed.
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. Science fiction as a young persons first queer theory. Janet halley is the royall professor of law at harvard university. In order for the archive to function, it requires users, interpreters, and cultural.
Queer theory challenges the traditionally held assumptions that there is a binary divide between gay and heterosexual, and suggests that sexual identity is more fluid. 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. The library of the unwritten a novel from hells lord john and the private matter. A young transgender magician travels the world on a quest for a mystical talking sword. Why do we need more science fiction by lgbt writers. Bad to mediocre books stars the witch doesnt burn in this one by amanda lovelace. This database aims to collect and feature queer science fiction and fantasy books to assist readers in finding the representation they seek. Forrest and stardust bound by karen cadora as great books that theyve already read, but asked for more. A book of tongues book 1 in gemma files hexslinger series tells the story of pinkerton agent ed morrow, who goes undercover to infiltrate the gang of notorious hexslinger, reverend asher rook. Queer theory project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Sexualities in science fiction, edited by wendy gay pearson, veronica hollinger, and joan gordon, is a collection of academic essays on, as. A readers guide to the militarys antigay policy, also published by duke university press. Science fiction sf does more than provide a fleeting moment of entertainment.
An example of the fluidity of gendersexuality can be seen in the character of captain jack sparrow in pirates of the caribbean. Download citation science fiction and queer theory axiom 1. Feminism and the subversion of identity by judith butler, epistemology of the closet by eve kosofsky sedgw. Suggesting socalled queer fiction which doesnt centre intersectional queer main characters allows all queers to be disempowered from their own narratives. Afterthoughts on visual pleasure and narrative cinema, 1981 michel. May 19, 2017 contains slight spoilers for beauty and the beast, the 100, walking dead and the magicians. Carefully interrogating the arguments of supporters and. A witch wonders why her wouldbe lovers cant date her the oldfashioned way. 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.
Science fiction and queer theory chapter 10 the cambridge. Fiction has long borrowed an idea of another world from myth, legend and religion. Unlike other books of lgbtq history or queer theory monographs, a queer new york uses a unique multilayered analytic in order to produce more robust, compelling, and intricate arguments about the. Critics of sf have generally agreed that science fiction is a literature of ideas. Jul 17, 2017 in which i talk all things queer non fiction, recommending to you some of my recent faves. The steel remains richard morgans fantasy novel features a gay protagonist, ringil eskiath, a badass warrior with a big sword. Listen to queer as fiction instantly on your tablet, phone or browser no downloads needed. Queer theory addiction after sex on writing since queer. In queer theory, 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. Liverpool science fiction texts and studies book 37.
No list of queer poly sff would be complete with the nowclassic queer feminist poly fantasy kushiels dart. To o queer the writerloca, escritor y chicana, in analouise keating, the gloria anzaldua reader, 163175. It was funny, the special effects were beautiful, and ben browder was surprisingly in it. Its about making all lives livable, including those that. In his perceptive introduction, the editor outlines queer theory as it is emerging in the field of education, its significance for all. Sexualities in science fiction liverpool science fiction texts and studies.
Contains slight spoilers for beauty and the beast, the 100, walking dead and the magicians. Dec 04, 2011 we use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. Queer theory was originally associated with radical gay politics of act up, outrage. Selected fulltext books and articles queer universes.
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