Day: February 3, 2018

Queer Theory is a post-modernist approach to analysis that attempts to deconstruct existing preconceptions of sexuality and gender as they relate to larger structures such as social interactions, political institutions, and power dynamics.  It also helps to redefine expressions of sexuality and gender outside of the typical binaries, i.e. Homo/Heterosexual, Male/Female.

I think Queer Theory could be a useful topic of study for other Audio / Music Engineering majors simply to bring awareness of or to create a general context by which to understand and relate to people whose gender expression and/or sexuality falls outside of the typical binaries.  For those working directly with artists, e.g. recording/mixing engineers or producers, it is absolutely essential to be able to relate to and communicate effectively with the artist you are helping create art with.  In a traditionally cisgendered male dominated field, it is essential that engineers understand and help to facilitate and solidify the message of the artist.  With queer artists starting to become more and more visible in mainstream media, studios need to function not only as places of business but also safe spaces for artists of all gender identities  and sexual orientations.

Cathy Cohen as a queer woman of color has a great deal of insight into the necessity for the intersectionality of queer politics.  She argues that marriage and homosexuality plus the ideology of white supremacy were reconfigured to justify the exploitation and regulation of black bodies.  One such example of this reconfiguration is evident in the illegality of mixed race marriages which remained in place from colonial times until 1967 with the notion of keeping the white race “pure” at the center of its enforcement (454).  In this way black Americans became even more “other” to whites and without the legal intervention that eventually allowed mixed race marriage would remain even more segregated.  This argument ties into Cohen’s discussion of coalition politics in that it presents a parallel to the illegality and suppression of gay marriage with a similar argument involving purity, thereby tying two marginalized groups together and relating their struggles rather than feeding into the divisive dichotomy of straights vs. queers.  Coalition politics is difficult in this way as it necessitates cooperation and a shared sense of marginalization in order to properly draw all groups into the “fight”.  In the case of the AIDS ACT UP coalition, the universality of the issue and the unified resistance against the government’s and biomedical industries’ response to the epidemic was the motivator for all different groups of people to join in.  However without such a wide-scale crisis it is harder for marginalized people of all races, sexual orientations, and classes to step outside of their usual spaces and social spheres.

Citation: Cohen, Cathy J. “Punks, Bulldaggers and Welfare Queens: The Radical Potential of Queer Politics?”, GLQ, vol. 3,  1997, pp. 437-465.

My definition personal definition of queer theory, as developed in last class, is that queer theory questions and challenges gender and sexuality in our society. It aims to push our thoughts of gender and sexuality to the edge. Coming from an environmental studies major, it may be less clear as to how one may apply perspectives of queer theory. I think that queer theory can help those of the same or similar major become more inquisitive about what is typically accepted as fact. It may help us push boundaries and strive for a deeper understanding in existing systems. Rather than just going along with what we’ve always been told, queer theory allows us to further question systems in place to get a better understanding of why they’re there, if they’re needed, and if they could be improved upon. Further, as one of the most progressive generations thus far, I believe it is important for us to decide what kind of future we would like to see for our generation and future generations.

Cathy Cohen points out the relationship between the institution of marriage and white supremacy. For example, Cohen points out that central to the American legal tradition was the preservation of the white race. Interracial marriage was made illegal to prevent the mixing of races and, although we think of this as a far off past, these laws were not repealed until 1967. This relates to Cohen’s pleas for “difficult work of coalition politics” (484). Only after we address these issues intersectionality in terms of race, class, and gender privilege will we be able to begin the work on this coalition of politics. The coalition of politics is so difficult because so many needs and injustices need to be addressed at once and it needs to be done intersectionality to prevent groups being left out. It’s hard to balance all of the needs of such a varying group of people.

Cathy J. Cohen, “Punks, Bulldaggers, and Welfare Queens: The Radical Potential of Queer Politics?” GLQ 3 (1997): 437-465.