To use one of foucaults own terms, the essay could be seen as a brief and partial. Charles bressler literary criticism an introduction to. Pdf after criticism, a call to rethink queer theory researchgate. What is queer theory definition of queer theory define. Pdf after criticism, a call to rethink queer theory. Introduction to hayden white, university of california at. Lesbian, gay, and queer criticism the work of gay and lesbian writers forms a major part of the literary canon and is therefore included in most literature courses, but many undergraduate students assume that these writers are herteosexual. Secondly, i intend to discuss the developmental phases of the queer theory. Gender criticism and queer theory humanities libertexts. Queer theory is a brandnew branch of study or theoretical speculation. A history of feminist literary criticism edited by gill plain august 2007. Gender criticism suggests that power is not just top down or patriarchala man dominating a woman. Queer theory overlaps in many respects with feminist theory in its aims and goals, being at once political and practical.
Queer theory also teaches the reader to look at every other literary genre with a new set of critical eyes. Indeed suspicion about the ongoing usefulness of queer theory is a better measure of its viability than widespread institutionalization and normalization. An introduction to literary criticism and theory before we begin our examination and study of literary theory, it is important that we define exactly what literary theory is and is not, identify some of the main characteristics of such, as well as identify some of the key differences between traditional literary. This is a survey of the main trends in twentiethcentury literary theory. Second, literary theories are reflected in the works of literature and important topics are discussed according to the interpretation of these theories.
Gay lesbian criticism and queer theory adrienne rich. But theory especially when it takes the form of isms can often be intimidating or else, frankly, boring. Often examining the intersection of capitalism, gender, heterosexism and the state, queer theory is constantly seeking to break down norms and question the status quo. It is designed for students at the undergraduate level or for others needing a broad synthesis of the long history of literary theory. Instead we present brief essays on a range of key critical. Gender studies and queer theory explore issues of sexuality, power, and marginalized populations woman as other in literature and culture. It grew out of gaylesbian studies, a discipline which itself is very new, existing in.
The concept of waves of feminism was itself only applied in the late 1960s and early 1970s and therefore its application to a previous era of female activism tells us a great deal about the. The multiple definitions of queerare examined, to foster an. Its a rapidly expanding body of literature that seeks to answer a series of questions about what is normal, how. We spoke to a few queer theory aficionados and came up with this list of 20 mustread queer theory texts. Literary criticism is the practical application of literary theory. It is closely aligned with queer theory and is often cross. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory 5th edition. Difference between literary criticism and literary theory. Literary theory is an unavoidable part of studying literature and criticism. This paper examines the queer theory and its developmental phases. Queer theory has itself been a significant influence on cultural and literary theory, postcolonialism, and sociology, and queering is now applied also to the boundaries of academic disciplines. Queer theory is a part of the field of queer studies whose roots can be found in womens studies, feminist theory, and gay and lesbian studies, as well as. Queer criticism 334 some shared features of lesbian, gay, and queer criticism 338 some questions lesbian, gay, and queer critics ask about literary texts 341 will the real nick carraway please come out a queer reading of the great gatsby 342 questions for further practice.
Queer literary criticism denotes a range of approaches to textual scholarship that analyze and contest heteronormative structures and relations of meaning. Queer theory is a part of the field of queer studies whose roots can be found in womens studies, feminist theory, and gay and lesbian studies, as well as postmodern and poststructuralist theories. An introduction to literary criticism and theory before we begin our examination and study of literary theory, it is important that we define exactly what literary theory is and is not, identify some of the main characteristics. Meg john is a senior lecturer in psychology at the open university and a ukcp accredited psychotherapist, and has over a decade of experience researching and publishing on these topics including nonmonogamous relationships, kink, counseling, and mindfulness, as. Gay and lesbian studies focus its inquiries into two categories. It is strongly reliant on psychoanalytic categories and concepts, but seeks to overcome the heterosexual limits of psychoanalytic theory. Recommended glossaries of theoretical and critical terms and concepts 280 appendix 2. A historical approach is adapted to trace the changes of this literary. By looking at the critical reception of four iconic queer modernist authors oscar wilde, henry james, radclyffe hall, and virginia woolf this dissertation reinvestigates the relation between criticism.
Second wave feminism is a term used to describe a new period of feminist collective political activism and militancy which emerged in the late 1960s. Queer theory, or gender studies, is a relatively recent and evolving school of criticism, which questions and problematizes the issues of gender identity and sexual orientation in literary texts. At this point, you can probably imagine how queer theory can be used to read other literary works. Queer theory insists that all sexual behaviors, all concepts linking sexual behaviors to sexual identities, and. Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of queer. Thus queer theory expands the scope of its analysis to all kinds of behaviors, including those which are genderbending as well as those which involve queer nonnormative forms of sexuality. Queer theorys origin is hard to clearly define, since it came from multiple critical and cultural contexts, including feminism, poststructuralist theory, radical movements of people of color, the gay and lesbian movements, aids activism, many sexual subcultural practices such as sadomasochism, and postcolonialism.
Deeply rooted in the views, responses, and history of contemporary critical theories, texts and contexts, 5e provides students with the knowledge and tools to write about literature efficiently and effectively. Queer literary criticism spargo major reference works. Sep 11, 2012 gay lesbian criticism and queer theory adrienne rich. Feminist criticism and queer theory chapter 16 a history of.
In a queer time and place by judith jack halberstam 2005 ever wanted to eat dessert before dinner. We have tried to avoid simply giving potted summaries of isms. 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. For courses in literary criticism or literary analysis, or as a supplement in literature survey, genre, or period courses. For example, halperin 1995 allows that straight persons may be queer, which some believe, robs gays and lesbians of the distinctiveness of what causes them to be marginalized. Well, in this work, halberstam says, futures can be imagined according. Its not really fair to write a short guide to queer theory. You will use queer theory to inform your analysis of the argument or issue. Queer theory is entering the literary mainstream the. Gender criticism is an extension of feminist literary criticism, focusing not just on women but on the construction of gender and sexuality, especially lgbtq issues, which gives rise to queer theory. Lesbian, gay, and queer criticism by kaitlin lang on prezi. The multiple definitions of queerare examined, to foster an understandingthe positions. The discipline of american studies essay 1676 words 7 pages.
Jun 22, 2015 linking feminist and queer literary theory. Megjohn barker is a writer, therapist, and activistacademic specializing in sex, gender and relationships. Queer theory queer theory rejects conventional or mainstream behaviour, including sexual identity, but also a range of identities including race, disability and gender. This article explores the need of rethinking literary theory in general and the queer theory in particular. Second wave feminism by nasrullah mambrol on october 28, 2017 4.
Queer literary criticism spargo major reference works wiley. An initial criticism on queer theory is that precisely queer does not refer to any specific sexual status or gender object choice for example halperin 1995 allows that straight persons may be queer, which some believe, robs gays and lesbians of the distinctiveness of what causes them to be marginalized. Oct 04, 20 queer theory is a rapidly growing field in the critical theory tradition. Feminist theory and queer theory university of georgia. Queer theory s origin is hard to clearly define, since it came from multiple critical and cultural contexts, including feminism, poststructuralist theory, radical movements of people of color, the gay and lesbian movements, aids activism, many sexual subcultural practices such as sadomasochism, and postcolonialism. Queer theory is a diverse field of studies that involves a lot of disparate ideas. Literary and theoretical texts for all your queer theory needs. Feminist criticism 1960spresent genderqueer studies 1970spresent sociological criticism. Queer theory seeks, among other things, to describe or map out the ways homosexual or homoerotic desire manifests itself in literary and cultural texts. Eve kosofsky sedgwick 19502009 michel foucault eve kosofsky sedgwick american academic scholar in fields of gender studies, queer theory, and critical theory considered one of the founders of the queer theory in the early 90s discussed the social meanings and violent force. The queer theory was introduced by writers and activists in the early 1990s as the result of studies of women discrimination and treatment in the literature and the issues of queer sexuality. Queer literary criticism and the biographical fallacy by. Paircoil2 submit sequences to paircoil2 view supplementary data download paircoil2. Like historical criticism, sociological criticism examines literature in the cultural, economic, and political context in which it is written or received.
Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction a very basic way of thinking about literary theory is that these ideas act as different lenses critics use to view and talk about art, literature, and even culture. Sedgwick developed along with judith butler, a professor at the university of california, berkley, is a prism through which scholars examine literary texts. Thus queer theory expands the scope of its analysis to all kinds of behaviors, including those which are genderbending as well as those which involve queer. Literary theory is the different frameworks used to evaluate and interpret a particular work. The article will present a survey of queer textual analysis of some literary works. 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. Pdf on aug 1, 2016, emily meixner and others published theory as method. Jan 14, 2014 queer theory queer theory rejects conventional or mainstream behaviour, including sexual identity, but also a range of identities including race, disability and gender. It rejects the essentialist nature of theories of identity based on binary oppositions like malefemale, gaystraight and argues there is another space outside which is. Introduction to theory of literature open yale courses. These different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions within that school of theory. Plato, aristotle, horace, sir philip sidney, sir francis bacon, joseph addison, edmund burke, samuel johnson, sir joshua reynolds, william wordsworth, samuel taylor coleridge, john. Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature.
Nov 03, 2016 difference between literary criticism and literary theory definition. Pdf after criticism, a call to rethink queer theory dr. Queer literary criticism denotes a range of approaches to textual. Foucault is not the origin of queer theory, nor is queer theory the destination of foucaults thinking. Queer theory and its applications a research guide for students.
Literary, critical and cultural theory journals 282 index of names, titles and. An introduction provides an accessible overview of major figures and movements in literary theory and criticism from antiquity to the twentyfirst century. An initial criticism on queer theory is that precisely queer does not refer to any specific sexual status or gender object choice. Background queer theory libguides at university of. Pdf the need to rethink the theory of criticism is urgent.
The gay lesbian and queer theory uk essays ukessays. Queer literary criticism and the biographical fallacy engages with three fields of inquiry within literary studies. Much of the work in gender studies and queer theory, while influenced by feminist criticism, emerges from poststructural interest in fragmented, decentered knowledge building nietzsche, derrida. This type of criticism may analyze the social content of a literary workthe cultural. Auserfriendlyguide chapter10 322b341 lesbiancriticism lesbiancriticismis. Queer theory is a rapidly growing field in the critical theory tradition. Mar 04, 2019 queer theory seeks, among other things, to describe or map out the ways homosexual or homoerotic desire manifests itself in literary and cultural texts. Second wave feminism literary theory and criticism. The characters in novels and films that we think we know so well become newly strange, and a whole set of new questions arise. Gay and lesbian literary criticism which has stem off of their respective studies look at images of sexuality, and ideas of normative and deviant behavior, in a number of ways which often involves tedious takes of finding gay or lesbian authors whose. The age of consent and the ending of queer theory mdpi. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction.