English Lit 101: Literary Criticism - Queer Theory Heteronormativity Performativity Butler Queer Reading Camp LGBTQ Studies Sedgwick

What It Is

Queer Theory is a critical framework that challenges traditional notions of identity, particularly heteronormativity, and examines the social and cultural construction of sex, gender, and sexuality. It draws on the work of scholars such as Judith Butler and Eve Sedgwick, who argue that identity is performative and fluid. A canonical example of queer theory in action can be seen in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest," where the characters' performances of identity are subverted and challenged, highlighting the instability of traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Heteronormativity: The assumption that heterosexuality is the norm and that all individuals are straight unless proven otherwise.
  • Example: In Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," the societal pressure to marry and conform to traditional gender roles is a prime example of heteronormativity.
• Performativity: The idea that identity is performed and constructed through social interactions and cultural norms.
  • Example: In Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble," she argues that gender is a performance, citing the example of a drag queen who performs femininity to challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
• Queer Reading: A critical approach that challenges traditional notions of identity and examines the ways in which texts represent and subvert dominant ideologies.
  • Example: In the film "Mulholland Drive," David Lynch's use of non-linear narrative and blurring of boundaries between reality and fantasy is a prime example of queer reading.
• Camp: A cultural aesthetic that celebrates the artificial and the excessive, often used to subvert traditional notions of identity and culture.
  • Example: In the film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," the character of Frank-N-Furter is a prime example of camp, using humor and excess to challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
• LGBTQ+ Studies: An interdisciplinary field of study that examines the experiences and cultures of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other individuals.
  • Example: In the novel "The Color Purple," Alice Walker's portrayal of the experiences of black women in the early 20th century is a prime example of LGBTQ+ studies.
• Sedgwick: Eve Sedgwick, a scholar who argued that queer theory should focus on the ways in which texts represent and subvert dominant ideologies.
  • Example: In her book "Between Men," Sedgwick argues that male-male relationships in literature often represent a challenge to traditional notions of masculinity and heteronormativity.
• Butler: Judith Butler, a scholar who argued that identity is performative and fluid.
  • Example: In her book "Gender Trouble," Butler argues that gender is a performance, citing the example of a drag queen who performs femininity to challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
• Queer: A term that refers to individuals who do not conform to traditional notions of identity and culture.
  • Example: In the novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray," Oscar Wilde's portrayal of the character of Dorian Gray is a prime example of queer, as he challenges traditional notions of masculinity and morality.
• Intersectionality: The idea that identity is complex and multifaceted, and that individuals experience multiple forms of oppression and privilege.
  • Example: In the novel "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," Junot Díaz's portrayal of the experiences of Dominican immigrants in the United States is a prime example of intersectionality.
• Subversion: The act of challenging or undermining dominant ideologies and cultural norms.
  • Example: In the film "The Silence of the Lambs," the character of Hannibal Lecter is a prime example of subversion, as he challenges traditional notions of masculinity and authority.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Queer theory is only about LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Correction: Queer theory is a critical framework that challenges traditional notions of identity and culture, and can be applied to a wide range of texts and contexts.
• Misunderstanding: Performativity only refers to the performance of identity.
• Correction: Performativity refers to the idea that identity is constructed and performed through social interactions and cultural norms, and can include a wide range of performances, including language, behavior, and cultural practices.
• Misunderstanding: Queer reading is only about finding hidden LGBTQ+ themes in texts.
• Correction: Queer reading is a critical approach that challenges traditional notions of identity and culture, and can involve examining the ways in which texts represent and subvert dominant ideologies, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ themes.

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the concept of performativity in the following excerpt from Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble": "Gender is a performance, a repeated act that creates the illusion of a stable identity." What is the main idea of this excerpt? Answer: Performativity, the idea that identity is constructed and performed through social interactions and cultural norms.
2. Identify the concept of camp in the following description of a literary situation: "The character of Frank-N-Furter in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' uses humor and excess to challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity." What is the main idea of this description? Answer: Camp, a cultural aesthetic that celebrates the artificial and the excessive.
3. Identify the concept of intersectionality in the following excerpt from Junot Díaz's "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao": "The experiences of Dominican immigrants in the United States are complex and multifaceted, and involve multiple forms of oppression and privilege." What is the main idea of this excerpt? Answer: Intersectionality, the idea that identity is complex and multifaceted, and that individuals experience multiple forms of oppression and privilege.

Last?Minute Revision

• Judith Butler's book "Gender Trouble" was published in 1990.
• Eve Sedgwick's book "Between Men" was published in 1985.
• The term "queer" was first used as a term of self-identification in the 1980s.
• The concept of intersectionality was first developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989.
• The film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was released in 1975.
• The novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was written by Oscar Wilde in 1890.
• The novel "The Color Purple" was written by Alice Walker in 1982.
• The film "Mulholland Drive" was directed by David Lynch in 2001.
• The novel "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" was written by Junot Díaz in 2007.
• The term "LGBTQ+" was first used in the 1990s.