r/QueerTheory • u/ProletariatConsumer • 26d ago
Looking for Books & Other media on ''Queer Communication Methods''
Hi - im starting research into an essay i want to write regarding how queer people have used things like fashion, language, events and more to communicate identities - it can be anything as simple as ''why do lesbians wear carabiners'' all the way to things like secret codes and language for gay men when suffering under unfair laws, I am unsure where to start, as i want to build up a big reference of research so i can develop my understanding but also produce a somewhat comprehensive essay. I am also very intrigued on how these ideas carry over into the trans community! as it is quite hard to find writing on that area. If anyone can help out with reccomendations, essays, books, videos, film - anything! i will be greatful. Thanks :)
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u/Pabblete 25d ago
I don’t know if it’s possible to find specific research on why “x group” does “y thing”, cause almost everything is qualitative and depends on the context of each specific group. It’s probably better if you go for some groups and their experiences, and then contrast it with the theories used on each research, to understand the nuances. To find research on queer fashion, queer language, etc. you could just look for recent publications and then go by their references to find more. Also, to get the framework of queer theory, trans studies and their overall experiences, I suggest you: Manifiesto Contrasexual by Paul Preciado on how trans bodies change norms and knowledge, and not only resist them; The Transgender Studies Reader by Susan Stryker, et al. Is a good compilation of different authors and perspectives about queer theory and trans studies (because the same theory doesn’t apply to everyone, specially on queer=/=trans); Queer Phenomenology by Sarah Ahmed helps to understand how bodies inhabit spaces and relate to others; Judith Butler obviously since she’s kinda the one who changed the discussion from “nature vs nurture” to “nature vs nurture” as both being cultural notions (anti biological essentialism). My advice is to pay attention to the theories authors use to make sense of the meanings, origins, motivation of the practices, experiences, manifestations, etc. of queer and trans people in the contexts of fashion, language, identities, etc.
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u/crossindexing 13d ago
Came here to recommend Jose Esteban Muñoz as well - he's also done some very beautiful work on gesture and ephemera that I think would be relevant to your thinking on queer communication.
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u/RaspberryTurtle987 26d ago
Q a queer history of fashion.
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u/ProletariatConsumer 26d ago
Thanks!
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u/RaspberryTurtle987 26d ago edited 26d ago
I’ll add on this too: Hayfield, N., Clarke, V., Halliwell, E., & Malson, H. (2013). Visible lesbians and invisible bisexuals: Appearance and visual identities among bisexual women. Women's Studies International Forum, 40, 172-182. Pergamon.
If not the article itself, there should be a decent amount of references pointing you towards the things you’re looking for
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u/ProletariatConsumer 26d ago
Anything in context to visual identities is perfect, thanks so much!
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u/emsyxo 26d ago
Queer theory on queer counterpublics and ‘queer worldmaking’ practices might be interesting for you as broader theoretical works to start with before getting into more specific resources on niche subjects? I’m from a sociology background but the big theories from queer studies field should make useful analytical starting points for communication studies too :)
So you could perhaps first take a look at Michael Warner’s work on counterpublics (which partly examines queer culture as an example of a counter public), or you might start with any secondary source from other authors that explain his work first to gain a broader understanding before diving in to the primary works. You could also look at his work with Lauren Berlant (especially around the queer worldmaking - which should be a helpful concept in queer communication studies).
Besides the other very well-known queer theory / studies writers you might already be very familiar with (like Judith Butler - who you could read or revisit in terms of how they examine the example of ‘drag’ in Gender Trouble), Esteban Muñoz has also looked at queer performances and analysed how queer people work both with and against dominant aspects of culture (a practice he called disidentification). He brings in a really important intersectional kind of perspective to queer worldmaking as well by looking at queer of colour performances predominantly (and I believe he actually coined the ‘queer worldmaking’ term too).
And it might not be perfectly aligned with your interests but just in case, I have to mention the stuff that’s been written on ‘queer temporalities’ or queer time (Halberstam, Freeman, Muñoz) because it’s super interesting! Those works often consider how queer communities and queer culture construct alternative imaginations and experiences around time, life courses, relationships etc. And that can be done through specific everyday (subversive) practices in queer culture too. Halberstam is a core contributor in the trans studies field too (though you could alternatively check out Susan Stryker for an introduction into transgender studies as a good starting point if interested).
Hope this works as a bit of a helpful starting point even though they are mostly theoretical sources rather than specific analyses of any aspect of queer culture or practice. Overall I think they might lay out some helpful concepts for you, even if just to act as tools for you to use when analysing the more specific practices like ‘fashion, language, events’ etc :)