12.2 Debates on queer futurity and anti-social thesis
3 min read•august 7, 2024
challenges traditional ideas about the future, imagining a world beyond . It explores alternative possibilities for queer lives, relationships, and communities, emphasizing the transformative potential of queerness to create new forms of intimacy and social organization.
The in queer theory argues that queerness is fundamentally at odds with the social order. It embraces queer negativity and rejects the imperative to be positive or future-oriented, challenging the politics of respectability and the desire for social acceptance.
Queer Futurity and Utopian Queerness
Imagining Queer Futures
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LGBTI activists face growing opposition across Eastern Europe - The Loop View original
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DARK BEHAVIOUR - Queer Futures | Photo: Tim Courtney | TheArches | Flickr View original
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- Queer futurity concept that envisions a future beyond heteronormativity and binary gender norms
- Challenges the dominant narrative of linear progress and reproductive futurism (idea that the future is dependent on heterosexual reproduction)
- Imagines alternative possibilities for queer lives, relationships, and communities not bound by traditional notions of family, marriage, or reproduction
- Emphasizes the transformative potential of queerness to create new forms of intimacy, kinship, and social organization
Utopian Potentials of Queerness
- Utopian queerness explores the radical possibilities of queerness to transform society and create more just, equitable, and liberating futures
- Recognizes the utopian impulses within queer culture, activism, and artistic expression (drag performances, pride parades, queer art and literature)
- Envisions a world where queer identities, desires, and practices are celebrated and affirmed rather than marginalized or oppressed
- Imagines utopian spaces and communities that foster queer belonging, creativity, and resistance (queer communes, intentional communities, activist collectives)
Queer Temporalities and Non-Linear Time
- challenges the linear, chronological understanding of time and progress that is central to heteronormative society
- Recognizes the ways in which queer lives and experiences often do not conform to normative life trajectories or milestones (marriage, reproduction, career advancement)
- Explores alternative temporalities that are non-linear, cyclical, or asynchronous, allowing for multiple possibilities and paths
- Emphasizes the importance of queer history, memory, and intergenerational connections in shaping queer futures (oral histories, archival projects, mentorship)
- Imagines queer futures that are not predetermined or teleological but open-ended and constantly evolving
Anti-Social Thesis and Queer Negativity
The Anti-Social Turn in Queer Theory
- The anti-social thesis, developed by theorists like and , challenges the assimilationist tendencies of mainstream LGBT politics
- Argues that queerness is fundamentally at odds with the social order and cannot be fully integrated or normalized within heteronormative society
- Emphasizes the radical potential of queer negativity, refusal, and rejection of social norms and institutions (marriage, family, citizenship)
- Critiques the politics of respectability and the desire for social acceptance that can lead to the domestication or depoliticization of queer identities and practices
Queer Negativity and the Rejection of Futurity
- Queer negativity embraces the negative, antisocial, and even self-destructive aspects of queer experience as a form of resistance to heteronormativity
- Rejects the imperative to be positive, productive, or future-oriented, and instead affirms the value of queer failure, loss, and negativity
- Challenges the idea of reproductive futurism, which posits that the future belongs to the child and is secured through heterosexual reproduction
- Imagines alternative forms of queer existence that are not oriented towards the future or invested in social reproduction (chosen families, non-monogamy, BDSM)
The Politics of "No Future"
- The concept of "no future," articulated by Lee Edelman, suggests that queerness represents a radical negation of the social order and its investment in the figure of the child
- Argues that queerness has no stake in the future as it is currently imagined and must resist the politics of hope, progress, and redemption
- Embraces the death drive and the jouissance of queer sexuality as a form of resistance to the life-affirming logic of reproductive futurism
- Imagines a queer politics that is not oriented towards the future but towards the present moment and the possibilities of queer pleasure, desire, and transgression
- Recognizes the ways in which the politics of "no future" can be a response to the precarity and vulnerability of queer lives in the face of violence, discrimination, and marginalization (HIV/AIDS crisis, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, hate crimes)
Key Terms to Review (20)
Anti-social thesis: The anti-social thesis posits that LGBTQ+ identities and communities should embrace a rejection of heteronormative societal expectations, arguing that queer individuals can find liberation through disconnection from traditional social structures. This theory often critiques the assimilationist approach that aims for acceptance within mainstream society, advocating instead for a radical reimagining of what queer life can be beyond normative relationships and social conventions. It invites deeper discussions about queer futurity and the possibilities for new forms of existence outside of dominant societal norms.
Biopolitics: Biopolitics refers to the governance of populations through an intersection of politics, power, and the regulation of life. It explores how institutions and societal norms shape the experiences of individuals, particularly concerning issues like health, sexuality, and reproduction. This term connects to various theories and practices that question how identity and existence are regulated by cultural and political frameworks.
Chosen Family: Chosen family refers to a group of individuals who create deep emotional bonds and support systems, often transcending biological or legal ties. This concept is especially significant in queer communities, where individuals may face rejection from their biological families due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, leading them to form alternative family structures based on love, acceptance, and mutual support.
Critical queer theory: Critical queer theory is an analytical framework that critiques normative understandings of gender and sexuality, emphasizing the socially constructed nature of these identities. It seeks to challenge and deconstruct the systems of power that dictate societal norms, while also exploring the intersections of sexuality with other identities such as race, class, and ability. This approach often debates concepts like queer futurity and the anti-social thesis, questioning how these ideas shape our understanding of LGBTQ+ lives and futures.
Critique of assimilation: The critique of assimilation is a critical perspective that questions the expectation for marginalized groups, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, to conform to mainstream societal norms and values. This critique argues that assimilation often leads to the erasure of diverse identities and experiences, prioritizing acceptance into the dominant culture over authentic expression and community building. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing difference rather than seeking uniformity.
Delayed Futures: Delayed futures refers to the notion of potential outcomes and possibilities that are postponed or hindered, particularly in the context of queer lives and experiences. This concept highlights how societal norms, expectations, and political structures can limit the ability of marginalized communities to envision or achieve their desired futures, often resulting in a sense of temporal dislocation and a questioning of traditional narratives of progress.
Dynamics of queerness: The dynamics of queerness refers to the complex interactions and relationships that shape queer identities, experiences, and communities. It encompasses the fluidity of sexual and gender identities, the social and political contexts influencing queer lives, and the ways in which queerness challenges normative structures. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for analyzing debates around queer futurity and the anti-social thesis, as they highlight how queer existence can resist traditional narratives of progress and belonging.
Heteronormativity: Heteronormativity is the cultural, social, and institutional belief that heterosexuality is the default or 'normal' sexual orientation, leading to the marginalization of non-heterosexual identities and relationships. This framework influences societal norms, expectations, and power dynamics, affecting everything from personal relationships to broader societal structures.
Homonormativity: Homonormativity refers to a form of gay identity that aligns with mainstream cultural norms, advocating for a lifestyle that resembles heteronormative values such as marriage, family, and consumerism. This concept highlights how certain expressions of queerness can become normalized, sidelining more radical or diverse forms of queer identities and experiences.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality is a framework that examines how various social identities—such as race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability—intersect and create overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage. This concept highlights that individuals experience oppression in varying degrees based on their unique combinations of identities, which is crucial for understanding the complexities within social justice and advocacy work.
Jack Halberstam: Jack Halberstam is a prominent queer theorist and cultural critic known for their work on gender, sexuality, and visual culture. Their theories challenge traditional understandings of identity, particularly in relation to issues of homonormativity, radical queer politics, and the future of queer studies.
José Esteban Muñoz: José Esteban Muñoz was a prominent queer theorist known for his influential ideas on the intersections of race, sexuality, and performance. His work critiques normative frameworks of identity and emphasizes the importance of envisioning a queer future that challenges conventional societal structures.
Lee Edelman: Lee Edelman is a prominent queer theorist known for his critique of the concept of futurism in queer politics, particularly through his notion of the 'anti-social thesis.' He argues that the focus on LGBTQ+ rights and assimilation into heteronormative society overlooks the radical potential of queer identities, which often challenge conventional narratives about the future and progress. Edelman's work connects deeply with discussions around social acceptance, political inclusion, and the longing for a 'queer utopia' that resists traditional societal frameworks.
Leo Bersani: Leo Bersani is a prominent American literary theorist and critic, known for his influential work in queer theory and sexuality studies. His ideas challenge conventional notions of identity and desire, promoting the idea that sexual relationships can transcend individual identity through shared experiences of pleasure and connection. Bersani's thought is pivotal in debates about queer futurity and the anti-social thesis, questioning the limitations of identity politics and advocating for a broader understanding of social relationships.
Neoliberalism: Neoliberalism is an economic and political ideology that emphasizes free markets, privatization, and limited government intervention in the economy. It seeks to promote individual entrepreneurship and competition, often prioritizing economic growth over social welfare. This concept intersects with discussions around assimilationist and radical queer politics, as neoliberalism can influence how queer identities are integrated or marginalized within broader societal frameworks.
Non-linear time: Non-linear time is a concept that challenges traditional, chronological understandings of time, suggesting that time can be experienced in a more fluid and non-sequential manner. This idea connects to notions of memory, trauma, and alternate histories, allowing for a queer perspective that reimagines futures and identities beyond linear narratives.
Queer futurity: Queer futurity refers to the idea of envisioning and creating alternative futures that challenge heteronormative and oppressive social structures. It involves imagining possibilities beyond the current limitations imposed by mainstream culture, focusing on inclusion, diversity, and transformative change for LGBTQ+ communities. This concept encourages a critique of normative institutions and practices while highlighting the potential for radical new ways of living and being in the world.
Queer kinship: Queer kinship refers to the non-traditional forms of relationships and familial connections that arise within LGBTQ+ communities, challenging the norms of heterosexual and nuclear family structures. This concept emphasizes the diverse ways people create familial bonds beyond biological ties, embracing chosen families, friendships, and other supportive networks that offer emotional and social connections.
Queer Temporality: Queer temporality refers to the ways in which queer identities and experiences disrupt or challenge conventional understandings of time, linear progression, and social norms. This concept emphasizes how queer lives may not fit into traditional timelines of development, marriage, or parenthood, creating alternative narratives that reflect diverse realities.
Queer utopia: Queer utopia refers to an imagined or theoretical space where LGBTQ+ individuals can experience freedom, equality, and acceptance, free from heteronormative constraints and societal oppression. This concept emphasizes the potential for creating alternative futures that challenge traditional norms of gender and sexuality, promoting a vision of community, love, and flourishing for all identities beyond the limitations of the present.