Queer Visual Activism

This class is a space for thinking through some of the relationships between queer studies, visual culture, and activism. The topics covered are divided into two parts. Part 1 focuses on images (photography and print media) and Part 2 on moving imagery (documentary, narrative film, video art, online media). This class is not a comprehensive overview of these fields nor this particular collusion. Rather, we will focus on some key themes (affect, body, space) that have fueled the work of queer creators. To put our readings and discussions into practice, the main assignments for the class include a close reading of a photograph, film analysis, re-photography/video activist project, and a final activist project or essay that has the option of building on previous assignments. The final for this class can be done individually or as a small group project.