Queer Anthropology

1 Course Unit

This graduate seminar offers a chronological exploration of queer anthropology. We trace the trajectory of this subfield: how has research on non-normative forms of gender and sexuality enriched the discipline of anthropology? And how have anthropological theory and methods contributed to lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/intersex (LGBTQI) studies? Our seminar examines feminist and queer ethnography as genres of writing and as modalities of praxis. We traverse a wide geographic scope in our readings, including North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. This cross-cultural lens elucidates how queer epistemologies, ontologies, and subjectivities intersect with legacies of colonialism, imperialism, indigeneity, nationalism, transnationalism, race, religion, class, disability, medicine, technology, social movements, activism, family, and affect (including pleasure and joy). Students will gain a deep understanding of anthropological concepts—and their convergences with queer theory—including notions of sexuality, gender, embodiment, agency, performativity, identity, physical and structural violence, narrative, representation, and social change. As we consider the past, present, and future of queer anthropology we will also discern a foundational question of what constitutes queer ethnography. 1 Course Unit