Introductory description

This module aims to introduce students to, or enhance their existing knowledge of, queer theory and praxis. Queer has emerged as a form of activism, a sexual identity, a deconstructive theory and methodological approach. This module enables us to evaluate critically the benefits and limitations of queer as a scholarly resource. In order to do this the module brings a queer analysis to key sociological concerns.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Queer history and activism

2. Queer theory, queer praxis

3. Queer methods and methodologies

4. Queering time and space

5. Embodiments, identities and performativities

6. Research and reading week

7. Queering health and dis/ability

8. Queering race and nation

9. Queering kinship

10. Queering education

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1. The history of queer as a scholarly and political approach, including its (contested) relationship to sociology.
• 2. What might be meant by queer method and how, when and why such methods might be deployed in sociological contexts.
• 3. The challenges, rewards and potential problems of queer approaches in relation to a range of sociological themes and empirical concerns.

Indicative reading list

Ahmed, S. (2006) Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others. Durham, Duke University Press.
Berlant, L and Edelman. L (2013) Sex, or the Un-bearable ‘Theory Q’ Duke University Press
Brim, M and Ghaziani, A (2016) Introduction: Queer Methods, WSQ: Women’s Studies Quarterly,
44 (3 and 4): 14-26.
Browne, K and Nash, CJ (2010) (eds) Queer Methods and Methodologies: Intersecting Queer
Theories and Social Science Research, New York: Routledge, pp 1-23.
Butler, J (1990) Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, London: Routledge.
Butler, J (1993) Bodies that Matter: on the Discursive Limits of Sex, London: Routledge.
Butler, J (1993) Critically Queer, GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 1(1): 17-32.
Davy, Z (2011) Recognizing Transsexuals: Personal, Political and Medico-legal Embodiment,
Aldershot: Ashgate.
de Lauretis, Teresa. “Queer Theory: Lesbian and Gay Sexualities. An Introduction.” differences 3.2 (1991): iii–xviii.
Dinshaw , C. Edelman, L., Ferguson, R., Freccero, C., Freeman, E., Halberstam, J. Jagose, A.,
Nealon, C.C., Nguyen, T. H (2007) Theorizing Queer Temporalities: A Roundtable Discussion , GLQ:
A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 13(2-3)177-195
Duggan, L (2002) The new homonormativity: The sexual politics of neoliberalism. In: Castronovo,
R, Nelson, DD (eds) Materializing Democracy: Toward a Revitalized Cultural Politics, Durham
NC: Duke University Press, pp. 175–194.
Eng, D. L with Halberstam, J and Muñoz, J. E. (2005) What’s Queer about Queer Studies now?
Social Text 84-85, 23(3-4): 1-17.
Eng, D (2010) The feeling of kinship queer liberalism and the racialization of intimacy, Durham:
Duke.
Ferguson, R (2004) Aberrations in Black: towards a queer of color critique, Minneapolis:
University of Minnesota Press.
Freeman, E. (2010) Time Binds: Queer Temporalities, Queer Histories. Durham: Duke
University Press, 2010
Giffney, N. (2009) Introduction: the ‘q’ word, in N. Giffney and M. O’Rourke (eds), The Ashgate
Research Companion to Queer Theory, Farnham: Ashgate, pp.1-13.
Halberstam, J (1998) Female Masculinity, Durham: Duke University Press.
Halberstam, J (2005) In a Queer Time and Place: Transgender Bodies, Subcultural Lives, London:
New York University Press.
Halberstam, J. (2011) The queer art of failure, Durham: Duke University Press.
Halberstam, J. (2012) Gaga Feminism: Sex, Gender, and the End of Normal. Beacon Press.
Jagose, A (1997) Queer Theory: an Introduction, London, Routledge.
Jagose, A (2012) Orgasmology. Duke University Press.
Jagose, A (2015) The Trouble with Antinormativity, differences, 26(1): 26-47.
Lambert, C (2017) Queering Identity: being and becoming queer in the art work of Cassils, in N
Monk, M Lindgren, S McDonald, and S Pasfield-Neofitou (eds) Reconstructing Identity: a
transdisciplinary approach, London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp 131-156.
Lambert, C (2018) The Live Art of Sociology, Abingdon: Routledge.
Love, H (2006) Queer Messes, WSQ: Women’s Studies Quarterly, 44 (3/4): 345-349.
Love, H (2007) Feeling backward: loss and the politics of queer history, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press.
Love, H (2015) Doing Being Deviant: Deviance Studies, Description, and the Queer Ordinary, differences 26(1): 74-95.
Mizielińska, J, Gabb, J, Stasińska, A. (2017) Editorial introduction to Special Issue: Queer Kinship and Relationships, Sexualities, 0(0):1-8.
Muñoz, J. E. 1999. Disidentifications: Queers of color and the performance of politics. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Muñoz, J. E. (2010) Cruising utopia: The then and there of queer futurity. NYU Press.
Nelson, M (2015) The Argonauts, London: Melville House
Puar, J. (2007) Terrorist assemblages: Homonationalism in queer times. Durham, NC: Duke
University Press.
Rao, R (2011) 'Queer in the Time of Terror.' In: Narrain, Arvind and Gupta, Alok, (eds.), Law
Like Love: Queer Perspectives on Law. New Delhi: Yoda Press, pp. 43-66.
Roseneil, S. (2000) ‘Queer Frameworks and Queer Tendencies: Towards an Understanding of
Postmodern Transformations of Sexuality’, Sociological Research Online 5(3):
www.socresonline.org.uk/5/3/roseneil.html
Spurlin, W (2001) “Broadening Postcolonial Studies/Decolonizing Queer Studies”, in: John
Carter Howley (ed.) Postcolonial, Queer: Theoretical Intersections (Albany: State University of New
York Press) 185-206.
Valocchi, S (2005) Not Yet Queer Enough: the lessons of Queer Theory for the Sociology of Gender
and Sexuality, Gender and Society 19(6):750-770.
Wiegman R and Wilson E (2015) Queer Theory without Antinormativity. Durham, NC: Duke
University Press.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice
a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship
originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline
conceptual understanding that enables the student:

• • to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in
    the discipline
• • to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.
    Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:
    deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
    demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level
    continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level.

Transferable skills

• • the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility
• • decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations
• • the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development