In this seminar, we will look at the 1990s as a decade of pivotal changes in US American culture in terms of understanding and representing LGBTQ+ identities. The last decade of the twentieth century saw such varied developments as the success of New Queer Cinema and the birth of Queer Theory, the commercialization of Lesbian Chic and the backlash against out celebrities, AIDS activism and the establishment of homonormativity. This seminar will offer a survey of these crucial events and guide students in engaging with them critically and productively and in considering their lasting legacy and impact on our current moment.
In keeping with the queer impetus to disrupt the status quo, this seminar will focus on "non-traditional" texts such as independent movies, ephemera, and activist publications as its primary material for (historical/cultural) analysis. A second focus will be on foundational publications of queer studies that will frame our discussions. The overall goal of this seminar is to familiarize students with crucial, yet often neglected, aspects of recent US American history, raise awareness for the interdependencies of cultural, social, and academic developments, and encourage students to reflect on the contingencies of today’s socio-cultural as well as disciplinary norms.
This class will be taught in a blended format, combining asynchronous assignments with in-classroom meetings.
- Dozent/in: Elisa Herrmann
- Dozent/in: Katrin Horn