🌈Queer Art History Unit 6 – Queer Performance in Art and Theater

Historical Context

• Queer performance art emerged in the 1960s and 1970s alongside the gay liberation and feminist movements
• Early queer performance often took place in alternative spaces (bars, clubs, galleries) due to marginalization and discrimination
• The Stonewall Riots in 1969 marked a turning point in LGBTQ+ activism and visibility, inspiring more openly queer art and performance
• HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s and 1990s significantly impacted queer communities and shaped themes in queer performance art
  • Artists used performance to raise awareness, express grief, and challenge societal stigma surrounding the epidemic
• Increasing mainstream acceptance and representation of LGBTQ+ identities in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has influenced the evolution of queer performance art

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Queer: An umbrella term for individuals who challenge heteronormative and cisnormative identities, often used to describe LGBTQ+ people and experiences
• Performance art: An interdisciplinary art form that combines elements of theater, dance, music, and visual art, often involving the artist's body and audience interaction
• Genderfuck: The intentional subversion and blurring of gender norms and expectations through clothing, makeup, behavior, and performance
• Camp: An aesthetic style characterized by exaggeration, artifice, and humor, often associated with queer sensibilities and performance
• Drag: The practice of dressing and performing as a different gender, often involving exaggerated makeup, clothing, and mannerisms
  • Drag queens: Performers who dress and act as exaggerated feminine characters
  • Drag kings: Performers who dress and act as exaggerated masculine characters
• Ballroom culture: An underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City, featuring competitive dance events and performances that challenge gender and social norms

Pioneering Artists and Performances

• José Esteban Muñoz: A queer theorist and performance studies scholar who explored the intersection of race, sexuality, and performance in works like "Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics"
• Marsha P. Johnson: A transgender activist and performer who was a key figure in the Stonewall Riots and co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries)
• Leigh Bowery: An Australian performance artist, club promoter, and fashion designer known for his avant-garde costumes and transgressive performances in the London club scene of the 1980s and 1990s
• Vaginal Davis: A Black, intersex, and genderqueer performance artist who challenges notions of race, gender, and sexuality through subversive and often humorous performances
• Split Britches: A feminist theater company founded by Peggy Shaw, Lois Weaver, and Deb Margolin, known for their exploration of lesbian identities and experiences through performance
• Pomo Afro Homos: A Black gay male performance troupe active in the 1990s, whose work addressed issues of racism, homophobia, and the HIV/AIDS crisis

Themes and Motifs in Queer Performance

• Identity exploration and self-expression: Queer performance often serves as a means for artists to explore and assert their own identities and experiences
• Challenging societal norms: Many queer performances aim to subvert and critique dominant cultural narratives around gender, sexuality, and relationships
• Visibility and representation: Queer performance provides a platform for LGBTQ+ artists to increase their visibility and representation in the art world and society at large
• Activism and political commentary: Performance art is frequently used as a tool for queer activism, addressing issues such as discrimination, oppression, and social justice
• Humor and camp: Queer performance often employs humor, irony, and camp aesthetics to challenge norms and engage audiences
• Trauma and resilience: Many queer performances explore themes of trauma, loss, and resilience, particularly in relation to experiences of marginalization and the HIV/AIDS crisis

Techniques and Styles

• Drag performance: The use of exaggerated gender presentation and performance to challenge and subvert traditional notions of gender identity
• Lip-syncing: A common technique in drag and queer performance, involving performers mouthing the words to pre-recorded songs or dialogue
• Audience interaction and participation: Queer performance often blurs the lines between performer and audience, encouraging active engagement and participation
• Multimedia and interdisciplinary approaches: Many queer performances incorporate elements of video, music, dance, and visual art to create immersive and multi-sensory experiences
• Site-specific and guerrilla performances: Some queer artists stage performances in unconventional or public spaces to challenge traditional art contexts and engage wider audiences
• Body art and modification: Queer performers may use their bodies as canvases for artistic expression, employing techniques such as makeup, costume, and body modification

Cultural Impact and Reception

• Queer performance has played a significant role in shaping LGBTQ+ culture and identity, providing a space for self-expression and community building
• Performance art has been a key tool for queer activism and political engagement, raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and challenging societal oppression
• Queer performance has influenced mainstream art and popular culture, with elements of camp, drag, and genderfuck aesthetics increasingly visible in fashion, music, and television
• Reception of queer performance has varied, with some audiences and critics celebrating its subversive and innovative qualities, while others have dismissed it as controversial or obscene
  • Censorship and funding challenges have been common obstacles for queer performance artists, particularly during the "Culture Wars" of the 1980s and 1990s in the United States
• Increasing mainstream visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities has led to greater recognition and opportunities for queer performance artists in recent years

Contemporary Queer Performance

• Taylor Mac: A New York-based performance artist known for their ambitious, durational works that explore queer history and challenge audience expectations, such as "A 24-Decade History of Popular Music"
• Cassils: A transgender visual artist who uses their body as a medium for exploring themes of gender, violence, and power, often through physically demanding performances and body art
• Christeene: A genderqueer musician and performance artist whose provocative, sexually charged work challenges notions of propriety and gender norms
• Alok Vaid-Menon: A non-binary writer, performance artist, and activist who uses poetry, comedy, and social media to explore issues of gender, race, and identity
• Becca Blackwell: A trans actor, performer, and writer whose solo shows and collaborations explore the complexities of gender identity and personal narrative
• Queer performance collectives and festivals: Contemporary queer performance is supported by a growing network of artist collectives, festivals, and performance spaces dedicated to showcasing and nurturing queer talent

Further Exploration and Resources

• "The Queer Art of Failure" by Jack Halberstam: A book that explores how queer art and performance can challenge traditional notions of success and failure
• "Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity" by José Esteban Muñoz: A theoretical work that examines the role of queer performance in imagining and creating alternative futures
• "Queer Dramaturgies: International Perspectives on Where Performance Leads Queer" edited by Alyson Campbell and Stephen Farrier: An anthology of essays exploring the intersection of queer theory and contemporary performance practices
• "Queer" episode of the "Art Assignment" PBS Digital Studios series: A video introduction to queer art and performance, featuring interviews with contemporary queer artists
• Queer|Art: A New York-based non-profit organization that supports and mentors LGBTQ+ artists, with programs including performance workshops, residencies, and exhibitions
• "Live Art Development Agency": A UK-based organization that supports and promotes live art and performance, with a strong focus on queer and feminist practices
• "Queer Performance: Radical Enactments" course by Julio Capó Jr. on edX: A free online course that explores the history and contemporary landscape of queer performance art