🌈Queer Art History Unit 7 – Intersectionality in queer art

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Intersectionality recognizes the interconnected nature of social categorizations (race, class, gender, sexuality) as they apply to a given individual or group
• Queer art challenges traditional notions of gender, sexuality, and identity through diverse forms of artistic expression
• Marginalization occurs when individuals or groups are pushed to the periphery of society due to their identity, often facing discrimination and limited access to resources
  • Can be based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, ability, and religion
• Identity politics emphasizes the unique experiences and struggles of marginalized groups, advocating for their rights and representation
• Heteronormativity assumes heterosexuality as the default sexual orientation, perpetuating a binary view of gender and marginalizing queer identities
• Subversive art challenges dominant social, political, and cultural norms, often through provocative or unconventional means
• Queer theory examines and deconstructs traditional notions of gender, sexuality, and identity, emphasizing fluidity and non-binary perspectives

Historical Context

• Stonewall Riots (1969) marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, sparking the modern gay liberation movement
• AIDS crisis (1980s) disproportionately affected the queer community, leading to increased activism and artistic responses
  • Artists like Keith Haring and David Wojnarowicz used their work to raise awareness and critique societal stigma
• Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s) laid the groundwork for intersectional approaches to social justice
  • Highlighted the interconnected struggles of marginalized communities
• Feminist art movement (1960s-1970s) challenged patriarchal norms and advocated for women's rights, influencing the development of queer art
• Postmodernism (late 20th century) questioned grand narratives and embraced plurality, providing a framework for exploring intersectional identities in art
• Globalization and the rise of the internet (1990s-present) have facilitated the spread of queer art and activism worldwide, fostering global solidarity and cultural exchange

Intersectionality in Queer Art: Theory and Practice

• Intersectionality in queer art explores the complex interplay of identities and how they shape the experiences and expressions of queer individuals
  • Artists often draw from personal experiences, incorporating elements of their racial, cultural, and class backgrounds
• Queer artists of color challenge the dominance of white, cisgender perspectives in both the art world and LGBTQ+ communities
  • Works by artists like Mickalene Thomas and Zanele Muholi center the experiences of queer people of color
• Feminist and queer art intersect to critique patriarchal and heteronormative structures, advocating for gender equality and sexual liberation
• Disability and queer identity intersect in works that challenge ableist norms and celebrate the diversity of bodies and desires
  • Artists like Riva Lehrer and Chella Man explore the intersection of queerness and disability in their work
• Socioeconomic class shapes access to resources, representation, and opportunities within queer art communities
  • Working-class and low-income queer artists often face additional barriers and marginalization
• Transnational and diasporic queer art highlights the experiences of queer individuals across borders and cultures, challenging Western-centric narratives
• Intersectional queer art fosters solidarity and coalition-building among marginalized communities, recognizing their shared struggles and advocating for collective liberation

Notable Artists and Their Works

• Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) explored gender, sexuality, and identity in her surrealist self-portraits, often challenging traditional notions of femininity
  • "Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair" (1940) depicts Kahlo in masculine attire, subverting gender norms
• Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989) celebrated the male body and homoerotic desire in his controversial photographs, sparking debates about censorship and artistic freedom
  • "Man in Polyester Suit" (1980) features a close-up of a Black man's genitals, challenging racial and sexual taboos
• Nan Goldin (b. 1953) documented the lives of queer and marginalized communities in her intimate, snapshot-like photographs
  • "The Ballad of Sexual Dependency" (1985) is a slideshow exploring love, sexuality, and the impact of AIDS on her circle of friends
• Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-1996) created minimalist installations that evoke themes of love, loss, and identity in the context of the AIDS crisis
  • "Untitled" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) (1991) is a pile of candy weighing the same as his partner Ross, inviting viewers to take a piece and participate in the work's decay
• Catherine Opie (b. 1961) photographs queer subcultures and marginalized communities, challenging stereotypes and celebrating diversity
  • "Being and Having" (1991) is a series of portraits depicting her friends in the Los Angeles lesbian community, subverting traditional gender roles
• Zanele Muholi (b. 1972) documents the lives of Black LGBTQ+ individuals in South Africa, combating discrimination and violence through their powerful portraits
  • "Faces and Phases" (2006-present) is an ongoing series of black-and-white portraits celebrating the diversity and resilience of the Black queer community
• Tourmaline (b. 1983) is a transgender artist and activist who creates films, installations, and performances that center the experiences of queer and trans people of color
  • "Happy Birthday, Marsha!" (2018) is a short film honoring Marsha P. Johnson and her role in the Stonewall Riots, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of trans women of color in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights

Themes and Symbols

• Pride flags and rainbow colors are widely used symbols of LGBTQ+ identity, representing diversity, solidarity, and resistance
  • Different pride flags represent specific identities within the queer community (transgender, bisexual, pansexual, etc.)
• Pink triangle, originally used to identify homosexual men in Nazi concentration camps, has been reclaimed as a symbol of queer resistance and liberation
• Gender-bending and androgyny challenge binary notions of gender, often through clothing, makeup, and performance
  • Drag queens and kings subvert traditional gender roles and expressions through exaggerated, theatrical performances
• Body politics and the reclamation of queer bodies as sites of desire, pleasure, and resistance
  • Celebrating diverse body types, abilities, and expressions that defy societal norms and expectations
• Chosen families and queer kinship networks, highlighting the importance of community and support systems for marginalized individuals
• HIV/AIDS activism and memorial practices, honoring those lost to the epidemic and advocating for better treatment and prevention
• Intersectional symbols and imagery that combine elements of queer identity with other marginalized identities (e.g., Black power fist with rainbow colors)

Media and Techniques

• Photography has been a powerful tool for documenting queer lives and communities, from intimate portraits to public demonstrations
  • Photographers like Robert Mapplethorpe, Nan Goldin, and Catherine Opie have used the medium to challenge societal norms and celebrate queer identity
• Performance art and drag allow for the subversion of gender norms and the exploration of queer identity through embodied, often provocative actions
  • Artists like Leigh Bowery and Vaginal Davis have pushed the boundaries of gender and sexuality through their transgressive performances
• Film and video art provide a platform for queer storytelling and representation, often centering the experiences of marginalized communities
  • Filmmakers like Marlon Riggs, Cheryl Dunye, and Jennie Livingston have used the medium to explore intersectional queer identities and challenge dominant narratives
• Installation art creates immersive environments that engage viewers in the exploration of queer themes and experiences
  • Felix Gonzalez-Torres' participatory installations invite viewers to reflect on love, loss, and the impact of the AIDS crisis
• Collage and mixed media allow for the juxtaposition and recombination of images and symbols, creating new meanings and associations
  • Artists like Mickalene Thomas and Deborah Roberts use collage to explore the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality in their work
• Textiles and fiber arts, often associated with femininity and domesticity, are reclaimed by queer artists as a means of subverting gender norms and expressing identity
  • The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a powerful example of how textile art can be used to honor the lives of those lost to the epidemic and raise awareness about the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS
• Digital art and new media provide new avenues for queer expression and activism, from online communities to virtual exhibitions
  • Artists like Shu Lea Cheang and Zach Blas use digital technologies to explore queer identity, surveillance, and resistance in the age of the internet

Critical Analysis and Interpretation

• Queer art history examines the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists and the representation of queer subjects throughout art history, often challenging traditional narratives and interpretations
  • Scholars like Jonathan Katz and Richard Meyer have pioneered the field, uncovering the hidden histories of queer artists and artworks
• Feminist art criticism provides a framework for analyzing the intersection of gender and sexuality in art, emphasizing the personal and political dimensions of queer art
  • Theorists like Judith Butler and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick have explored the performative nature of gender and the subversive potential of queer desire
• Postcolonial and decolonial perspectives critique the Western-centric, white-dominated narratives of queer art history, centering the experiences of queer artists from the Global South and diaspora
  • Scholars like Gayatri Gopinath and José Esteban Muñoz have examined the intersection of queerness, race, and nationalism in transnational contexts
• Crip theory examines the intersection of queerness and disability, challenging ableist norms and celebrating the diversity of bodies and desires
  • Theorists like Robert McRuer and Alison Kafer have explored how compulsory able-bodiedness and heterosexuality intersect to marginalize queer and disabled individuals
• Affect theory explores the emotional and sensorial dimensions of queer art, emphasizing the role of desire, pleasure, and embodiment in the creation and reception of artworks
  • Scholars like Jennifer Doyle and Amber Jamilla Musser have examined how queer art can generate affective responses that challenge dominant norms and create new forms of intimacy and connection
• Queer of color critique examines the intersection of race, sexuality, and power in art and visual culture, challenging the whiteness and Eurocentrism of mainstream queer art discourse
  • Theorists like Roderick Ferguson and Marlon Bailey have explored how queer artists of color negotiate multiple marginalized identities and create spaces of resistance and self-determination
• Transfeminist perspectives center the experiences and contributions of trans and non-binary artists, challenging cisnormative assumptions in queer art history
  • Scholars like Che Gossett and Jian Neo Chen have examined how trans and non-binary artists subvert binary notions of gender and sexuality, creating new forms of queer and trans aesthetics

Impact and Legacy

• Queer art has played a crucial role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, from the Stonewall Riots to the ongoing struggle for equality and justice
  • Artists have used their work to raise awareness, challenge discrimination, and advocate for social and political change
• Queer art has expanded the boundaries of artistic expression, challenging traditional notions of beauty, desire, and identity
  • By centering the experiences of marginalized communities, queer artists have created new forms of representation and aesthetics that celebrate diversity and difference
• Queer art has fostered a sense of community and solidarity among LGBTQ+ individuals, providing spaces for shared experiences, support, and resistance
  • From underground clubs to online platforms, queer art has created networks of kinship and belonging that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries
• Queer art has influenced mainstream culture, from fashion to music to visual arts, challenging binary notions of gender and sexuality
  • Artists like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Mickalene Thomas have achieved widespread recognition and success, paving the way for greater visibility and acceptance of queer artists
• Queer art has intersected with other social justice movements, from civil rights to feminism to disability rights, recognizing the interconnected nature of oppression and the need for collective liberation
  • Artists have used their work to build coalitions and solidarity across marginalized communities, advocating for intersectional approaches to social change
• Queer art has challenged the art world's exclusionary practices and power structures, advocating for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Initiatives like the Queer|Art|Mentorship program and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art have provided support and resources for emerging queer artists, fostering a new generation of creative voices
• Queer art continues to evolve and adapt to new challenges and opportunities, from the impact of social media to the ongoing fight for trans rights and visibility
  • As queer communities continue to face marginalization and violence, artists remain at the forefront of the struggle for liberation, using their work to imagine new futures and possibilities for queer life and expression