Strategies for Queer Artists
Queer artists have used many creative strategies to circumvent censorship and oppression. One strategy is subversion, where they create art that appears to be mainstream but has hidden messages about sexual identity and relationships. This involves using symbolism and metaphors to convey ideas that would otherwise be censored. Another strategy is code-switching, where queer artists present themselves as straight or cisgendered in public while expressing their identities privately through their work. A third strategy is self-censorship, where they modify their work to avoid controversy or risk, often using ambiguous imagery or themes. These strategies are still relevant today as queer artists face censorship and oppression in many countries around the world.
Subversion
Subversion involves creating art that seems innocuous or uncontroversial on the surface but contains hidden messages about sex and gender.
Queer artist Félix González-Torres created installation pieces like "Untitled" (1987), which consists of two identical clocks set at different times. The piece subtly implies same-sex desire by implying a relationship between the two figures represented by the clocks. Similarly, David Hockney's painting "Domestic Scene, Los Angeles" (1963) depicts a couple embracing on a couch with one figure seemingly engaging in fellatio while another looks on. The painting was deemed too obscene for exhibition until later years when its homoerotic undertones were better understood.
Code-Switching
Code-switching involves hiding one's true sexuality or gender identity from society at large while expressing it through artistic expression. This may involve creating art under a pseudonym or presenting themselves as straight or cisgendered in public. Many queer artists have used this strategy throughout history, including Walt Whitman who wrote poetry praising male beauty and love without explicitly stating his homosexuality until late in life. Modern examples include gay rappers who use lyrics that could be interpreted as metaphors for sexuality rather than making explicit statements.
Self-Censorship
Self-censorship is a common practice among queer artists today to avoid controversy or risk. They may modify their work to avoid being labeled as provocative or offensive, often using ambiguous imagery or themes.
Some modern filmmakers create movies with characters that are ambiguously LGBTQ+ instead of overtly gay or lesbian. Others focus on universal topics like family dynamics or coming-of-age stories that can be read as relatable regardless of sexual orientation. Even pop stars like Lady Gaga have been accused of self-censorship by avoiding direct references to her bisexuality in interviews and performances.
What creative strategies have queer artists developed to circumvent censorship and oppression, and how do these strategies inform contemporary practices of resistance and cultural expression?
Queer artists have historically faced severe restrictions on their ability to express themselves freely due to discrimination, repression, and social marginalization, which often leads them to develop unique ways of subverting the dominant cultural norms that seek to silence them.