We will explore the question: Can anticipation in queer desire be read as a temporal resistance to the straight imperative of fulfillment? To answer this question, we need to define what is meant by "queer" and "desire", and consider how they relate to heteronormativity and temporality. We will then examine examples from literature and popular culture to see if there are any patterns or insights into this relationship between anticipation and fulfillment.
We will offer some conclusions about how these concepts might inform our understanding of queer identity and politics.
What does it mean to be "queer"?
Let's consider what is meant by the term "queer". Queerness has been defined as a "complex set of experiences that fall outside traditional categories of sexuality and gender". This can include people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or otherwise non-normative in their sexual orientation or gender expression. The word "queer" has also been used to describe those who challenge social norms around gender roles and relationships more generally. In this sense, it is an umbrella term for anyone who challenges or rejects dominant structures of power and oppression.
Queerness is often associated with the idea of fluidity, ambiguity, and multiplicity. It encompasses both identities and practices that defy easy categorization or definition. As such, it offers a way of thinking about sexuality and gender that is not limited by rigid binaries or hierarchies. Instead, it recognizes the messiness and complexity of human experience.
Desire and fulfillment
Desire, on the other hand, is usually understood as a basic human need or drive. It can refer to physical or emotional yearning, but it also includes longing, craving, and hunger. When we desire something, we are drawn towards it, feeling a lack or emptiness that needs to be filled. Desire can be expressed through thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors. It can be directed towards specific objects or people, or it can be more abstract and generalized.
Fulfillment, meanwhile, refers to the satisfaction of one's desires. This might involve achieving a goal or getting what you want. It could also involve simply enjoying oneself without any particular end goal in mind. Fulfillment implies completion or closure - when our desires are met, they no longer exist. We move on to new wants and needs.
Anticipation and resistance
So how do these ideas relate to queerness? One possible connection is between anticipation and temporality. Queer desire may resist the imperative to fulfillment because it exists in tension with traditional norms around relationships and intimacy. In heteronormativity, for example, there is often an expectation that relationships will lead to marriage, monogamy, and procreation. This "straight imperative" privileges certain forms of romance and eroticism over others.
Queer desire, by contrast, may prioritize other experiences such as friendship, community, play, or experimentation. It may resist the assumption that sexuality should always culminate in coupling or commitment. Instead, it might take pleasure in the process itself, exploring possibilities without necessarily seeking resolution or conclusion.
This does not mean that all queer desire is inherently anti-fulfillment. Some queer people may still seek out long-term partnerships or family life, for instance. But their approach to sex, love, and relationships may be different from those who follow conventional paths. They may value ambiguity, fluidity, and openness more than stability or predictability.
In this sense, anticipation can be seen as a form of temporal resistance. By delaying or even avoiding fulfillment, we challenge the idea that desire must have a specific outcome or direction. Instead, we can celebrate the multiplicity of human experience and explore new possibilities.
Examples in literature and culture
Let's look at some examples from popular media and literature. One famous scene comes from the novel "The Handmaid's Tale", where the protagonist Offred has a forbidden affair with her Commander. Despite being aware of the danger and consequences, she continues to meet him regularly because she enjoys the thrill of their secret encounters.
Another example comes from the movie "Brokeback Mountain", where the two main characters are unable to fully consummate their relationship due to societal pressures and expectations. Their longing and yearning becomes a central theme of the story, as they struggle against external forces that try to define them.
In both cases, we see how desire can exist outside of traditional heteronormative frameworks. The characters do not simply want to achieve a certain goal (e.g. marriage) but rather experience pleasure in the moment. They resist the imperative to find closure or resolution by embracing the messiness and uncertainty of human life.
Implications for queer identity and politics
These ideas about temporality and desire can inform our understanding of queerness in several ways
Can anticipation in queer desire be read as a temporal resistance to the straight imperative of fulfillment?
The concept of "temporal resistance" suggests that there may be an element of defiance involved in anticipating sexual encounters with someone from a different gender identity than one's own, particularly when it challenges dominant norms around sexuality and gender roles. This is consistent with the idea that queer individuals often challenge social expectations and norms, which can include resisting the pressure to conform to heteronormative ideals.