Queer temporality is a concept that explores how queer individuals experience time differently than cisgender heterosexual people. It challenges traditional linear notions of time and suggests that queer people may have more fluid experiences of past, present, and future. Queer temporality can be understood through the lens of existential philosophy, which posits that all existence is marked by an inherent sense of both beginning and end. This idea is reflected in the notion of eternity, which implies that something exists forever without beginning or end. Queer temporality also relates to recurrence, which involves the return of certain events or memories from one's past. In this way, queer temporalities are closely linked to the idea of recurring cycles and the infinite nature of the universe.
One way to understand this relationship is through the theory of queer temporality proposed by philosopher Elizabeth Grosz. She argues that queer temporality is characterized by a nonlinear, cyclical structure that is based on a rejection of the rigid chronological order of straight time. Instead, queer temporality allows for multiple temporal planes to coexist simultaneously, creating a sense of simultaneous presence.
A queer person might feel as though they are experiencing their childhood and adulthood at the same time, or as if they are living in several different moments at once. This differs from heteronormative conceptions of time, which tend to be sequential and linear.
Existentialism further complicates this relationship between queer temporality and eternity by suggesting that everything has its own unique timeline. Each thing in existence exists within its own subjective experience of time, meaning that even two people who experience the same event may perceive it differently. The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre explored this concept in his book Being and Nothingness, where he argued that all existence is marked by a feeling of both beginning and ending, an inherent existential temporality. He believed that there was no universal understanding of time, but rather each individual's own personal experience of it.
The connection between queer temporality and recurrence can be seen in the concept of cyclical time. The idea of recurrence suggests that certain events repeat themselves over and over again throughout one's life, with no clear beginning or end. In this way, queer temporality is linked to the infinite nature of the universe, which implies that things come into being and pass away repeatedly, without any real beginning or end. This understanding of time is reflected in many ancient philosophies, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, which emphasize the cycles of creation and destruction.
The relationship between queer temporality, existential notions of eternity and recurrence is complex and multifaceted. By considering these concepts together, we gain a better understanding of how queer individuals experience time and their place in the world around them.
How does queer temporality relate to existential notions of eternity and recurrence?
Queer temporality refers to a nonlinear understanding of time that is distinct from the traditional Western conception of a linear progression towards an end goal. It encompasses multiple temporalities, such as past, present, future, simultaneousness, and circularity. This differs from existentialist perspectives on eternity and recurrence which focus on the individual's experience of time as infinite and cyclical, respectively.