The queering of space and environment refers to the idea that spaces and environments can be understood through the lens of non-heteronormative and non-binary understandings of gender, sexuality, desire, and embodiment. It involves exploring how these concepts intersect with physical spaces and places and how they shape our experiences within them. This approach challenges dominant narratives about what constitutes "normal" or "natural" ways of being and doing, opening up new possibilities for understanding ourselves and our world.
One way that this intervention can occur is through a rethinking of the relationship between bodies and spaces. Queer theorists have long argued that traditional Western ontologies are based on binaries such as male/female, self/other, subject/object, and individual/society. These binaries perpetuate hierarchies and exclusionary practices that limit the potentialities of human existence. By queering space, we can challenge these binary understandings and create more inclusive and expansive ones.
If we view space as always already inhabited by multiple bodies, rather than just one centralized body, then we open up possibilities for seeing and experiencing it differently.
Another way that queering space and environment can serve as an intervention is by emphasizing the importance of intimacy and eroticism in our everyday lives. In many cultures, sex and sexuality are seen as taboo topics or private matters, leading to a lack of awareness and understanding of their role in shaping our relationships and interactions with others. By bringing attention to the sensuality of spaces and environments, we can begin to see them as sites of desire, pleasure, and connection. We might think about how certain spaces evoke particular feelings or desires (e.g., a beach at sunset), how they facilitate intimacy (e.g., a shared living room), or how they allow us to connect with nature (e.g., a forest trail).
The queering of space and environment offers a critical intervention into social and cultural ontology by challenging dominant narratives and opening up new possibilities for understanding ourselves and our world. It encourages us to rethink the ways in which power dynamics, hierarchies, and exclusions operate in our physical environments and to question the taken-for-granted assumptions about what constitutes "normal" or "natural" forms of being and doing. Through this approach, we can work towards creating more equitable and inclusive spaces and experiences for all people.
Can the queering of space and environment serve as a philosophical intervention into social and cultural ontology?
The concept of queer theory has been applied to various disciplines such as architecture, urban planning, and art history to explore non-binary ways of thinking about space and place. By exploring alternative modes of being, spatial practices can challenge dominant norms that shape our understanding of gender, sexuality, race, class, and ability.