Historical Queer Performance and Social Resistance
Historical queer performance is an important aspect of the LGBTQIA+ community's struggle for visibility and recognition. Throughout history, marginalized groups have used artistic mediums to express themselves and resist societal norms. This includes performances that feature body language, gestures, and movements that challenge traditional gender roles. One example is drag shows, where performers dress up in elaborate costumes to portray exaggerated versions of themselves and their culture. Another example is burlesque, which emphasizes sensuality and humor. Both of these forms of performance offer insight into how bodily expression can be used as a tool for social resistance.
Temporality
Temporality refers to the way time is experienced and structured. In historical queer performance, this concept is expressed through the use of music, choreography, and lighting. Performances often take place in spaces outside of everyday life, such as clubs or private residences. This creates a sense of liminality, where time feels less linear and more fluid. The act of performing can also create a sense of timelessness, where moments are frozen in time but still connected to a larger narrative. This allows performers to explore and subvert societal expectations while creating new ones.
Bodily Expression
Bodily expression is the way we communicate with our bodies. In historical queer performance, this takes many forms.
Drag queens may use exaggerated makeup and clothing to draw attention to certain parts of their bodies or hide others. Burlesque dancers may use suggestive movements to entice their audiences. Both types of performance rely on physicality to communicate messages about identity and sexuality. By using their bodies to express themselves, performers break down rigid gender norms and challenge the status quo.
Through historical queer performance, marginalized groups have been able to challenge societal norms and create new ways of being. These performances emphasize bodily expression, temporality, and social resistance. They provide insights into how marginalized individuals can use artistic mediums to assert their identities and resist oppressive systems.
What insights can historical queer performance offer regarding the relationship between bodily expression, temporality, and social resistance?
The interrelationship among temporalities of embodied performances, the enactment of identities, and social resistance has been central to the practice of LGBTQ+ performance throughout history. In contemporary times, LGBTQ+ performers have used their bodies as sites for subverting heteronormative gendered ideals by defying strict binaries that privilege male over female, active over passive, or publicly visible over private expressions of identity.