How Queer Art Interrogates Social Norms Regarding Embodiment, Autonomy, and Ethical Self-Expression
How do queer artists interrogate the socially-constructed ideas about embodiment, autonomy, and ethical self-expression through their works? This question has been explored by many scholars who have analyzed queer art across different media such as literature, film, visual arts, music, dance, performance, etc. In this article, I will explain how queer artworks challenge the binary understanding of gender, body, and sexuality to explore alternative modes of expression that go beyond normative values imposed by society.
One way in which queer art challenges social norms is by redefining the concept of embodiment. Traditional conceptions of embodiment are rooted in the idea that there are only two genders - male and female - and that people must conform to these gender roles.
Queer art often subverts this notion by presenting characters who do not fit neatly into either category or even reject the very idea of gender altogether.
In the play "Angels in America" by Tony Kushner, the character Belize (who identifies as a drag queen) says, "There is no gay agenda because we are not an organized minority. We're just people." By representing nonbinary individuals like Belize, queer art challenges the idea that one can only be male or female and instead promotes a more fluid and expansive understanding of identity.
Another way in which queer art challenges social norms regarding embodiment is by breaking down traditional beauty standards. Many queer artists use their work to critique the way society valorizes certain physical traits and body types while marginalizing others.
In the novel "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by Emily Danforth, the protagonist Cameron is sent to a religious conversion therapy camp for being queer. There she meets other outcasts such as Jane Fonda and Adam Red Eagle, whose bodies deviate from societal expectations due to disabilities or health issues. The book explores how these individuals challenge the narrow definition of what constitutes a desirable body, highlighting that beauty comes in many forms.
Regarding autonomy, queer art also interrogates the socially-constructed norms around individual freedom and choice. Traditional concepts of freedom revolve around the ability to make independent decisions without external restrictions or limitations.
Queer art often questions this notion by presenting characters who embrace different modes of existence beyond conventional boundaries. In the film "Pride," the main character Mark Ashton rejects the social expectations placed on him and instead chooses to support LGBTQ+ activists during the miners' strike in the UK in the 1980s. By representing people like Mark who live outside the box, queer art demonstrates the importance of self-determination regardless of cultural or social pressures.
Queer art often addresses ethical self-expression by challenging dominant moral values regarding sexuality and intimacy. Traditionally, society has imposed strict rules about sex, relationships, and romance based on heterosexual norms and conservative ideals. Queer art, however, subverts these norms by showing alternative ways of expressing love and desire.
In the graphic novel "Fun Home" by Alison Bechdel, the protagonist Alison experiences her first same-sex crush while growing up with a closeted lesbian mother. Through its representation of nontraditional relationships and identities, Fun Home provides readers with new perspectives on sexuality and intimacy.
Queer art explores alternative modes of embodiment, autonomy, and ethical self-expression that challenge traditional societal norms. It presents characters who do not fit into neat gender boxes, breaks down beauty standards, promotes individual freedom, and interrogates sexual and relational norms. By doing so, it encourages audiences to rethink their assumptions about identity, freedom, and morality and embrace diverse forms of expression beyond conventional boundaries.
How does queer art interrogate social norms regarding embodiment, autonomy, and ethical self-expression?
In their article "Queering Embodiment: The Role of Art in Queer Politics," Diana L. Zlotnick defines queer art as an artistic practice that challenges and questions societal norms concerning bodily expression, autonomy, and identity formation.