Performances can be a powerful way to create new knowledge about sex, sexuality, eroticism, intimacy, and relationships. They allow people to explore their identities, desires, and experiences in ways that are often difficult to convey through traditional methods like surveys or interviews. When these performances involve multiple participants who interact with each other in various ways, they can provide insights into how individuals relate to one another and how power dynamics shape those relationships.
A queer performance practice called Contact Improvisation involves dancers making physical contact with each other while moving together in improvised ways. This has been used to study intimate interactions among queer communities and explore issues related to consent, vulnerability, and trust.
Such practices must have ethical frameworks in place to ensure participant agency and methodological rigor.
Here are three important things to consider when designing a participatory queer performance project:
1. Participant Agency - The most crucial aspect is ensuring that all participants feel empowered to engage with the material as they see fit. This means creating a safe space where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves openly without fear of judgment or criticism. It also means providing clear guidelines for participation, including setting boundaries around what behavior is acceptable and what is not.
It may require having trained facilitators present at all times who can intervene if necessary to maintain safety.
2. Methodological Rigor - A second essential factor is using appropriate research methods to collect data. This might include recording audio/video recordings of performances and conducting follow-up interviews to discuss themes that emerge during the process. It's also essential to be transparent about the goals of the study and how findings will be analyzed and shared with participants.
It's essential to ensure that the data collected is accurate and reliable by using validated measures and statistical analyses.
3. Community Engagement - Another critical component is involving the larger community in the project. This could involve holding public events to share results or inviting community members to join the research team. It also means considering potential impacts on marginalized groups within the queer community, such as people of color or those living with disabilities. By involving the broader community, we can create knowledge that benefits us all.
Participatory queer performance practices have the potential to generate unique insights into sex, sexuality, eroticism, intimacy, and relationships.
Ethical frameworks are crucial to ensure participant agency and methodological rigor. By prioritizing these factors, we can create a safer space for exploration while producing high-quality research.