Historical reconstruction is an important part of queer studies. Historians who study queer culture often rely on written accounts to understand how people lived their lives, but these accounts are rarely comprehensive. Marginalized or erased narratives must be pieced together from scattered sources and contextualized within broader social and cultural frameworks. This can be difficult because there is no one way to approach queer history. Some scholars argue that historical reconstruction requires a methodological approach based on textual analysis, while others believe that oral histories should be used instead. Still others suggest using visual media such as film and television.
Textual Analysis Methodology
Textual analysis is a methodological approach that relies on close reading of texts to understand their meaning and significance. It involves looking for patterns, themes, and motifs across multiple sources.
When studying queer literature from the 19th century, scholars might analyze texts by Oscar Wilde, Radclyffe Hall, and Sarah Waters to see how they depict homosexuality differently. They would also look at other texts such as paintings, photographs, and advertisements to understand how society viewed homosexuality during that period. By analyzing these different sources in relation to each other, scholars can construct a more complete picture of life during this time period.
Textual analysis can be limited because it does not take into account the wider historical context. Scholars may miss important information about how sexuality was perceived outside of literary works.
Textual analysis can be biased towards certain perspectives.
If all available sources come from white men who were well-educated, then we may not get an accurate representation of marginalized groups like women and people of color.
Oral History Methodology
Oral history is another methodological approach that relies on interviews with people who lived through a particular era. This allows scholars to hear firsthand accounts of what life was like and how attitudes toward sexuality changed over time.
Oral histories are often unreliable because memory can be faulty and people tend to embellish stories for dramatic effect. In addition, oral histories only represent one perspective and do not necessarily reflect reality.
Visual Media Methodology
Visual media such as film and television can provide insights into queer culture that textual analysis cannot. These mediums offer a unique opportunity to explore themes of sexuality and identity through visual imagery rather than words alone.
In the 1980s AIDS crisis, there was a surge of films about gay men living in New York City that captured the fear and isolation they felt. By studying these films, scholars can gain insights into how homosexuals experienced their sexuality during this difficult period.
Using visual media as part of a historical reconstruction can be challenging. Movies and TV shows are often fictionalized versions of real events, so it can be hard to distinguish between fact and fiction.
They may not accurately portray queer experiences outside of urban areas or among other groups.
Visual media tends to focus on white cisgendered men and ignore marginalized voices.
No single methodological approach works best when trying to reconstruct marginalized or erased queer narratives in literature. Textual analysis is valuable but limited by its narrow scope and potential biases. Oral history has limitations due to memory lapses and lack of accuracy. And visual media offers unique insights but can also be problematic if used incorrectly.
Historians must use all available sources to create a comprehensive picture of life for marginalized queers throughout history.
What methodological approaches best facilitate the historical reconstruction of marginalized or erased queer narratives in literature?
One approach to reconstructing marginalized or erased queer narratives in literature is through intertextuality. Intertextuality allows writers to analyze texts that may not explicitly mention sexuality but nevertheless contain coded messages about it (e. g. , through symbolism, metaphor, allusion).