As human beings, we seek resolution and closure to many aspects of life, such as relationship issues, personal traumas, and unfinished business.
Denial of closure can also be viewed as an unconventional method of transcending traditional norms, which has been explored within various disciplines including psychoanalysis, critical theory, and feminist thought. In this article, I will examine how refusal of closure is a queer form of transcendence that subverts heteronormative expectations around love and desire. To understand this idea, let's look at Freudian psychology and its concepts of repression and denial, Lacanian psychoanalysis and its concept of lack, and Butlerian gender studies and its notion of non-normativity.
Freudian psychoanalysis explains that repressed memories are often stored in the unconscious mind and can manifest through phobias, addictions, or other unhealthy behaviors. By avoiding the conscious acknowledgment of these repressed thoughts, individuals can maintain a sense of control over their emotions and actions, even though they may experience some degree of inner turmoil. This refusal to acknowledge painful experiences or desires can be seen as a type of transgression against societal norms. Similarly, Lacan argues that desire itself is driven by the lack that motivates us to pursue what we cannot have. When individuals refuse to accept complete satisfaction or fulfillment, they maintain a state of tension and longing that defies conventional notions of happiness and contentment.
Judith Butler, a queer theorist, suggests that non-normativity challenges binary distinctions between male and female and promotes fluidity and complexity in gender expression. She also emphasizes the importance of disrupting traditional power structures that reinforce oppressive hierarchies based on sexual orientation and identity. The refusal to conform to these norms can be viewed as an act of resistance and liberation, just like the refusal of closure in relationships.
Is the refusal of closure a queer form of transcendence?
The refusal of closure is a complex phenomenon that has been studied extensively in various fields such as psychology, sociology, philosophy, and literature. It refers to the process where people resist or avoid coming to a final conclusion or resolution about an event, experience, or relationship. Some researchers have suggested that this behavior may be related to a desire for immortality, while others argue that it reflects a fear of commitment or change.