Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written as a response to Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. Which we get after each unit. In this blog, i am going to discuss about Queer Criticism with examples of several advertisements and movies, serials. Before that it is important to understand that what is Queer criticism.
Queer Criticism
Definition
According to Oxford learner's dictionary Queer means describing or relating to a sexual identity or gender identity that is different from traditional ideas about sex and gender, for example if somebody is non-binary, bisexual or transgender.
According to Jay Stewart, "Queer theory and politics necessarily celebrate transgression in the form of visible difference from norms. These 'Norms' are then exposed to be norms, not natures or inevitabilities. Gender and sexual identities are seen, in much of this work, to be demonstrably defiant definitions and configurations."
Queer theory is the lens used to explore and challenge how scholars, activists, artistic texts, and the media perpetrate gender- and sex-based binaries, and its goal is to undo hierarchies and fight against social inequalities.
About Queer theory
The term Queer theory first used in 1990s by Gloria Anzaldúa and other scholars. The term was influenced by the work of French post-structuralist philosopher Michel Foucault. It is a part of critical studies. The term Queer studies or queer theory has various meanings, it is changing according to it's usage. But this term mainly concerned with gender, sexual practices and heterosexuality. This theory trying to make convince the world that heterosexuality is a normal.
Queer theory emphasises the fluid and humanly performed nature of sexuality – or better, sexualities. It questions socially established norms and dualistic categories with a special focus on challenging sexual (heterosexual/homosexual), gender (male/female), class (rich/poor), racial (white/non-white) classifications.As the word ‘queer’ was used to describe homosexuals in the nineteenth century, queer theory traces its lineage from the study of sexuality in its private and public forms.
Here is some points that what is the role of lesbian/gay critics.
1- Expose the 'homophobia' of mainstream literature and criticism, as seen in ignoring or denigrating the homosexual aspects of the work of major canonical figures, for example, by omitting overtly homosexual love lyrics from selections or discussions of the poetry of W. H. Auden (Mark Lilly).
2- Identify and establish a canon of 'classic' lesbian/gay writers whose work constitutes a distinct tradition. These are, in the main, twentieth-century writers, such as (for lesbian writers in Britain) Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville-West, Dorothy Richardson, Rosamund Lehmann, and Radclyffe Hall.
3- Foreground literary genres, previously neglected, which significantly influenced ideals of masculinity or femininity, such as the nineteenth-century adventure stories with a British 'Empire' setting (for example those by Rudyard Kipling and Rider Haggard) discussed by Joseph Bristow in Empire Boys (Routledge, 1991).
4- Foreground homosexual aspects of mainstream literature which have previously been glossed over, for example the strongly homo-erotic tenderness seen in a good deal of First World War poetry.
Examples
1- Transgender in serials
Shakti - Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki
Shakti — Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki (transl. Strength — feeling of existence) was an Indian Hindi-language social drama television series produced by Rashmi Sharma Telefilms airing from 30 May 2016 to 1 October 2021 on Colors TV. Serial shakti try to spread awareness in society about transgender and their acceptance. In this serial, the female protagonist 'Somya' is transgender person. Who in childhood faced lots of hatred by her father 'Maninder' and her grandmother 'Nalini'. They also attempted to kill her but her mother 'Nimmi' save her and be her protractor. Throughout the life she face lots of problems as a transgender identity. In childhood hatred by Father and Grandmother, her sister 'Surbhi' got all the love from family not somya. After marriage also when her mother in law 'preeto' came to know about her queer identity, she tried to harm her. In beginning when her husband 'Harman' came to know her queer identity, he also started disliking her, but later fall in love with her and become her protractor.
Even though she has supporters as well Foes, more she suffered in her life, this serial is showing what kind of problems transgender identities are facing in society and in family also. Also how important to accept this community for people who are either male or women. This serial try to bring queer community equal to community of male and female And normalizing their existence.
2 - Transgender in advertisements
Red Label tea
3- Transgender in Bollywood movies :-
Read this article about transgender roles in Bollywood movie. Click
We have lots of movies in which we find transgender characters as a protagonist or minor. Before transgender as a character uses to creat comedy, and show them as a inferior and unacceptable. But in present time's movies we find much awareness about this community and current movies coming with the concept of acceptance to third gender. Film Subh mangal Jyada savdhan, Lakshmi Bomb are current example of it. Some old movies are also spread awareness about third gender. For example movies like,Njan Marykutty (2018),Tamanna (1997),Shabnam Mausi (2005),Super Deluxe (2019) etc. Read about all this movies in a article, link given above.
4- Transgender in Literature
We find transgender characters in literature also. As we all know literature is consider as reflection of society.
1- Birthday by Meredith Russo :
Two kids, Morgan and Eric, are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time. We meet them once a year on their shared birthday as they grow and change: as Eric figures out who he is and how he fits into the world, and as Morgan makes the difficult choice to live as her true self. Over the years, they will drift apart, come together, fight, make up, and break up – and ultimately, realize how inextricably they are a part of each other.
2- Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe :
Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes and grappling with how to come out to family and society. More than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity – what it means and how to think about it – for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.
5- Gay / Lesbian Writes -
Queer characters became increasingly visible in literary fiction, taking starring roles in novels by a range of writers, including Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, Angus Wilson, James Baldwin, Christopher Isherwood, Jane Rule, and Maureen Duffy. Along with them we find several twentieth century writers like Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville-West, Dorothy Richardson, Rosamund Lehmann, and Radclyffe Hall.
6- Transgender in Bollywood -
1) Karan Johar
Karan Johar is an Indian filmmaker and television personality, who primarily works in Hindi cinema.who openly announced himself as a third gender. Bollywood is always considered as open space for all where anyone can work and built their career without being judge by their identity. Karan Johar also adopted children and became single parent.Discussing his sexual orientation, Johar said "Everybody knows what my sexual orientation is. I don't need to scream it out. If I need to spell it out, I won't".In February 2017, Johar became father to twins (a boy and a girl) through surrogacy. The twins were born at Masrani Hospital in Mumbai. Johar named his son Yash after his father, and his daughter Roohi named by rearranging his mother's name Hiroo.
2)Tushar Ravi Kapoor
Tushar Ravi Kapoor (born 20 November 1976), popular as Tusshar Kapoor, is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi films.He is also transgender personality and adopted children.
This Bollywood celebrities are setting examples and make respectable space for third gender. People are influenced by celebrities, and when celebrities accepting something, people also accept it.
So here is all about queer theory, i have also wrote one poem about transgender people and interpretation of my poem. click to read
I hope my blog will be helpful to you. Thank you!
References
