Queer Theory: An Introduction

by Annamarie Jagose

The essential history of queer theory

The reclamation of the term queer over the last several decades marked a shift in the study of sexuality from a focus on supposedly essential categories such as gay and lesbian, to more fluid notions of sexual identity. On the cutting-edge of this significant shift was Annamarie Jagose’s classic text Queer An Introduction . In this groundbreaking work, Jagose provides a clear and concise explanation of queer theory, tracing it as part of an intriguing history of same-sex love over the last century.

Blending insights from prominent theorists such as Judith Butler and David Halperin, Jagose illustrates that queer theory's challenge is to create new ways of thinking, not only about fixed sexual identities such as straight and gay, but about other supposedly immovable notions such as sexuality and gender, and man and woman. First released almost 25 years ago, this groundbreaking work has provided a foundation for the continuing evolution of queer theory in the twenty-first century.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction, Theory, LGBT, Philosophy, Gender, Gender Studies

153 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Annamarie Jagose is a writer of academic and fictional works.

She gained her PhD (Victoria University of Wellington) in 1992, and worked in the Department of English with Cultural Studies at the University of Melbourne before returning to New Zealand in 2003, where she was a Professor in the Department of Film, Television and Media Studies at the University of Auckland and Head of the department from 2008 to 2010.

Since 2011, she has been the Head of the School of Letters, Art and Media at the University of Sydney.

In 1994 she won the NZSA Best First Book Award for In Translation. In 2004 Slow Water won the Deutz Medal for Fiction in the Montana New Zealand Book Awards, as well as the Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction. It was also shortlisted for the Australian Miles Franklin Literary Award.

Reviews

[Terrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book probes the meaning of the work queer and how it came about. Queer theory is the exploration of the dilemmas and controversies wherein gender and sexuality are concerned. But the term queer, as Jagose points out, is under constant reform. The term has many characteristics, which keeps its theorists from finding a definitive explanation for it.

[Hakan İlker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Başarılı bir giriş kitabı. Biraz daha sadeleştirilip daha anlaşılır kılıp daha iyi bir giriş kitabı olabilirdi. Baskıda çok ufak tefek mürekkep hataları vardı ama problem yaratmadı. Queer teoriyi merak edenler için okunulası bir kitap.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Queer has little to gain from establishing itself as a monolithic descriptive category.”

My favourite sections of this book were the first chapter on theorising same-sex desires and the final chapter on contestations of queer. It is definitely an introduction to queer theory of the early 1990s and therefore will not provide much new information to those who are familiar with the theorists. It is helpful for students or beginners and a helpful place to have the key ideas outlined as well as the key distinctions between theorists. Discussions on essentialist versus constructionist ideas of gay and lesbian identity (other identities within lgbtq are not discussed as thoroughly) were interesting. The last chapter discussing queer as identity, politics and theoretical concept and the debates around this were the most interesting and relevant to today.

The other chapters on homophone movement, gay liberation and lesbian feminism were fairly basic but still interesting.

The book considers lesbian and feminist critiques of queer theory throughout, other critiques based on race, class and nationality etc are only mentioned in passing.

[Kafamdaki Makine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitap okuması oldukça zor bir kitap. Hem basım yönünden hem çeviri yönünden yeterince iyi bulmadık. Araştırmayı seven ve insan hakları, kökenini seven bir insan olmama rağmen ağır gelem bir kitap oldu. Belli bit birikim gerekiyor okumak için. Tak diye konuya bodoslama dalmak olmuyor tabi. Bu kitabı kalemle, kağıtla her gün az ve not ala ala okununca işte o zaman tadından yenmez. Gelelim içeriğine Queer olmak ve kuramı ele alıyor. İlk başlardan son ana kadar olumlu olumsuz tüm yanları gösteriyor. Tam bir tartışma kitabı yani... Yazarın en sevdiğim yanlarından biri olumlu olumsuz tüm düşünceleri vermesi. Bazı olaylara ve abartmalara izin vermemesi... Kitabı çok başarılı bir hale getiriyor. Kitabın bitirdiğinizde aklınızda şu kalıyor, Queer neydi?

[Felipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it may now be fairly dated at more than twenty years old (yikes!), this is a very readable introduction to queer theory, its history, utilizations, and criticism. Definitely recommended for anyone wanting to get their toes wet, and the bibliography is of course a great resource for those looking for more depth. I find myself wishing that there was a new version reflecting the major developments since this book's publication, since Jagose is very good at breaking things down and presenting theory in an accesible manner.

[Jillian Pasquarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go gays

[Roof Beam Reader (Adam) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of useful information and great discussion of various arguments surrounding gay/lesbian studies, feminism, gender, and identity - but the text seemed to be much more about those elements than about Queer Theory, specifically. Granted, there's a history leading up to Queer Theory & the fact that Queer Theory is ever-changing (by virtue of its being "queer" and therefore resistant to definition, a characteristic it shares with feminism) would make it hard to write an "About Me" book on Queer Theory. Still, I was slightly troubled by the overwhelming amount of time spent on discussing lesbian(ism) and their perpetual outsider status (outside feminism, outside queer theory, out side heteronormativity, etc.), especially the arguments which made homosexual (or gay, or queer, depending on whom is identifying as what) men the greatest "enemy" to the lesbian woman. Those arguments were not the author's (Jagose) but there was much attention paid to them by her. And I realize I've littered this response with pronouns and descriptors galore, which means I'm an enemy of the queer and the feminist schools, for sure. :)

[Ello Eren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queer teoriye oturaklı bir giriş kitabı. Foucault'ya, Lacan'a, Butler'a dalmazdan önce okunmasında fayda var, basit bir tanımlar kümesinden yola çıkarak sistematik bir şekilde karmaşıklaşıyor. Etraflıca bir kitap olmasını da Sapfo'ya kadar gidişinde de görebiliriz.

[Skyla Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful start into the world of queer and what the term meant, means today, and what it may mean tomorrow. It's an ambivalent reassurance of an unimaginable future.

[carly williams]

honest to god I still have like a chapter left but I cannot do it anymore I did my time I get the gist

[Kiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic first start for anyone interested in Queer Theory both in terms of the academic theory as well as the general history of queer people and the identity politics that dominate real life. For anyone in need of a jumping off point, or at least anyone trying to figure out whatever queer actually is, this book is a wonderful resource.

[thalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic overview. Good for people interested in what all their grad school friends are goin in about as it’s quick, short, informative, and thorough enough to follow the conversation. It is rather dated though, so definitely keep that in mind.

[Joana Peroskia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction? I cant wait for the other parts of this great saga

[Neal Spadafora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been using this book to teach a class on queer theory and it's proven to be quite helpful for class discussions. It is a book that is slightly dated, but Jagoes does offer a succinct and fair overview of how queer theory came out of the gay liberation movement, the AIDS epidemic, and continental philosophy. Similarly, her summary of major queer theorist (Edelman and Butler, to name a couple) are really well done.

More than anything, this book acts as a good (but not perfect of complete!) means for introducing students to the history and methods of queer theory.

[AmaniLuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creating new labels to define one's sexual orientation is similar to the cages we are born into be they religions or traditions. I am a human. I do not want to be defined by impermenant changeable labels.

[kory. · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk i expected to really enjoy this but it was kind of a snooze fest tbh

content/trigger warnings; homophobia, lesbophobia, queerphobia, biphobia, transphobia, d slur, f slur, misogyny, sexism, racism, mentions of pedophilia,

[Cathy Bogart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, but dense book (not for the faint of heart!). She gives an in-depth history of LGBT identities and movements that led up to the establishment queer theory.

[GoodReadsKunde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nachdem ich das Buch gelesen habe verstehe ich Gender noch weniger, obwohl ich mehr darüber weiß, das ist seltsam, aber liegt wohl an Queer Theorie.

[A Meneses · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* A bit (or a lot) outdated, but an easy read and a decent introduction

[Zach Irvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short but dense book that deals with the nebulous and elusive critical mode known as queer theory. From the beginning Jagose makes the point that attempting to pin an exact definition to queer theory would be destructive since a large part of the appeal of queer theory is its ambiguity and open ended nature. This ends up making the book a bit of a paradox. Jagose begins by explaining the historical origins of the term 'queer'. It emerged out of gay and lesbian studies once those critical modes of though became codified to the point of excluding particular subjects. Evolving out of the identity politics of gay and lesbian studies, queer theory now stands as a sort of non- or anti-identity politics. Something that investigates the very terms of identity and pays attention to the multiple axes of identity that inevitably converge within a single subject. Since the term queer is so elastic and inclusive there is no limit to the number of non-normative subjects available to the theory, and as such there are unlimited ways those subjects can be analyzed so as to resist hegemonic binaries. While a lot has happened since this book was published in the 90s, it remains an excellent introduction to an unwieldy field of thought.

[Candy Wood]

First published in Australia, this book provides a readable summary of the history of queer theory primarily in the US and the UK. Jagose doesn’t attempt to establish a definition of “queer,” arguing that its usefulness as a term derives from its indefinite application. More than a brief substitute for “gay and lesbian,” “queer” calls all such identity categories into question and resists essentialism, the assumption that all members of a group have always shared some essential characteristics. History records many examples of homosexual behavior, for example, but the idea of those who engage in that behavior as a group is much more recent. Jagose clearly explains the ideas of Foucault, Butler, and Sedgwick and their connections to each other and to queer theory. She acknowledges that there are many reasons for discomfort with a term that stresses difference but hopes that the questions it raises can lead to greater understanding.

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a prime example of why I hate having to read academic writing. Nine out of ten times the book/article will bore you to death. I will give this book, and others like it, credit- I fully believe they cure insomnia. On my worst nights this book put me to sleep after a chapter, and only a page on nights when I just had trouble falling asleep.

But enough of my ranting. Here's the scoop on this book: if you want to know how "homosexuality" became a term, how gays and lesbians began to get involved and politics and the one hundred year history of that political movement, how they have shaped society through their questioning of gender norms, and how "queer" was claimed by them and how it has become and area of study- this book is for you. If you merely want to know how to use queer theory as a literary criticism tool (like I do), pass this one up.

[Mariana Romo-Carmona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction and good background of sociopolitical contexts. I was continually and pleasantly surprised by her inclusion of events, thinking, "oh, right, I remember when that happened." Since I'm going from being a writer and teacher of literature towards being a student of theory, it helps that I actually lived through some of the historical times she mentions. Great intro to U.S./Australian/European mainstream movements. It is general, no specifics on people of color yet some understanding. I'd recommend this book.

[Geoffrey Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently re-read this book for a class I'm teaching this semester (on Justice, Gender, Sexuality), and for the most part it still proves a useful introduction to queer theory, especially the chapters that give an overview to the political movements that gave rise to queer theory/activism (homophile, gay liberation, and lesbian feminism). Students still found the sections on post-structuralism and performativity a little dense and difficult, but our conversations in class seemed to go far in helping them understand this context to queer theory, too.

[Ricky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, easy to read introduction to Queer Theory. I like that it's short, historical, and intentionally open to future possibilities. It does leave important stuff out, and I think it could have done a better job of pointing out the author's own role in constructing the history of Queer Theory.

Overall, I highly recommend for those who don't know much about Queer Theory and are looking for an easy, fairly comprehensive way in.

[William Dearth · Rating 1 out of 5]

To me it is neither clear or concise as it claims. The author seems more inclined to show off academic skills than to provide information. My college days are over so I don't tolerate much of this style of writing if I can help it. There is a story to be told, but someone else is going to have to tell it to me. I probably shouldn't mark it as read because I couldn't finish it--probably the only book in the last 2o years that I did not finish.

[Abhilasha Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a useful introduction. It attempts to historicise the coming and making of the queer theory, and 'queer' as such, the reclamation of queer that led to a newer and radicalised form of politics. As an introduction, it pretty much does its job, and could probably be seen as a good text to begin with.

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful and clear introduction to queer theory that effectively grounds it in its historical and contemporary cultural and social contexts. Fiftenn years after its first publication it remians one of the better introductions to the subject around.

[Wesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the general ideas of queer theorists but incredibly dense and hard to understand. It could also probably be updated as it was originally written in the late 1990s and I feel as though the discussions presented in this book could be added on to as well.