Queer Theory Now: From Foundations to Futures

by Hannah McCann, Whitney Monaghan

This short textbook provides an introduction to queer theory, exploring its key genealogies and terms as well as its application across various academic disciplines and to contemporary life more generally.

The authors engage with a wide range of developments in queer theory thinking including discussions of identity politics, transgender theory, intersectionality, post-colonial theory, Indigenous studies, disability studies, affect theory, and more.

In offering an updated reflection on the present tensions that queer theory must negotiate, as well as its unfolding future(s), Queer Theory Now is an ideal resource for anyone starting out on their queer theory journey; for students who want to get a grasp of the basic concepts, for teachers looking for a textbook for their queer theory course, or for scholars who want a quick go-to resource for key queer theory ideas and terms.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction, LGBT, Gender Studies, Gender and Sexuality, Academic

268 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2019

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

an essential primer to queer theory (now)~

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did this breakdown a theory and explain how it's evolved over many years into digestible bits and pieces? Yes. Was this easier to understand than all the other books I tried to read? Yup. Does it give a concrete short definition of what queer theory is? Nope. Because I am learning that theory can be verrrrrry abstract and ever evolving. I think this will help me in the long run though and something I will likely reference in the future. 🤷🏼

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to follow and succinct history of queer theories main debates

[tinyflower.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers an accessible overview of the past and present discourses that were part of the foundation of queer theory, and continue to change what queer theory means. it is thus a starting point and a road map for entering the discourse around queer theory.

[MLDunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in a queer theory course as our primer before delving deeper. It was exactly what we needed to cram half a century of theory and arguments into 2 weeks! I ended up buying the physical copy to keep on hand as a way to jog my memory on the topics and eras quickly.

[Sydney Johnson]

I really enjoyed diving into this book for class, but I feel like it was written unnecessarily inaccesible.

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does everything except actually define queer theory in typical queer theory fashion 😂😂

[Josie Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry but good explanations and layout

[Bookshire Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent if you want an overview of history and development of queer theory. For me, it was too textbook-like and too focused on history - I somehow expected from a book named Queer Theory Now that it would focus more on the now.

[Alex Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

thoroughly accessible & enjoyable whistle-stop tour of an endlessly evolving field of studies, steering clear of overwhelming or (as far as i'd like to hope) offering an injustice to the exhaustive amount of thinkers briefed within. also appreciated the structure, not at all scattershot given the approach, seemed to weave ideas in an engaging flow. pinpointing a concrete, essentialist view of the field seems as efficient as stapling jelly to a wall so i'd suggest this text offers enough interpretations to motivate external reading.