Queer studies analyzes sexual identities, performances, discourses and representations. It also considers connections between gay and lesbian studies and queer studies, feminist studies and queer studies and the implications of a queer studies critique for other disciplines. It seeks to destabilize notions of normative sexuality and gender.
Queer studies critiques identity politics, essentiialized ideas of sexuality, gender, and sexual identity as innate, biological, or fixed. It critiques hegemonic conceptions of sex and gender categories within stright and gay, bisexual, transgender and lesbian communities.
Queer studies does not fit within the context of the shows identity. The reason for that could be because the show is about race and class not so much about sexuality.
Vinh Nguyen
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December 5, 2007 at 4:53 am
That’s a great definition of queer studies. The only thing that it is missing is the fact that queer studies also deals with interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary fields of study.
I agree with you about your reading of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air under the scope of queer studies. The Fresh Prince does not incorporate any themes covered within queer studies nor does the show itself incorporate any LGBT characters. In that sense one could say that the show is guilty of non-recognition as could be read under Clark’s model. The show is more so about race and class difference than sexual identity.
David Monroe