Foucault and Queer Theory

Author: Tasmin Spiegel Zhao Yulan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: A philosopher like Foucault essentially devoted himself to knowledge, to an unknown realm. He had already foretold his fate in his writings; he had determined his beliefs and resolved to explore the unknown and forbidden territories of humanity with his life and body. Michel Foucault is a famous figure among French post-structuralist theorists, known for being the subject of much rumor and mixed reviews. Meanwhile, the term "queer," once a product of the fear of homosexuality, is now proudly adopted and used by those who once claimed to be gay or lesbian. What is the relationship between these two? This is the postmodern encounter between Foucault's theories on sex, power, and discourse and the current generation of sharp minds who adopt, modify, and even critique his queer thought. Our understanding of gender, identity, sexuality, and cultural politics will be fundamentally transformed by the passionate collisions of these transgressive figures. The strength of Foucault and Queer Theory lies in its concise and incisive introduction to Foucault's compelling perspectives, the candid claims he made about queer culture in various aspects, and his insights, including heteronormativity, BDSM, enforcement, deviance, the end of gender, liberation and difference, late capitalism, and the impact of AIDS on theory and practice.