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For some years now, queer studies have been increasingly focussing on punk phenomena. Particular interest has been shown in the potential of queer-feminist punks to criticise hegemonic hetero- and homonormativity as well as the discussion of punk politics as "politics of negativity" (Halberstam, Wiedlack). Critical approaches in British subculture research (Hebdige, Hall, etc.) offer points of reference for this. On the other hand, questions about (negative) affects and the transformational potentials that may be associated with them play an important role: for example, for renegotiating the political in queer politics (Nyong'o, Wiedlack) or for collective, progressive confrontations with issues of trauma in lesbian (partial) public spheres (Cvetkovich). The panel aims to bring these strands of discussion together, focussing on the question of what queer punk politics are or could be.

The focus is on aesthetic as political strategies and on questions about the political dimensions of feelings. Among other things, the following will be discussed: Which queer and queer-feminist strategies are used in queer punk productions and what effects do they contain? What part do affect and desire play in queer re/formulations of the political in the subculture and beyond? Do particular queer potentials emanate from aesthetic strategies that can be described as intermedial configurations - for example in the interaction of body, voice, instrument use, texts, visuals? To what extent are these queer or can they become queer?

FR 30 January 2015

^17.30-19.00
Vaginal Davis (Berlin)
Kierkegaard Fear & Trembling. VDasVD (Un)becoming Performative Life of Queer Aesthetics & Existence

and SA 31 January 2015

^10.00-12.00
Mimi Thy Nguyen (Urbana-Champaign/Illinois)
Minor Threats

Maria Katharina Wiedlack (Vienna)
Loud, rude and with attitude. Queer-feminist punk in/as form/meaning and affect

Discussion|Discussion
Moderation: Atlanta Ina Beyer

Queer punk politics

Punk phenomena have increasingly become a significant subject matter in queer studies. One special focus has been on queer-feminist punk's ability to criticise hetero- and homonormativity. Other discussions have looked at punk politics as a "politics of negativity" (Halberstam, Wiedlack). Part of the work in this field has aimed at developing queer subculture theories and draws from critical British subculture studies (e.g., Hebdige, Hall). Some scholars have also been interested in questions of (negative) affect and its transformative potential. They examine, for example, renegotiations of "the political" in queer politics (Nyong'o, Wiedlack) or seek collective approaches to trauma in lesbian public cultures in particular (Cvetkovich). By drawing connections between these discussions, the panel addresses the question of what queer punk politics are, or rather, what they potentially could be.

Focusing on aesthetic strategies as political and on the political dimensions of feelings, we wish to discuss the following: How are queer and queer-feminist strategies being employed within queer punk productions and what are their effects? What are the stakes of affect and desire in queer (re)formulations of the political within the subculture and beyond? Do certain queer possibilities emanate from aesthetic strategies that might be described as intermedial, such as when bodies, voices, instruments, texts, visuals, etc. are simultaneously incorporated into a performance? What is queer about these configurations, or rather, how might they become queer?

FR 30 January 2015

^17.30-19.00
Vaginal Davis (Berlin)
Kierkegaard Fear & Trembling. VDasVD (Un)becoming Performative Life of Queer Aesthetics & Existence

And SA 31 January 2015

^10.00-12.00
Mimi Thy Nguyen (Urbana-Champaign/Illinois)
Minor Threats

Maria Katharina Wiedlack (Vienna)
Loud, rude and with attitude. Queer-feminist punk in/as form/meaning and affect

Discussion|Discussion
Moderation: Atlanta Ina Beyer