CLCS 241 Forbidden Acts: Queer Studies and Performance
This course explores queer solo performance and theater as playful acts of transgression that challenge and reimagine political identities shaped by race, ethnicity, HIV status, class, gender, and sexuality. These performances, often rooted in autobiography, simultaneously unsettle and engage community norms. The term "queer" is examined as a dynamic, destabilizing force that provokes through its refusal to be easily defined, embracing multiplicity and fluidity in identity. Students will investigate the political implications of these queer performances and their potential to infuse personal identity with collective utopian aspirations. Through performative exercises, theoretical reflections, and autobiographical monologues, students are encouraged to explore and articulate their own “forbidden acts”, blurring the lines between theatrical expression and ideological engagement. This course invites participants to expand their understanding of queer identity and creative defiance, crafting new narratives that reflect their unique experiences.