Queering Abhinaya Assignment 1: Queering Cultural Memory

Queering Cultural Memory

We (Cynthia and Sandra) have been formulating a theoretical concept, “cultural queerness,” which we’d like to use as the inspiration for this assignment.  Here is a working definition (still in process):

Cultural queerness refers to the disruption of a dominant essentialized cultural norm in a way that complicates notions of cultural authenticity, cultural appropriation and identity-based representation.  It aims to undo the easy equation between nation, race, and cultural/artistic 
production without ignoring uneven power hierarchies or histories of inequality.  

Think of a personal memory of feeling uncomfortable with a dominant essentialized cultural norm.  For instance, Cynthia might address how it feels to be a non-Indian classical kathak dancer, while Sandra might reflect on a “relegation to Indianness” and the resulting exclusion from Germanness.

Explore this memory through a 10 minute free-write. Translate the memory into a subversive artistic or embodied product (such as choreography, writing, dance-for-camera, photos, etc…).   

Please post your responses with feedback questions by Feb 21, and give feedback by Feb 28.