Transgressive Learning: Queering Within the Unknown

• In Event: 63.062 - Queer Eco-Pedagogies: Explorations in Nature, Sexuality, and Education

Abstract

Transformation is not easy, it is a struggle. It requires working inherently with the unknown in difficult, oftentimes uncomfortable, painful, grief-laden and infuriating ways. While transformation seeks liberating, cathartic, and affirming forms of change, acknowledging the troubling unknown as both a place and a methodology is critical in considering the kinds of transformation and change needed living in the era of climate change, particularly in the Global South. This kind of learning is underpinned by embodied forms of reflexivity and emergence. Building on critical pedagogy of place theory, alongside emerging queer eco-pedagogies that resonate with disruptive and transgressive learning, this chapter explores new forms of learning narratives which are emerging through two sister international research networks: namely “transformative and transgressive learning” (T-Learning) and the Academic-Activist Co-Produced Knowledge for Environmental Justice (ACKNOWL-EJ). Both networks take Donna Haraway’s (2017) advice of ‘staying with the trouble’ to heart, specifically the troubling of justice-oriented relational social action that seeks meaningful transformations to sustainability. The authors share innovative methodologies, methods, actions and thoughts that enhance experiential, expansive, place-based and embodied learning within the 'unknown,' - here learning within the unknown is also a process of awakening the erotic knowledge that is known to some, but is culturally or self-censored by most (Lourde, 2012). Through a dialogical narrative the authors share vignettes based on six case stories and experiences from transformation research and action in South Africa, Colombia, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Sweden. This multi-voiced narrative aims to challenge colonial forms of single-voiced authorship and offers a thickly described, multifaceted ‘patch-work’ conversation (Ellingson, 2009) in return.

Author

• Dyllan McGarry