Queering sociology through curation

• In Event: Open Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 1: Qualitative Methods

Abstract

Over the past decade, queer sociologists have extensively argued that creative methods are necessary to instantiate queer epistemology into research practices in sociology (e.g., Jones 2018; Rooke 2009). While creative methods help redefine how sociologists approach data sets, data collection, and knowledge distribution through interdisciplinary pollination (e.g., sociology, curation, performance art), research-creation challenges how sociology has historically categorized populations and practices in reductionist ways that strongly uphold racialized formations of hetero and cisnormativity (Schilt et al., 2018: 3). Building on this literature, this contribution reflects on the author’s experience of curating research-creation exhibitions for the International Visual Sociology Association to discuss how exhibition curation (conceived as a method relying on collective and embodied practice) can further contribute to queering research in sociology. Among other possible curatorial practices that help reflecting on hierarchies of knowledge-making in sociology, developing non-linear forms of exhibition narratives that rely on visitors’ subjectivities and the materiality of the artworks, as well as using live performance to disrupt the curatorial narrative, are especially discussed. Curation, as the contribution argues, ultimately allows social scientists to explore how queer conceptualizations can intersect with research design beyond the humanities (Browne and Nash 2010).



Browne, Kath and Nash, Catherine J. (eds.) (2010), Queer Methods and Methodologies: Intersecting Queer theories and social science research, London: Ashgate Publishing.

Jones, Angela (2018), ‘Pornographics as queer methods’, in K. Schilt, T. Meadow, D’L. Compton (eds.), Other, please specify: Queer methods in sociology, Oakland: University of California Press.

Rooke, Alison (2009), ‘Queer in the field: on emotions, temporality, and performativity in ethnography’ Journal of Lesbian Studies, 13:2, pp. 149-60.

Schilt, Kristen, Meadow, Tey, and Compton D’Lane (eds.) (2018), Other, please specify: Queer methods in sociology, Oakland: University of California Press.

Author

• Julie Patarin-Jossec, DePaul University