Ancient symbolism in LGBT+ identity work

• In Event: Student Forum Roundtables Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 4: LGBTQ+ Studies and Sexuality

Abstract

This project will trace the historical entanglement of classical imagery and Western queer identity projects, starting with early American homophile movements, and ending with contemporary sexuality labels “achillean” and “sapphic.” Using qualitative methods such as content analysis and interviews, I will analyze how queer individuals make meaning of classical symbolism in relation to queer identity work. I plan to pay particular attention to how this symbolism relates to theories of gender performativity, queer futurity, and the establishment of queer legitimacy. Within the context of queer identity projects, I argue that classical symbolism is understood as a fictionalized retelling of queer history that opens the door for reimagining queer presents and futures beyond the grasp of heteronormativity. The emergent terms of sapphic and achillean on social media sites such as Tumblr draw from a legacy of queer world-making with classical mythology, and relate to a larger discussion of how queer identities are socially constructed, historically situated, and virtually mediated. This study will also note how terms such as sapphic were historically used among highly educated Western white queer women, and thus will investigate how dynamics of race, class, and imperialism shape how sexuality labels are formed, who uses them, and why.

Author

• Caitlin Taylor Joyce, Temple University