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New Approaches to the Queer 18th Century
Author(s) -
Roulston Chris
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
literature compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.158
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 1741-4113
DOI - 10.1111/lic3.12103
Subject(s) - queer , heteronormativity , bourgeoisie , queer theory , human sexuality , enlightenment , gender studies , hegemony , openness to experience , aesthetics , history , sociology , literature , psychology , art , political science , law , philosophy , social psychology , epistemology , politics
This essay outlines some of the current debates on queer history, in particular Laura Doan's concept of “queer critical history” and Madhavi Menon's concept of “unhistoricism”, and examines how they engage with the field of queer 18th‐century studies. Due to its unique historical position on the cusp of the modern era, as well as the hegemonic discourses associated with the Enlightenment, including the rise of the bourgeoisie, the 18th century is sometimes perceived as dominated by an emerging heteronormativity. However, a brief survey of recent essay collections reveals instead the radical potential of 18th‐century discourses on sexuality and the period's openness to queer readings.