Nature's Wild: Love, Sex, and Law in the Caribbean

Andil Gosine's Nature's Wild challenges the colonially influenced human/animal divide and embraces animality through case studies of puhngah, gender-based dress codes, and sodomy decriminalization in the Caribbean, calling for a reassessment of political liberation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2021
Publisher: Duke University Press

In his groundbreaking book, Nature's Wild: Queer Theory and Animality in the Caribbean, Andil Gosine delves into profound questions of humanism, queer theory, and animality to challenge and redefine our understanding of queer desire in the Caribbean. Through a comprehensive examination of colonial law, visual art practices, and contemporary activism, Gosine reveals how the concept of homosexuality in the Caribbean (and in the Americas more broadly) has been deeply influenced by a colonially imposed human/animal divide. Gosine boldly challenges this assumed binary and embraces animality through a series of captivating case studies. These include the exploration of a homoerotic game called puhngah, the institution of gender-based dress codes in Guyana, and the ongoing efforts toward the decriminalization of sodomy in Trinidad and Tobago, led by renowned activist Colin Robinson. Gosine also showcases the artistic expressions of human animality through the works of Guadeloupean artist Kelly Sinnapah Mary and his own artistic practice. By undertaking this exploration, Gosine uncovers the ways in which individual and collective anxieties about "wild natures" have shaped the existence of Caribbean people, while also advocating for a reimagining of what political liberation could entail.

This book is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of queer studies, offering a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of gender, sexuality, and animality in the Caribbean region. It is a must-read for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in understanding the rich and diverse tapestry of queer experiences in the world.

Weight: 334g
Dimension: 153 x 232 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478014584