Queering Memory and National Identity in Transcultural U.S. Literature and Culture

This book explores the queer implications of memory and nationhood in transcultural U.S. literature and culture, using art and photography to destabilize heteronormativity and explore productive spaces of queer world-building. It traces legacies through texts by Sinan Antoon and Mohamedou Ould Slahi, alongside film and photography by artists such as Nina Berman and Hasan Elahi.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book delves into the intricate connections between memory, nationhood, and LGBTQ+ identities in transcultural U.S. literature and culture. By examining a range of artistic and photographic expressions that responded to significant events such as the 9/11 attacks, the Iraq war, the representations of Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay, and the narratives of migrant experiences in the twenty-first century, Christopher W. Clark establishes a queer archive of transcultural U.S. texts. Through this comprehensive analysis, Clark aims to challenge heteronormativity and explore innovative spaces for queer world-building.

Drawing from the fields of transcultural memory, queer studies, and transculturalism, the book raises thought-provoking questions about the experiences and embodiments of LGBTQ+ individuals. Clark traces the legacies of these identities through the works of authors like Sinan Antoon and Mohamedou Ould Slahi, alongside film and photography that feature the talents of artists like Nina Berman and Hasan Elahi.

In essence, this book uncovers the traces of injury and trauma within cultural memory and national identity, while also highlighting the potential for regeneration and healing. It serves as a valuable contribution to the study of LGBTQ+ identities and their complex intersections with broader social and cultural contexts.

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030521165
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020