The Routledge Handbook of Classics and Queer Theory

Queer theory continues to push the boundaries of both queerness and the classical, leading to an explosion of new work in the intersection between these disciplines. This handbook brings together experts from the classical world and queer theory to explore the rich relationship between the two. It highlights the ways in which queer theory has provided Classics with a powerful tool for analyzing non-normative sexual and gender relations and how Classics offers queer theory ancient material that challenges modern normative categories. The essays are organized by overlapping categories such as queer subjectivities, queer times and places, queer kinships, queer receptions, and ancient pasts/queer futures, showcasing the vitality of this field.

Format: Hardback
Length: 514 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

New directions in queer theory continue to push the boundaries of both queerness and the classical, leading to a surge of innovative work in the vast and increasingly uncharted intersection between these disciplines. This interdisciplinary volume aims to explore this dynamic field.

The discipline of Classics has been deeply engaged with and implicated in queer theory since its inception. Queer theory, by rejecting heteronormativity, has provided Classics with a powerful tool for analyzing non-normative sexual and gender relations in the ancient West. At the same time, Classics offers queer theory ancient material (such as literature, visual arts, and social practices) that challenges a wide range of modern normative categories.

The collection showcased in this handbook demonstrates the vibrancy of this particular moment in queer classical studies. It features an expansive array of methodologies applied to the interdisciplinary field of Classics. Embracing the indeterminacy that lies at the core of queer studies, the essays in this volume are organized not by chronology or genre but rather by overlapping categories, including:

Queer Subjectivities: Examining the experiences and identities of LGBTQ+ individuals in the ancient world.

Queer Times and Places: Exploring the historical and geographical contexts in which queer relationships and practices emerged.

Queer Kinships: Analyzing the complex relationships between LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, communities, and societies.

Queer Receptions: Examining how LGBTQ+ individuals have been represented and interpreted in classical literature, art, and culture.

Ancient Pasts/Queer Futures: Considering the ways in which ancient ideas and practices continue to shape contemporary queer identities and experiences.

The Routledge Handbook of Classics and Queer Theory is an invaluable resource for anyone working on queer theory, particularly in its application to premodern periods. It will also be of interest to scholars engaged with the history of sexuality, both in the ancient world and more broadly.

By bringing together experts from diverse fields, this handbook offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the intersections between Classics and queer theory. It sheds light on the rich and complex ways in which ancient cultures have grappled with questions of gender, sexuality, and identity, and it provides valuable insights into the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and equality in the modern world.

Weight: 1140g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032026794