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I've had this book titled "Queer: A Graphic History" on my bookshelf since 2020 and finally got around to reading it. And don't you hate it when you consume a piece of media (whether it's a book, movie, tv show, video game) and what it says on the tin is something completely different? And not in a "oh that was surprisingly different, but I liked it!" way more in a "you know you don't have to force yourself to finish it... right?".
When I read "Queer: A Graphic History" I think, oh it's about the history of LGBTQIA+ stuff. So activism, people, the history itself. Nope... it's about queer theory (basically looking at things through a queer lens, whether it's entertainment, politics, philosophy, general life, etc). And I don't mind queer theory, I did a bit of it at uni, I did an assignment using queer theory. I love queer theory (as a queer). But it just felt so dry and like I was so annoyed that this book that I've been excited to read, is just not at all what I thought it was.
Oh well... next on the list is Heartstopper vol 1 and 2.
I know my point of view is very out of fashion these days but as a gay person I'm a bit over queer everything these days. I really hoped we were heading to a world where the focus was on an individual's attributes rather than obsessing about whatever group they supposedly belong to.
how will we know if your opinion counts unless we can discount you being a white male boomer
Lol it's sad that I have to preface my comment with a qualifier but that's where we are at these days.
I feel the same way. Society was becoming much more accepting of individual differences, and although there was a long way to go the idea that your choices and self-expression should not be limited by sex/gender/sexuality etc. was becoming widespread.
What has been happening over the past few years feels instead like a few more boxes have been created but society as a whole is doubling down on shoving people into them. It's an improvement on only having two boxes, but it is a long way from not having to be in a box at all. Basic things like "pink for girls, blue for boys" was starting to fade, now it is back stronger than ever, combined with an obsession on gendering before a baby is even born ("gender reveal" party, anyone?)
I've found it's a really hard topic to discuss though, because people tend to take what I say as being prejudice, as if criticising the idea of the box is criticising the people we see as belonging in it. That also combines with an idea that only people within a community are considered allowed to criticise it - hence the need for you to add "as a gay person" to your comment. So you end up with a situation where only people who accept the confines of a box and fit themselves within it are allowed to have an opinion on it, anyone who is critical of that idea is dismissed as a prejudiced outsider.
I missed this comment until now but totally agree with it.