Queering Freedom

"Radically reorienting, challenging, provocative, this book moves progressive philosophy, feminist and queer theory, critical discussions of race and racism forward. Prophetically, it calls for an interrogation of all our oppositional theory and politics, offering new and alternative visions." -- bell hooksIn Queering Freedom, Shannon Winnubst examines contemporary categories of difference -- sexuality, race, gender, class, and nationality -- and how they operate within the politics of domination. Drawing on the work of Georges Bataille, Michel Foucault, and others, Winnubst engages feminist theory, race theory, and queer theory as she sheds light on blind spots that have characterized thinking about freedom. Winnubst turns away from the language of rights, identity politics, and liberation toward bodies and experiences to calibrate normative ideas of time and space. Her views operate at the very limits of freedom, which contain individuals within strict boundaries that they are forbidden to cross. Winnubst develops strategies of "queering freedom" to undo the more subtle spatial and temporal norms and shatter structures of domination. This thoughtful and provocative work challenges the cornerstones of contemporary philosophies about the body and its politics 0253347076......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction: The Seduction of Freedom......Page 14 Part One. Demarcating the Space of Domination: The Politics of Freedom......Page 34 1. Liberalism's Neutral Individual: Delimiting Racial and Sexual Difference......Page 36 2. Is the Mirror Racist? Interrogating the space of Whiteness......Page 71 3. The Place of Sexual Difference: Idealizing Heterosexual Drive......Page 91 Part Two. Moving Toward Resistance: A Politics Without a Future......Page 122 4. Free to Be Queer: Queer to Be Free......Page 124 5. The Temporality of Whiteness: Anticipating Pleasure (And Feeling Nothin' But Guilty)......Page 163 6. The Freedom of Sovereignty: Remembering Lost Pasts......Page 189 Epilogue: A Political Note against Same-Sex Marriage......Page 214 Notes......Page 222 References......Page 252 Index......Page 260 ISBN-13: 9780253347077 0253347076 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: The Seduction of Freedom 14 Part One. Demarcating the Space of Domination: The Politics of Freedom 34 1. Liberalism's Neutral Individual: Delimiting Racial and Sexual Difference 36 2. Is the Mirror Racist? Interrogating the space of Whiteness 71 3. The Place of Sexual Difference: Idealizing Heterosexual Drive 91 Part Two. Moving Toward Resistance: A Politics Without a Future 122 4. Free to Be Queer: Queer to Be Free 124 5. The Temporality of Whiteness: Anticipating Pleasure (And Feeling Nothin' But Guilty) 163 6. The Freedom of Sovereignty: Remembering Lost Pasts 189 Epilogue: A Political Note against Same-Sex Marriage 214 Notes 222 References 252 Index 260 Introduction: The Seduction Of Freedom -- Demarcating The Space Of Domination : The Politics Of Freedom -- Liberalism's Neutral Individual : Delimiting Racial And Sexual Difference -- Is The Mirror Racist? : Interrogating The Space Of Whiteness -- The Place Of Sexual Difference : Idealizing Heterosexual Desire -- Moving Toward Resistance : A Politics Without A Future -- Free To Be Queer : Queer To Be Free -- The Temporality Of Whiteness : Anticipating Pleasure (and Feeling Nothin' But Guilty) -- The Freedom Of Sovereignty : Remembering Lost Pasts -- Epilogue: A Political Note Against Same-sex Marriage. Shannon Winnubst. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Examines contemporary categories of difference - sexuality, gender, class, and nationality - and how they operate within the politics of domination. Drawing on the work of Georges Bataille, Michel Foucault and others, this work develops strategies of "queering freedom", challenging the cornerstones of philosophies about the body and its politics.