Critical Response

Week 6

This week the main focus was on developing a greater understanding of Sedgwick and the binary view that the world has on being queer and looking at things and analyzing them in a way that society would not typically be alright with because it goes outside of the typical social norms.  After stumbling through reading Sedgwick, I understand epistemology to be a theory and study of knowledge belief and working toward building a better understanding of what you and others think and the structure and limitations that go along with these thoughts and theories. An epistemology of the closet I believe to be looking at queer theory and the different views that people have and believe that go along with this knowledge. It also looks at the different limitations that are put on the term “queer” to mean homosexuality versus heterosexuality without any other options. Throughout this reading, Sedgwick made many small claims and arguments but I believe the most important argument to be the limitation of understanding and freedom as related to sexuality and the deeper meanings behind human sexuality, the binary opposition of gay and not gay, and what it means to be queer to different people.

The closet was another idea that was discussed in the readings this week. The closet is typically a place to keep things that you don’t feel the need for everyone to see or you are not comfortable with them being out in the open but you might be someday, so you continue to store the item. Coming out as “queer” or anything else that isn’t necessarily something expected of you is a lot like taking something out of your closet and keeping it out in the open as a part of your home that others can see. Whether or not the item that is out is liked by others are not, they now know that it is a part of your home and can either accept it or not accept it. I have never come out of any kind of closet but I am assuming that people put themselves in one because society has forced them into the closet and leaving would only bombard them with society’s judgment and oppression.

The reading this week allowed me to really look and think about a text in a more critical, questioning, and “queer” way but what really had an impact was the search for the video I would share with the class and the videos that the class shared.