Cowboys and angels and affective queers

Ruan NUNES

doi:10.30620/gz.v9n2.p261

Authors

Ruan NUNES Universidade Estadual do Piauí - UESPI https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5109-5199

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30620/gz.v9n2.p261

Keywords:

Brokeback Mountain, Queer theory, Affects, Annie Proulx, Heteronormativity

Abstract

Taking into consideration the critical and media attention American writer Annie Proulx’s story “Brokeback Mountain” has received, this paper offers a reading of the aforementioned work while problematising issues of heteronormativity in the plot. Using Sara Ahmed’s and Heather Love’s theoretical contributions, this investigation interweaves queer theory and affect studies to highlight how heteronormativity is an affective orientation in which feeling bad is crucial to maintain the structure of oppression. Although more questions rather than answers are provided, this study concludes that political mobilisations are possible when affects are read and questioned, especially those considered backward.

[Recebido: 20 set. 2021 – Aceito: 25 out. 2021]

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Author Biography

Ruan NUNES, Universidade Estadual do Piauí - UESPI

Professor Adjunto (Dedicação Exclusiva) de Língua Inglesa e Literaturas de Língua Inglesa da Universidade Estadual do Piauí (Campus Prof. Alexandre Alves de Oliveira, Parnaíba) e professor permanente do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Letras (Área de concentração: Literatura e Cultura; Linha de pesquisa: Literatura e outros sistemas semióticos). Possui doutorado em Estudos de Literatura pela Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) e mestrado em Letras (Literaturas de Língua Inglesa) pela Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).

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