more notes from chapters “The Queer Art of Failure” and “Shadow Feminisms” from “The Queer Art of Failure” by Judith Halberstam
Is there an end to failure?
Halberstam reveals the Western imperialist’s notions of success and futurity as foundational to our progressive politics. Surprise! “Progress”ive
I am inspired by their call for a passive unbeing of one’s identity. Not to become woman, queer etc to liberate oneself into the platform of visibility and normativity. Is the place of secrecy, invisibility and negativity not a place of opportunity, to act free from contraints of one’s progressive category, or the pressures of progress and success that form our politics of resistance?
Yet, winning is important too. Let’s say a Renter’s Union won a rent cap in their local area. That would require action. Action is also inevitable in our survival as a material cloud of needs. What needs, queer theory suggests? There is a possible tension between the disembodied politics of queer theory and the ecological stuff of consumption etc. Halberstam may be pushing a politics for failure beyond its function for a seductive theory book. I love it though. There is not a theorist who tames their vision.