Caleb Crain

Good evening. I've been asked to explain to you what queer theory is. This will not be easy, because queer theorists do not like to admit to a definition. To make a definition, you have to draw a line, and that might exclude a constituency. Or it might enshrine a particular version of queer theory as standard or normal. Or it could set a limit to what queer theory might someday achieve. Actually, if I were to end my remarks now, I think I would have given you the essence of queer theory. At least, I would not have got anything wrong. For descriptive purposes only, I might add that queer theory concerns gender and sexual orientation. I might also add that, as an academic trend, it seems to have spent its force.