"The Return of the Lesbian?: Examining Lesbian Visibility in Art History’s Present, Past and Future"

The last few years have witnessed a re-emergence of the lesbian in popular culture, exemplified by a surge of Instagram accounts dedicated to lesbian imagery, history, and dating, motion pictures portraying historical lesbian narratives (Lizzie, The Favorite, Colette), and the announced reboot of The L Word (a 2004-2009 tv-show that follows the lives of a fictional lesbian friend group in LA). Yet, at the same time, there seems to be an increasing reluctance to use lesbian as an identifier and a turn in scholarship toward queer as a universalizing term.

How can we make sense of these opposing trends? What accounts for the simultaneous rebirth and death of the lesbian? Is there a way in which images, which work across time, give insight into our current position?

As the late Barbara Hammer powerfully stated in 2019, in her last interview before she died: “We don’t want to forget the lesbian, and we don’t want her to be lost.” This panel solicits work examining what is gained by a return to the lesbian and what is lost with her death? Is the term too outdated, essentialist, and/or exclusive or is it worth saving? What does finding or remembering the lesbian look like and what does it offer? How do contemporary or historical lesbian artists or lesbian art help us understand this current moment and help us determine the future of the lesbian?

To be considered for participation, please send your paper proposal (max. 300 words), title, and CV to the following e-mail addresses: ksenia.sobolevanyu.edu & lexibardstanford.edu

Please note that CAA takes place in Chicago, Feb. 12-15, 2020. Indicate if you have any conflicts.

Submission Deadline: Monday April 15, 2018
Acceptances will be sent by April 22, 2018.