QUEER ECOLOGY AND THE ARTS
Special Issue: kritische berichte, No. 3/2024
edited by Henry Kaap

"Ecology stems from biology, which has nonessentialist aspects. Queer theory is a nonessentialist view of gender and sexuality. It seems the two domains intersect, but how?" (–Timothy Morton, Guest Column: Queer Ecology, 2010)

"Queer ecology" is an interdisciplinary approach that disrupts prevailing heteronormative discourses and institutional articulations of sexuality and nature. It reimagines evolutionary processes, ecological interactions, and environmental politics in light of queer theory. Drawing from diverse traditions such as evolutionary biology, LGBTQIA+ movements, queer geography and history, feminist science studies, ecofeminism, and environmental justice, queer ecology highlights the complexity of contemporary biopolitics. It emphasizes connections between the material and cultural dimensions of environmental issues and insists on an articulatory practice where sex and nature are understood through multiple trajectories of power and matter.

The esteemed art history open access periodical "kritische berichte" invites submissions that delve into the intricate connections between queer ecology and artistic expressions. This special issue seeks to foster critical discourse, showcase innovative research, and illuminate the transformative ways in which queer ecological perspectives reshape our understanding of artistic practices, representations, and environmental consciousness.

Scope and Themes:
Scholars, researchers, curators, artists, and practitioners are invited to contribute articles that engage with the multifaceted relationship between queer ecology and the arts. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

Ecological Identity and Artistic Expression:
• How do artists incorporate ecological and queer perspectives into their work, challenging conventional boundaries and narratives?
• In what ways do artistic representations engage with the fluidity and diversity of ecological and gender identities?

Desire, Pleasure, and Ecological Relationships:
• How can artistic creations evoke sensual and emotional connections with nature, aligning with the principles of queer ecology?
• In what manner do artists express and explore desire and pleasure within the context of our relationship with the environment?

Art as Ecological Activism:
• How do artists utilize their work as a form of environmental activism, advocating for sustainable practices and raising ecological awareness?
• What insights can be gained from the convergence of art, queerness, and ecological advocacy?
• What insights emerge from the synergy between indigenous activism, queer ecologies, and artistic interventions?

Intersectionality and Artistic Narratives:
• How can art narratives explore the intersections between queerness, gender, race, and ecological perspectives?
• What role does art play in challenging and reshaping dominant narratives about nature and identity?
• How do visual narratives within indigenous art communicate traditional ecological knowledge, reflecting an intimate understanding of ecosystems and their interconnectedness?
• Can the integration of indigenous storytelling methods into artistic practices enhance ecological awareness?

Decolonizing Ecological Narratives:
• How can indigenous knowledge contribute to the decolonization of environmental discourse within the context of queer ecology?
• How do artistic expressions incorporate indigenous understandings of land, place, and interconnectedness?

Visualizing Ecological Concepts:
• How do artists visually represent complex ecological ideas, such as interconnectedness, balance, and resilience?
• Can art contribute to a more accessible and relatable understanding of ecological relationships?
• How do queer indigenous artists envision alternative ecological futures, challenging the dominance of heteronormative and anthropocentric perspectives?
• In what ways can speculative art reimagine the relationships between humans, identities, and the natural world?

Submission Guidelines:
• Abstracts of up to 300 words, along with a brief CV, should be submitted by 5 October 2023 to kaapulmer-verein.de.
• Contributions in both English and German are welcome.
• Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by 15 October 2023.
• Articles should range between 25,000 to 30,000 characters (including spaces) and must be submitted by 15 March 2024.

Selected papers will have the opportunity to be published in the esteemed pages of "kritische berichte," contributing to its legacy of incisive art historical discourse. We encourage diverse voices from various disciplines to engage with this transformative theme. By exploring the intersections of queer ecology, indigenous perspectives, and the arts, we endeavor to enrich our appreciation of artistic expressions, indigenous wisdom, and the potential for inclusive and sustainable futures.

For inquiries and submissions, please contact Henry Kaap (kaapulmer-verein.de). We eagerly anticipate your contributions and the thought-provoking discussions they will inspire.

For more information about “kritische berichte” in general visit: https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/kb/index