Dissolute pluralism: An ethics of queer thought
type: CreativeWork
description: Every practice has a theory, but multiracial queer social movements have centered theory in their praxis. In consciousness-raising and affinity groups, listservs and electronic forums, zines and community action research projects, participants frame the task of thought itself as collective and interactive, subject not just to evolving norms, but also to vicissitudes of duration, location, and timing, medium, ritual, and personality. I argue that the ephemeral character of these interventions is not incidental or regrettable, but designed to encourage organic participation and obstruct institutional codification. In turn, these values and tactics call academics to interrogate how they enter into this relay between thought and praxis, identity and community.
abstract: Every practice has a theory, but multiracial queer social movements have centered theory in their praxis. In consciousness-raising and affinity groups, listservs and electronic forums, zines and community action research projects, participants frame the task of thought itself as collective and interactive, subject not just to evolving norms, but also to vicissitudes of duration, location, and timing, medium, ritual, and personality. I argue that the ephemeral character of these interventions is not incidental or regrettable, but designed to encourage organic participation and obstruct institutional codification. In turn, these values and tactics call academics to interrogate how they enter into this relay between thought and praxis, identity and community.
author: McCartney, Kristin P
keywords: lesbian philosophy, queer theory, sexuality and ethics, identity politics, race and racism
date published: 2012-08-01T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:03:52Z
provider: DePaul University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: DePaul University