Queer theory with a Latin flavor, is it sustainable in El Salvador? An examination of male homosexuality in contemporary Salvadoran literature

Questions of belonging and representation of minority groups are salient topics in contemporary cultural and political discourse. We approach this question from different perspectives taking into consideration intersecting categories from different underrepresented groups. For example, analyzing literary works illustrates the marginalization of some groups. This dissertation then examines contemporary literary and cultural works produced in El Salvador, by Salvadorean authors. This dissertation will discuss how the homosexual male in this country is represented by queer and non-queer authors. By doing this, it will explore the advantages and disadvantages of queer theory in a Global North context, as a critical tool to approach homosexuality in the Salvadorean context. Paola Arboleda Ríos poses the question, “¿Cómo evitar la tentación de recurrir a teorías y expresiones…que desde el más allá, desde lugares de enunciación lejanos…prometen herramientas teóricas… para interrogar…los sistemas sociales de opresión homofóbica? (113). Following this line of inquiry, it will propose instead, an adaptation of queer theory con sabor latino. The works analyzed are Ángeles Caídos (2005) by Carlos Alberto Soriano, Entre él y yo (2013) by Luis Carlos Barrera. Followed by Heterocity (2011) by Mauricio Orellana Suárez; the documentary Imperdonable (2020), written by Carlos Martínez and directed by Marlen Viñayo. Lastly, “Injurias” (2004), a poem by Salvadorean writer Ricardo Lindo Fuentes and a short video “El dolor de quien soy” (2003) by Gabriela María Murillo Luna. I approach these works from theories of monstrosity, phenomenology and mimetic desire, under the overarching concept of masculine domination.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Spanish

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Nuila, Ennio A

Contributors dc:contributor

• Melendez, Mariselle
• Ledesma, Eduardo
• Moodie, Ellen
• Ramirez Mendez, Alejandro

• Gender
• Salvadorean
• Homosexuality
• Queer

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Ennio A. Nuila

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127448

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127448