I come from two minds when it comes to the word “queer.” One is related to the specific academic mode of thought and its theories and politics, and the other is how I feel people lead their lives. Of course, one is not exclusionary to the other but when I’m reading Judith Butler, I don’t generally think of The Raspberry Reich, and whether I’m watching certain films, admiring some person, or listening to music, I don’t often think of Judith Butler. Queer theory can also sometimes be the vehicle by which queer art and experience can be evaluated, but, again, this rarely happens concurrently with the experience.

Queer art can be seen as taking the most normal things in our culture and reevaluating them as socially constructed. It asks questions of our most fundamental values. What is the point of the traditional family? What is the point of gender roles? What is the point of rigid sexualities? And most importantly of all, queer art generally has fun asking these questions! From seeing a cartoon electro-punk band to watching pornography that references New Left politics from the late 60s/early 70s to drag performance, queer art can be found anywhere that criticism of archetypal Western values can be found.

I obviously do not hold sole license on the word “queer,” though, and the definition of the word changes purely through its use in the popular vernacular. When I asked [X]press Magazine writers what came to mind when they heard the word “queer” almost unanimously the response was GAY! Our “Some of My Best Friends Are Queer” piece reflects this perception perfectly.

This is where I and many others depart from the typical American vernacular use of the word “queer” though. What happens when gay culture becomes just as restrictive and square as straight culture? What happens when a given identity (whatever that counts for) gives up its potential to affect real change in exchange for real estate and wedding registries at the Pottery Barn? What happens when this subset offers up its subversive tactics and world view in exchange for representation in advertising and effectively become a marketing niche?

This doesn’t smell queer to me at all.

Why is it that most people seem to associate the word queer with gay? Why is it that if it’s taken on as an identity, it seems to be taken up by people who sleep with people of the same gender? Why are most of the great queer theory writers or artists, ahem, homosexual?

I would venture to say that gay people are in a more unique position to point out the absurdity of life than straight people. When a group of people is pushed to the outside of accepted culture, looking back in can reveal some strange things to them. The existence of a gay culture with its sometimes inverted gender norms attests to the fragility of straight culture and any sexuality in general.

But, again, queer does not necessarily equal gay.

Queer in simplest terms can be seen as the opposite of straight – which is not necessarily heterosexual. Queer allows those that do not fit into ANY mainstream niche to possibly find a word for what they see; not necessarily as an identity but as something that can come off the tongue to describe the experiences, thoughts, or feelings of what does not seem to belong, but does belong just as much and possibly more. Queer attacks normal without question and without shame.

As an exploration of the concept of queer, I feel like we’ve come as close to it as a university magazine might be able to do. The articles range from academic with the exploration of the word “queer” in America, to aspects of performance with a group of drag kings out of Oakland, to the people whose sexuality falls outside of gay or straight or even bisexual. It explores the use of imagery, such as pornography, to not only entertain but inform, and how the imagery can be specifically used by people to find their own place. It explores lifestyles that might omit the opportunity for traditional monogamous relationships and sexualities where genitalia seem to be in the least consequential thing in the sex equation.

What conclusion I’ve come to in all of this is that queer is queered by the discussion of queer. Which is queer and which is great! The exploration of this word that my writers have done and we’ve done as a staff together has shown me that QUEER CANNOT BE CONTAINED! Its idea is too nebulous and too energetic to be locked up behind one meaning or idea.

So have fun reading this exploding piñata of ideas and thoughts pertaining to queer. It’s smashing fun.

And remember, yr never smearing the queer; queer’s smearing you.

Walter Crasshole