Diffractively Watching Queer Eye: difficult knowledge through critical posthumanism and neoliberalism

Wilde, Poppy (2022) Diffractively Watching Queer Eye: difficult knowledge through critical posthumanism and neoliberalism. Interconnections: Journal of Posthumanism, 1 (2). ISSN 2564-260X

Preview

Text Diffractively Watching Queer Eye - REVISED version.pdf - Accepted Version Download (404kB)

Abstract

Utilising a method of “diffractive watching” of the first of the 2018 series Queer Eye (Netflix) this article explores how qualitative methods can respond to different approaches to research brought to the forefront through philosophies of critical posthumanism and new materialism, whilst still understanding how these operate with neoliberal structures and discourses. Using Lather’s concept of difficult knowledge, the article suggests that posthumanism and neoliberalism might be read diffractively through one another, despite their potentially contradictory value structures of individuality vs. multiplicity, and individual agency vs. emergence. The supposed contradictions in the research are drawn through different diffractive prepositions, to demonstrate the insights offered by embracing complexity and avoiding representational readings of texts. This article, therefore, contributes an original methodological approach to textual analysis, as well as an original theoretical negotiation of the ways in which we can extend neoliberal and posthuman critique by diffractively reading them through one another.

Item Type:	Article
Dates:	Date Event 18 February 2022 Accepted 30 November 2022 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Difficult knowledge, diffractive methodology, Queer Eye, critical posthumanism, neoliberalism, makeover television
Subjects:	CAH24 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01-05 - media studies
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > College of English and Media
Depositing User:	Poppy Wilde
Date Deposited:	03 Mar 2022 12:40
Last Modified:	21 Jan 2025 13:46
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/12921

Actions (login required)

View Item