In/Securities: Queer Life Narratives of Early Modern Times

This volume explores queer life narratives, challenging established norms and inviting readers to reconsider traditional ideologies. In/Securities enriches our understanding of identity.

The volume titled In/Securities: Queer Life Narratives of Early Modern Times delves into the rich tapestry of queer life narratives, aiming to present a diverse array of experiences rather than a singular perspective. It challenges readers to reconsider established ideologies, norms, and personal boundaries. This exploration encourages a process of unlearning hasty judgments and the often discriminatory attitudes towards what is perceived as different. By opening up discussions around these themes, the book creates a space for deeper understanding and acceptance.

Focusing on queer dimensions of literary lives, the contributors highlight how various insecurities and moments of irritation can serve as catalysts for challenging entrenched norms and hierarchies. The text scrutinizes the rigid frameworks of meaning and the processes of heteronormative standardization, questioning the intellectual foundations that uphold these structures. In doing so, In/Securities brings to light the importance of recognizing and addressing the complexities of queer identities and experiences.

Through nine compelling chapters, the book examines literary works from the 17th century, including figures from the Thirty Years’ War, alongside contemporary authors. These narratives reveal techniques of self-assertion and protection, disrupting traditional societal and epistemological orders. By highlighting the limitations of conventional markers of identity and exposing the discriminatory power structures of their time, the contributors to In/Securities provide a nuanced understanding of queer life across different historical contexts.