Date: Sep 17, 2007

Conference to Examine the Search for the "Queer Exotic"as a Means of Self-Discovery

Internal tolerance, inclusion in international queer politics to be discussed

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – The search for the exotic as a means of finding ourselves is a central them in the conference “Queer Exoticism,” which will be held at Hofstra Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12, 2007 in the Lowenfeld Conference and Exhibition Hall, 10th Floor, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, south campus.

“Our search for the exotic has always been a veiled attempt to find our hidden or not-yet-determined identity,” said conference director David A. Powell, Ph.D., director of LGBT Studies at Hofstra. “Often the foreigner symbolizes s/he who would be different but who is, in fact, that element of ourselves we seek to (re)discover. Looking abroad, then, is a commonplace metaphor for looking inside. Foreigners in literature and cinema commonly stand for the queer aspects we secretly hope to see represented. How does gazing at the foreigner or being the foreigner evoke queer desires that are often left unspoken?”

The conference will also examine the role of American intellectuals and activists in a movement not just of internal tolerance but also toward greater inclusion in international queer politics, Dr. Powell said.

“How has the current state of American policy regarding same-sex couples encouraged American queers to look abroad, not just for exoticism but for civil rights policy, immigration policy, adoption policy, inheritance policy, etc.? As the country's politicians and moral leaders debate same-sex marriage, they continue to reduce queer discourse to an isolationist conception of the issues, leaving aside our potential participation in an international network.”

Using largely literature and film, panels will look at historical and contemporary examples of queer culture within various societies and discuss legal issues such as queer immigration and same-sex marriage. The conference will also feature a dance presentation with choreography by a Hofstra alumnus and a banquet Friday night.

For information, contact the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669 or hofculctr@hofstra.edu

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, and a School of Law.

Related Link: LGBT Conference