Queer Silence: On Disability and Rhetorical Absence

New book by J. Logan Smilges

I’m excited to offer five copies of J. Logan Smilge’s new book Queer Silence: On Disability and Rhetorical Absence published by The University of Minnesota Press. Details below.

Background detail of a painting on canvas shows a partial view of the upper body and face of a purple figure, bearded and naked, against a gold background; title in painted white script, reading, "Queer Silence." Subtitle in white sans serif font reading, "On Disability and Rhetorical Absence," followed by the author name in white script, "J. Logan Smilges." Book cover by Amanda Weiss.

About the book

In queer culture, silence has been equated with voicelessness, complicity, and even death. Queer Silence insists, however, that silence can be a generative and empowering mode of survival. Triangulating insights from queer studies, disability studies, and rhetorical studies, J. Logan Smilges explores what silence can mean for people whose bodyminds signify more powerfully than their words.

Queer Silence begins by historicizing silence’s negative reputation, beginning with the ways homophile activists rejected medical models pathologizing homosexuality as a disability, resulting in the silencing of disability itself. This silencing was redoubled by HIV/AIDS activism’s demand for “out, loud, and proud” rhetorical activities that saw silence as capitulation.

Reading a range of cultural artifacts whose relative silence has failed to attract queer attachment, from anonymous profiles on Grindr to ex-gays to belated gender transitions to disability performance art, Smilges argues for silence’s critical role in serving the needs of queers who are never named as such.Queer Silence urges queer activists and queer studies scholars to reconcile with their own ableism by acknowledging the liberatory potential of silence, a mode of engagement that disattached queers use every day for resistance, sociality, and survival.

Seated on a stool, Logan is a white person with a mustache and shaved head, wearing a black sleeveless top, silver chain necklace, black pants, and black shoes. They stare directly into the camera without smiling. Photo credit: Hampus Danielsson

About the author

J. Logan Smilges is assistant professor of English language and literatures at the University of British Columbia.

Details

1) Any disabled person in the US or Canada is eligible for this giveaway. You do not need to disclose any details about your disability.

If you already received a book from one of my previous giveaways, please consider letting other people have a chance.

2) The first 5 people will receive a paperback or e-book. If you do not receive a reply that means the books have been claimed or you did not include all the required information. 

3) Send an email to DisabilityVisibilityProject@gmail.com with ‘J. Logan Smilges Giveaway’ in the title of the message. Do not reply to this post!!

4) Include the following information in your message:

• First and last name

• Mailing address

• Preferred format: paperback or e-book (pick one only)

Please note: I will send this information along with your email address to the publisher. They are responsible for confirming your details and sending you the book. Please be patient!