I spent the weekend reading Exile and Pride by Eli Clare. A poetic read... stellar intervention for disability and queer studies, and a whole new interpretation of intersectionality that relies, quite literally, on the trees and earth in rural Oregon and the streetscape of urban Michigan. Eli writes about his upbringing as a girl of confused femininity on the West Coast. He relays the sense of exile and homesickness and loss that he still feels, especially realizing this through a relationship with nature that is no longer possible in urban life. But life in the city means safety and fun in a queer community - a new sense of freedom and belonging. Eli writes charismatically. I found myself imagining he was writing about me. Deep space, memory and nostalgia (named homesickness). So fascinating.
On a more upbeat note, guess what is all happening over the next two days in O-town?! Robert Smith? on statistics and mathematics at the Interdisciplinary Studies Conference this afternoon (3pm Agora), Allyson Mitchell's "Finding Your Outer Lesbian Sasquatch" tonight (7pm) at Perez Hall, and Judith "Jack" Halberstam's, "The Killer in Me is the Killer in You: Homosexuality and Fascism" tomorrow night at Carleton.
Over the next 48 hours, I will be gulping coffee, writing a page an hour and attending the events of these glorious scholars. SEE YOU THERE, TIGERS!!
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