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Queering Utopia: ACT up and the Disruption of Heteronormativity

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UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 5-1-2019 Queering Utopia: ACT UP and the Disruption of Heteronormativity Nicholas Lepp Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Communication Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, and the Rhetoric Commons Repository Citation Lepp, Nicholas, "Queering Utopia: ACT UP and the Disruption of Heteronormativity" (2019). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 3642. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/15778497 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. QUEERING UTOPIA: ACT UP AND THE DISRUPTION OF HETERONORMATIVITY By Nicholas J. Lepp Bachelor of Arts – Communication Studies James Madison University 2017 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts – Communication Studies Department of Communication Studies Greenspun College of Urban Affairs The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2019 Thesis Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 3, 2019 This thesis prepared by Nicholas J. Lepp entitled Queering Utopia: Act Up and the Disruption of Heteronormativity is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts – Communication Studies Department of Communication Studies Michael Bruner, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Dean Emma Bloomfield, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Donovan Conley, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Javon Johnson, Ph.D. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii Abstract The existing literature on queer utopianism tends to analyze static aesthetic artifacts as opposed to diachronic social movements designed to create material policy changes. This opens room for various criticisms of queer utopianism regarding it being too wishful and devolving into political and social forms of queer dystopia. In order to remedy this concern, this thesis seeks to investigate how queer utopic thought can be used to create long-lasting change. To answer this question, this thesis is broadly divided into two sections—one theoretical and one practical. My theoretical section delves into an analysis of the after-effects of queer utopic cuts and seeks to explain how they can create long-lasting change. My practical section uses ACT UP as a case study in queer utopianism and analyzes six demonstrations by AIDS activists as queer utopic moments. From both of these sections, I draw conclusions about how these cuts in heteronormativity can be used to create long-lasting change. iii Acknowledgements I don’t think I can put into words how much so very many people have helped me get to where I am today. It’s wild to think about how many wonderful and amazing people have supported me as much as they have. Without them, there is no way that I would have been able to accomplish all of the things that I have. That is especially true when I think about the work that went into this study. I will do my best to put into words how grateful I am for all of their support, knowing that there is no way that I can possibly thank everybody who has had such a powerful and positive influence on me up to this point in my life. First, to my advisor, Dr. Michael Lane Bruner. When I came and asked you to work with me on this project, I had no idea what I was doing. I sort of knew that I was generally interested in queer theory, but barely even really knew what that entailed. I would have never uncovered my love for critical theory without working under your tutelage. Reading Žižek, Lacan, Derrida, Foucault, Marx, and Badiou would have been impossible if you hadn’t pushed me to more broadly theorize queerness when I first started working on this project, and my critical toolbox is much more impressive because of it. Every time that I’ve ever been confused or unsure of what to do next, you’ve always been more than ready and available to help me figure out what the next step is. You’ve taught me that I should fight for my arguments and be ready to defend the things that I believe in an academic setting. And for that, I am much more ready to get into this wild world of academia. I also owe a huge thank you to the rest of my committee. Working with Dr. Donovan Conley, Dr. Emma Frances Bloomfield, and Dr. Javon Johnson has been tough but incredibly rewarding. Each of these three have pushed me to theorize in ways that I would never have even dreamed of. They have shaped not only this work, but how I think about rhetorical theory, queer iv theory, performance studies, and the world more broadly. They have reminded me that my work is never completed, and that I always have more learning to do as I continue forward with my research. And for that, I am so incredibly grateful. To the rest of the Communication Studies department at UNLV, thank you. Sarah Schiffman is the best COM 101 director ever, and has been so incredibly helpful as I figure out teaching. Chloe Powell is just an amazing human being who deserves to be praised all the time; thanks for helping me keep my sanity this past year. To the faculty who I have had the honor of having class with— Professor William Belk, Dr. Emma Frances Bloomfield, Dr. Donovan Conley, Dr. Tara Emmers-Sommer, Dr. Todd Jones, Dr. Tara McManus, Dr. Robert Futrell, and Dr. Sara VanderHaagen—thank you for engaging my ideas and thoughts in class. Even though the things that I was thinking were oftentimes quite strange and made no sense at all, every single one of you were always willing to help me learn and grow as a scholar and a person. To my cohort—Claudia Chiang-Lopez, Cynthia Kaiser, Amber Stephens, and Stephanie Willes—I would not have survived my time at UNLV without you. Having classes with you has been a treat and I am so glad that I get to call you my friends. I am truly going to miss you all. Donna Ralston, the administrative assistant in the Communication Studies department, deserves a special shout-out here as well. She is the only reason that I figured out how to go to conferences, how to sign up for classes, and how to correctly schedule my thesis defense. She’s also helped me when I’ve locked myself out of my office an embarrassing number of times. I oftentimes feel like Donna is not thanked as much as she should be, because she does a damn good job and a whole bunch of work for everybody around her. Donna is amazing. During my time at UNLV, I have had the honor of working with some of the best and brightest debaters in the country. Reece Aguilar, Maddie Frazee, Jeffrey Horn, Simon Lamsal, v Ember Smith, Josh Padilla, Kristian Thymianos, Stephanie Vazquez, Brian Warren, and all of the other UNLV debaters (there are too many to list), thanks for constantly challenging me to be a better coach and to better engage ideas with you. I am so incredibly honored that I got to be a part of your debate careers and broader education, even just for a short amount of time. I cannot wait to see what amazing things all of you accomplish. Prior to coming to UNLV, I got the opportunity to work under some of the best debate mentors there are. Mike Davis taught me how to be compassionate and caring while still advocating for what I believe in. Lindsey Shook reminded me that I always have room to grow and to be as self-reflexive as I possibly can be. Both of them reminded me to always chase my dreams and that I should constantly try to do good things in the world. Mike and Lindsey are not just my debate coaches, they are my family. To my debate partners, Mary Bobbitt, Oliver Brass, Cecilia Cerja, Sarah Cheung, Adam Diehl, Ellie Miller, Chetan Mishra, John Panetti, Shashwat Sharma, Chad Vickers, and Ryan Wardak, thanks for putting up with my constant high levels of stress and general bullshit. I have learned how to be a better person and scholar because of each and every one of you. Special shout-out to Shashwat Sharma, who I still miss everyday—I love you and thank you for the time that we got to spend together. To my parents and sister, thanks for always supporting me. I don’t know the amount of times that I called either my mom or my dad, freaking out about something that I needed to do. Every single time they would tell me that I could get it done, no matter what, and that I should take some time to make sure that I take care of myself. I never did take those personal days (sorry mom and dad) but I did always feel reenergized and ready to get back to work whenever I could talk to you.
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