This paper explores how Maggie Nelson’s "The Argonauts" employs intertextuality and non-linear storytelling to deepen and embody queer themes. Drawing on queer narrative theory and the concept of autotheory, the study examines how Nelson’s disruption of linear chronology and her incorporation of diverse textual references challenge normative structures of identity, temporality, and narrative coherence. By eschewing traditional narrative closure and embracing fluidity, Nelson reflects the multiplicity and evolving nature of queer experience. Her use of intertext—particularly references to queer theorists, writers, and artists—not only situates her personal narrative within a broader cultural and intellectual context but also constructs a dialogic, relational mode of storytelling. This approach not only validates individual queer experiences but also creates space for collective reflection and identification. Ultimately, the paper argues that Nelson’s formal innovations are not mere stylistic choices but are fundamental to articulating and enacting queerness in literature.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Theoretical Background
- 2.1 What does 'Queer' mean?
- 2.2 Antinarrativity in Queer Narrative Theory
- 2.3 Intertext and autotheory
- 3. Analysis of The Argonauts
- 3.1 Non-linear storytelling
- 3.2 The Use of Intertext
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. References
Objectives & Thematic Focus
This research paper aims to investigate how intertext and non-linear storytelling are employed in Maggie Nelson's contemporary masterpiece The Argonauts to further queer themes. It seeks to demonstrate the significance of understanding the intricate interplay between narrative form and queer representation in literature.
- Exploration of queer themes and identities in literature.
- Analysis of non-linear storytelling as a narrative device.
- Examination of intertextuality and its role in meaning-making.
- Application of Queer Narrative Theory, including antinarrativity.
- Investigation into autotheory as a genre that blends personal narrative and theoretical frameworks.
- Unravelling Maggie Nelson's narrative innovations in portraying queer experiences.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Theoretical Background
"Queerness, however, is not just a category or a name; it describes the undoing, the fluctuation of parts. If it is a classification that attempts to capture something shifting and subversive and untamed, then it does the work of what naming (and taming) an affect – or feeling – might do: it harnesses something wild, something that only truculently obeys boundaries and borders." (Pearl 2018: 201)
This quote by Monica B. Pearl from Theory and the Everyday shows how difficult it is to define the terms ‘queer' and 'queerness' in a clear-cut way. ‘Queerness' can be expressed in many different ways, 'queer' people can all be very different from each other, and ‘queer' identity itself is fluid. In The Argonauts Nelson writes about Sedwick's ambiguous definition of ‘queer” which defines it as something beyond sexual attraction, something which opposes and fractures, and simultaneously acknowledges that the expression of same-sex attraction is the core of 'queerness'. Nelson concludes that “there is much to be learned from wanting it both ways" (Nelson 2016: 35f.). Within The Argonauts, Nelson expresses ‘queer' as something which opposes the norm. Nelson especially highlights the queerness of pregnancy, arguing that she found queerness in her changing body (Nelson 2016: 15f.).
In this paper, the use of the term ‘queer' will encompass sexual orientation or gender identity and the act of resisting norms and binaries. ‘Queer' embraces difference and fluidity, challenging fixed categories and celebrating the freedom to define oneself on one's own terms.
Some scholars argue that certain formal aspects of narration have commonly been employed by queer authors and can be inherently queer while others might be inherently heteronormative because of how they do or do not oppose the norm. In Leo Bersani's perspective, if narrative and heteronormativity mutually influence each other, queerness breaks stories rather than telling them and is an opposition to narrative (Bersani 1986: 101). Teresa de Lauretis argues that true queerness in literature arises when it refuses narrativity, challenging the common tendency of narratives towards closure and meaningful fulfilment (Lauretis 2011: 244).
Edelman believes that queerness opposes “narrative intelligibility” and “narrative teleology” (Edelman 2004: 132f.). Bredbeck even goes so far as to differentiate between gay narrative, queer narrative, and new queer narrative as well as antinarrative. Gay narrative is set out to question and change existing systems whereas queer narrative and new queer narrative aim to completely abolish heteronormative systems. Bredbeck also compares this to the terms gay and queer (Bredbeck 1995: 478f.).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research question, which explores how intertext and non-linear storytelling in Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts further queer themes, and situates the study within broader literary scholarship.
2. Theoretical Background: This section lays the foundational theoretical concepts for the study, defining 'queer', discussing antinarrativity within queer narrative theory, and examining the role of intertextuality in autotheory.
3. Analysis of The Argonauts: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of how Maggie Nelson employs non-linear storytelling and intertext in The Argonauts to portray and deepen queer themes, drawing conclusions from textual passages and pre-existing Queer Narrative Theory.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the findings regarding the intersection of narrative experimentation and queer themes in The Argonauts, highlighting the transformative potential of non-linear storytelling and intertext in literature.
Keywords
Maggie Nelson, The Argonauts, Queer Themes, Intertextuality, Non-linear Storytelling, Antinarrativity, Autotheory, Queer Narrative Theory, Identity, Gender, Sexuality, Narrative Form, Literary Analysis, Fluidity, Queerness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This work fundamentally explores how Maggie Nelson uses intertext and non-linear storytelling in The Argonauts to convey and enhance queer themes.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include queer theory, literary intertextuality, non-linear narrative structures, autotheory as a genre, and the representation of queer identities and experiences.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is to investigate the question of how intertext and non-linear storytelling in The Argonauts further queer themes.
Which scientific method is used?
The paper employs literary analysis, specifically a close reading of The Argonauts, informed by concepts from Queer Narrative Theory and scholarship on non-linear narratives and intertextuality.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part of the paper covers a detailed analysis of non-linear storytelling techniques and the use of intertext within The Argonauts, applying the theoretical frameworks established in the earlier chapters.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key words that characterize the work include Maggie Nelson, The Argonauts, Queer Themes, Intertextuality, Non-linear Storytelling, and Antinarrativity.
How does the paper define 'queer'?
The paper defines 'queer' as encompassing sexual orientation or gender identity and the act of resisting norms and binaries, embracing difference and fluidity, and challenging fixed categories to define oneself on one's own terms.
What role does "antinarrativity" play in queer narrative theory according to the paper?
Antinarrativity is presented as a fundamental principle in queer literary studies, positing that narrative primarily serves normative functions and that queerness arises from challenging traditional linear structures and tendencies toward closure.
How does Nelson's use of intertextuality contribute to the portrayal of queer themes?
Nelson's intertextuality, especially within autotheory, blurs genre boundaries, incorporates diverse queer voices from past and present, and connects personal experiences to broader cultural and intellectual contexts, thereby challenging normative narratives and celebrating queer diversity.
In what ways does non-linear storytelling reflect queer experiences in "The Argonauts"?
Non-linear storytelling in The Argonauts reflects queer experiences by prioritizing process over product, disrupting chronological structures to portray the fluidity of queer identities, and enabling the exploration of intersecting identities and experiences in a way that mirrors real-life conversations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Laura Schatzl (Autor:in), 2024, How Intertext and Non-Linear Storytelling further Queer Themes in Maggie Nelson’s "The Argonauts", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1593611
