CR_Desire%20under%20Conflict_the%20Pot%20ential%20for%20Queer%20in%20Hoda%20Barakat%27s%20The%20Stone%20of%20Laughter%20FINAL_HS%20SM%202%20%28CLEAN%20COPY%203%29.pdf (507.36 kB)
Desire under conflict: the potential for queer in Hoda Barakat’s The Stone of Laughter
This article examines Hoda Barakat’s original rendition of gender and sexual otherness in The Stone of Laughter (1990), the first Arabic novel with a queer protagonist, Khalil. The analysis sheds light on pre-modern Arabic literature’s celebratory depiction of homoerotic desire vis-à-vis the dearth and negative connotations of the theme in modern Arabic fiction. The article explores Barakat’s implementation of surrealism in her portrayal of Khalil’s sexuality and the reality of his choices within the context of the Lebanese Civil War (1975–90). Khalil’s queer identity, which marks his dissidence, becomes a form of resistance that challenges the status quo of his hetero-patriarchal society and the unresolved sociopolitical issues that led to the War.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Journal of Postcolonial WritingISSN
1744-9855Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
55Page range
352-366Department affiliated with
- Sussex Centre for Language Studies Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- The Middle East and North Africa Centre at Sussex Publications
Notes
This article was published in Issue 3: Special Focus: Postcolonial SexualityFull text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2019-07-10First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-01-08First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2019-07-11Usage metrics
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