Queer Theory for Lichens

Bibliographic Data

ID5811501
AuthorsDavid Griffiths (0000-0002-4162-9804, University of Surrey, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume19
Pages36-45
Publication date2015-10-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueUnderCurrents Journal of Critical Environmental Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0843-7351 • E-ISSN: 2292-4736
PublisherYork University Libraries (PUBLISHER • CA)
DOI10.25071/2292-4736/40249
OpenAlexW4289782054
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited3

An article published in The Quarterly Review of Biology in December 2012 ended with the sentence: "We are all lichens." The article discusses symbiosis in organisms such as lichens as well as in humans, to argue that humans cannot be thought of as individuals by any biological criteria. In this article I follow this argument and offer a brief naturalcultural history of lichens to illustrate their argument and the work of biologist Lynn Margulis on symbiogenesis. Following this, I ask: if we have never been human - if we are all composites like lichens - then what does this mean for sexuality? I argue that lichens and other symbioses can open up a queer ecological perspective that can help counter the privileging of heteronormativity and sexual reproduction, and that this has consequences for both science and society

Argument (complex analysis · Heteronormativity · Lichen and fungal ecology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access