Gender and Queer Theory in Contemporary Art: From Duchamp to Barney

An article featured in Artribune delves into contemporary art through the lenses of gender and queer theory, tracing its evolution from Marcel Duchamp's 1920 work Rrose Sélavy to Matthew Barney's Cremaster cycle (1994-2002). Duchamp's alter ego served as a response to antifeminism and antisemitism, a concept explored by George L. Mosse in his 1985 book Nationalism and Sexuality. This discussion links to Michel Foucault's ideas on biopolitics and Paul B. Preciado's 'somato political' theory, highlighting the rise in visibility for women and LGBTQ+ individuals after World War II, illustrated by George W. Jorgensen's 1952 sex reassignment. The term 'gender' was introduced by John Money in 1957. The piece also references Silvia Federici's Caliban and the Witch (2014) and Maria Lugones' The Coloniality of Gender (2008). Queer theory gained institutional recognition in the 1990s, thanks to Teresa De Lauretis. Notable artists mentioned include Cindy Sherman, Sherrie Levine, and Guerrilla Girls.