Introduction: Why Queer German History?
Jennifer V. Evans
This essay examines ways in which historians might learn from queer approaches to the past. Drawing inspiration theory and ideas long circulating cultural, literary medieval studies, it argues that there is much be gained when we adopt a more self-reflexive, genealogical, context-specific analysis of lives lived. A queered history interrogates whether our guiding questions assumptions actually foreclose possible lines analysis, especially around matters identity. Emphasizing overlap, contingency, ambiguity complexity, asks us linger over own assumptions—individual as well societal—to interrogate role they play past seek out, discover recreate writing. Not just preserve scholars LGBT history, universal experience, suggests new historical pivots periodizations, while pointing out unconscious progressive narrative arcs often seep into analyses.
German History