63/Queerness, Literature and Revolution (With Saleem Haddad)

Today we'll be talking to Saleem Haddad. He is the author of Guapa, the director of Marco and a 2nd time guest on The Fire These Times. Topics discussed: What constitutes queer literature?; Muhammad Abdelnabi; Ocean Vuong;  James Baldwin; The Personal is Political; Pedro Lemebel; Israeli  pinkwashing; criticizing the so-called ‘gay international’ by Joseph  Massad; how ‘anti-imperialism’ and ‘post-colonialism’ is used by  authoritarian groups and regimes including Hezbollah and Assad;  Queerness in revolutionary settings (in the Arab-majority world);  Revolutionary feminism; LGBTQ liberation and the Syrian revolution;  being sensitive to authoritarian logic; queerness as a changing and  developing identity; understanding social constructs. Books/Works Mentioned: In the spider’s room: a novel by Muhammad Abdelnabi On earth we’re briefly gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Go tell it on the mountain by James Baldwin Manifesto (I speak for my difference) by Pedro Lemebel Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi Cleanness by Garth Greenwell The appointment by Katharina Volckmer PATREON Help me make more podcast episodes by supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/firethesetimes PAYPAL If you'd rather make a one-time donation you can do it via PayPal: https://paypal.me/ibnbaldwin BLOG POST https://thefirethisti.me/2021/02/16/63-queerness-literature-and-revolution-with-saleem-haddad/ If you can’t donate anything, you can still support this project by  sharing with your friends and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts! Music by Tarabeat.