In a Queer Time and Place: Transgender Bodies, Subcultural Lives

Halberstam, Judith. "In a Queer Time and Place: Transgender Bodies, Subcultural Lives", NYU Press, 2005. Identity Amos Lassen "In a Queer Time and Place" is a small book with a lot to say. Halberstam looks at society from its cultural aspects and connects it to the understanding of the body. Using the transperson as her focus, she looks at identity. What we have is a critique which shows the relationship between gay issues and trans issues by showing how trans people are represented in all aspects of society. The descriptions are detailed and vibrant and Halberstam's commentary is very funny making this an enjoyable book to read. Postmodernism takes on a whole new look. The book begins with a look at Brandon/Teena, the young murdered transgender man who was murdered in Nebraska and Halberstam first looks at the way this was perceived by modern society and by the media. She them moves onto trans issues as seen on film, drag king culture and lesbian sub-cultures. This is a wonderful study of the visibility of the trans body in fiction, art, video and music and is a perfect place from which to begin a study.