The University of New Mexico’s Department of Communication & Journalism is hosting a series of lectures on Queer and Trans Studies throughout the month of March. 

Benjamin LeMaster

The first of the series features assistant professor from Arizona State University, Benjamin LeMaster. LeMaster’s lecture, “Constituting Trans Monstrosity, Performing Trans Rage: Transing Dystopia through Text and Embodiment,” focuses on theories of monstrosity and transfeminism and explores the dystopic potentialities that emerge as a result of “trans monstrosity” and its affect “trans rage.”

The lecture will take place on March 1 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Ortega Building room 335.

James Welker

The second lecture in the series features James Welker, an associate professor from Kanagawa University in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. His lecture, “Boys Love (BL) Media in Asia: Transformed and Transforming,” focuses on how young women and adolescent girls affect the way male-male romance is depicted in the media in East, Southeast, and South Asia. The lecture will also discuss how the representation of the LGBTQ+ community in these regions has evolved over time. 

The lecture will take place on March 20 from 2–3:30 p.m. in the Communication and Journalism Building room 156.

Gust A. Yep

Finally, the last lecture in the series features Gust A. Yep, a professor from San Francisco State University. His lecture, “Visions for New Worldmaking: Unpacking Communication, Normalization, and Violence,” will focus on the tensions between queer theory/queer studies in communication, critical intercultural communication, and trans studies in communication. This lecture also unpacks the relationship between communication, normalization and violence.

The final lecture will take place March 27 from 2–3:30 p.m. in Ortega room 335. 

For more information, visit the Department of Communication & Journalism website