Theorizing (post) Soviet Sexualities: Queer Archival Work and Filmmaking as Research Tools.

The workshop offers a series of reflections on sexuality from a queer feminist perspective. What does it mean that sexuality did not always exist? How did early ethnographic research contribute to the 19th century nationalist narratives that have resurfaced as a part of neo-traditionalist mythology across the region today? How can we challenge the nationalist backlash without reproducing the defensive logic of "being born this way"? How can we think about same-sex desire beyond contemporary LGBTIQ identity politics and Western colonial gaze?
We will look at ethnographic notes and archival materials from early and mid 20th century and discuss implications of research for activism and political organizing.

Workshop will be held in frames of the Feminist Film Festival FROM ROSA TO SIMONE and will be lead by Galina Yarmanova.

*Galina Yarmanova teaches feminist and queer theory at Sociology Department of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Galina was a part of the grassroots group Feminist Ofenzyva and led collective research projects on queer kinship and religious right organizing in Ukraine. A short research film “Wonderful years” is her most recent work in collaboration with a dear friend and comrade Svitlana Shymko.

We will screen the film during the festival From Rosa To Simone.
Check the full festival programme to the following link:
From Rosa to Simone | Feminist Film Festival 2020

Registration deadline: 5th of March