Lee Edelman (born 1953) is an American literary critic and academic. He is a professor of English at

Tufts University Tufts University is a private research university in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, with additional facilities in Boston and Grafton, as well as Talloires, France. Tufts also has several Doctor of Physical Therapy p ...

. He is the author of four books.

Early life

Lee Edelman was born in 1953. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

, and he received an MPhil and a PhD from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

Career

Edelman began his academic career as a scholar of twentieth-century American poetry. He has since become active in the development, dissemination, and rethinking of

queer theory Queer theory is a field of post-structuralist critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of queer studies (formerly often known as gay and lesbian studies) and women's studies. The term "queer theory" is broadly associated with the study a ...

. His current work explores the intersections of sexuality, rhetorical theory, cultural politics, and film. He holds an appointment as the Fletcher Professor of English Literature and has served as the Chair of the English Department. He gained international recognition for his books about queer theory,

post-structuralism Post-structuralism is a philosophical movement that questions the objectivity or stability of the various interpretive structures that are posited by structuralism and considers them to be constituted by broader systems of Power (social and poli ...

psychoanalytic theory Psychoanalytic theory is the theory of the innate structure of the human soul and the dynamics of personality development relating to the practice of psychoanalysis, a method of research and for treating of Mental disorder, mental disorders (psych ...

, and

cultural studies Cultural studies is an academic field that explores the dynamics of contemporary culture (including the politics of popular culture) and its social and historical foundations. Cultural studies researchers investigate how cultural practices rel ...

. Edelman is the author of four books. His first book, ''Transmemberment of Song: Hart Crane's Anatomies of Rhetoric and Desire'', is a critique of

Hart Crane Harold Hart Crane (July 21, 1899 – April 27, 1932) was an American poet. Inspired by the Romantics and his fellow Modernists, Crane wrote highly stylized poetry, often noted for its complexity. His collection '' White Buildings'' (1926), feat ...

's poetry. His second book, ''Homographesis: Essays in Gay Literary and Cultural Theory'', explores the significance of

gay literature Gay literature is a collective term for literature produced by or for the gay community which involves characters, plot lines, and/or themes portraying male homosexual behavior. Overview and history Because the social acceptance of homosexuali ...

. His third book, ''No Future: Queer Theory and the Death Drive'', is a post-Lacanian analysis of

. Edelman's work has been contentious in queer theory, with José Esteban Muñoz's '' Cruising Utopia'' polemicizing against his "queer negativity." A 2005 Modern Language Association Conference held a special symposium on the subject, with participants Robert L. Caserio, Lee Edelman, Jack Halberstam, José Esteban Muñoz and Tim Dean debating the utility of the critique of

reproductive futurism In queer theory and psychoanalysis, reproductive futurism is the concept that people place value over the future — such as having children — over their current situations. It was created by scholar Lee Edelman in his work '' No Future''. Bac ...

Personal life

Edelman is married to critic and fellow English professor Joseph Litvak.

Bibliography

Books

* * * *Edelman, Lee (2023). ''Bad Education. Why Queer Theory Teaches Us Nothing''. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. ISBN 9781478018629

Selected Articles

* * ''A review of:'' *

References

External links

Faculty webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelman, Lee 1953 births American academics of English literature Living people Northwestern University alumni Queer theorists Tufts University faculty Yale University alumni Gay academics Gay Jews