MORTON, T. (2010). Guest Column: Queer Ecology. PMLA, 125(2), 273–282. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25704424
Morton’s article essentially proposes a new way of thinking about nature and our relationship with it, by bringing together environmental ideas with queer theory. He believes that these two seemingly different fields can create a “fantastic explosion” of new understanding.
Here’s a simple breakdown of his core ideas:
What is Queer Ecology?
• Challenging “Fantasy Nature”: Morton argues that we often hold onto a romanticised, idealised version of “Nature” (which he capitalises to show it’s a human idea, not a reality). This “fantasy Nature” is often defined by keeping out “dirt and pollution,” leading to ideas of something pristine and pure. Queer ecology wants us to let go of this false idea, especially as we are currently destroying real life-forms on Earth.
• Queerness is Natural: He stresses that “queerness is installed in biological substance” itself, meaning it’s a fundamental part of life, not just a human cultural invention.
◦ Biology shows that life-forms constantly defy clear boundaries – between inside and outside, and even between species.
◦ There’s no “authentic life-form”. Our DNA is a mix, often including viral code, showing how deeply interconnected all life is.
◦ Gender and sex are incredibly diverse in nature: Many plants and animals can be hermaphroditic, switch genders, or are intersexual. Heterosexual reproduction is actually a “late addition to an ocean of asexual division”.
◦ DNA itself is “performative”: Just like gender is a performance, our genetic code also “performs” or expresses itself in various ways. Sexual selection is driven by “sexual display” (what looks attractive), not just survival, leading to a “profusion of gender and sex performances”.
• The “Mesh” of Life: Instead of thinking about life as a neat “web” (which Morton finds problematic because it can be used to support “authoritarian masculinism”), he proposes the idea of a “mesh.” This “mesh” describes life-forms as a tangled, interconnected network that blurs boundaries between different species, living and nonliving things, and organisms and their environments. It’s incomplete and not easily captured.
• Rethinking “Nature” and “Worlds”: Morton, inspired by Judith Butler, suggests that the idea of “Nature” as a separate, closed system is built on artificial divides (“inside” vs. “outside”) that also underpin heterosexist gender roles. Queer ecology wants to “thoroughly revise” our understanding of nature based on how everything is interconnected. It also aims to “undermine worlds,” because “worlds have horizons” (boundaries), whereas the mesh of life is radically incomplete.
• “Collectivity” over “Community”: He distinguishes “collectivity” from “community.” A “community” (like Aldo Leopold’s “biotic community”) can be seen as a whole where some parts might be sacrificed for the greater good. “Collectivity,” however, is about consciously choosing to coexist without trying to make everything fit into a single, totalising whole. It welcomes the “arrivant” – the strange, unpredictable “other” life-forms.
• Erotic Intimacy with All Life: This means exploring “pleasures that are not heteronormative, not genital, and not confined by ideologies about bodily boundaries”. It’s about an “ego-shuddering intimacy” with all beings, embracing vulnerability and fragmentariness rather than trying to control or master nature. This isn’t just about human-to-human relationships but extends to our connection with all “strange strangers” in the mesh.
• “Dark Ecology”: This is a stepping stone towards queer ecology. It acknowledges the “zombielike quality of interconnected life-forms” to help us move away from seeing “Nature” as an ideal, fixed thing. It’s about being profoundly aware of our entanglement with life, like a character in a noir film.
Evaluation
Strengths:
• Bold and Fresh Thinking: Morton offers a truly radical and new way to think about environmental issues and identity, moving beyond old, problematic ideas.
• Deep and Connected Ideas: He brings together complex philosophy with science, showing that the idea of queerness is deeply rooted in biology and evolution.
• Breaks Down Barriers: The article is excellent at dismantling rigid divisions – between humans and nonhumans, male and female, living and nonliving – showing that everything is interconnected.
• Ethical and Inclusive: It promotes a more empathetic and less violent way of relating to all forms of life, valuing difference and coexistence.
• Challenges “Masculine Nature”: Morton sharply critiques how much traditional environmentalism is tied to ideas of “rugged individualism” and a “phallic authoritarian sublime”. This type of “Masculine Nature” is often seen as aggressively healthy, rejecting anything feminine, ambiguous, or vulnerable.
Things to Consider:
• Complex Language: Morton himself calls the article an “exercise in hubris,” and it uses very academic language and many philosophical references. This can make it difficult for a general audience to grasp the ideas or apply them practically.
• “Monstrous” Life: While he uses terms like “catastrophic, monstrous, nonholistic” to break down romantic ideals of nature, this language might be seen as off-putting or even nihilistic by some, rather than leading to a more profound connection.
• Theoretical vs. Practical: The article focuses heavily on conceptual shifts rather than offering direct, practical solutions for environmental problems. It’s more about how we think about life and nature than about specific actions.
In essence, Morton’s “Queer Ecology” is a powerful and challenging essay that forces us to look at life, nature, and ourselves in a completely different, more fluid, and interconnected way, moving beyond traditional, often rigid, categories and boundaries.