Abstract:

This paper considers how the role of ‘Feel Tanks’ act as a queer-feminist methodological approach that resists assumed power dynamics, fixed boundaries and normative 'care' structures as a intervention in academic practices. It seeks to show it takes seriously Patricia Williams seemingly obvious, yet under represented argument 'that life is complicated is a fact of great analytical importance' (1991, p.10) to argue for more entangled engagement with what it means to be researchers. 'Feel Tanks' asks us to remix our relation to authorship and research -  how does it make us 'feel,' who and how are we holding ourselves accountable to complex histories of knowledge and as Alexis Pauline Gumbs asked in a wonderful seminar 'who do you breathe for?' (May 2020)

 

I focus on how by researching in this way, expending institutional resources, refusing to invest our time in ‘normative’ research, daring to dream the institution we all long for into being, we are already gesturing to a radical elsewhere. One which centres queer/trans*, Black, POC and crip knowledges, sustainability and joy.

​

Details can be found here: https://ontransversality.wordpress.com/