“Fabulous” is a word that has long been associated with being extraordinary, eccentric, flamboyant, stylish and more often than not “queer.” While it has acquired various meanings over the years, whether as a celebratory term within queer communities or a derogatory homophobic insult, particularly referring to gay men; its etymology also signals a departure from truth, and a creation of mythical and legendary worlds that have no basis in reality.
Through readings of literary and academic texts, film screenings, lectures and discussions, we will trace the history of the term “Fabulation” from its use in literary theory to describe a canon of works that do not fit traditional categories, to its conception by Bergson as a conservative practice ensuring the maintenance of the moral order and consequently the status quo, and finally its adaptation by gender scholars, feminist writers and queer artists as a language that has the potential to question the existing order of the world, overcome
difficult circumstances, challenge already formed identities and imagine alternative futures.
- Course owner: Mohammad Shawky Hassan