Studies on Queer Readings of the Hebrew Bible

What is it about?

Studien zu queeren Lesarten der Hebräischen Bibel (Studies on Queer Readings of the Hebrew Bible) are a thoroughly revised version of my scholarly articles written in connection with my PhD research at the University of Amsterdam. They focus on non-normative sexualities in the Tanakh or the Old Testament and related Jewish and Christian exegetical traditions as well as certain works belonging to the visual arts. These queer readings are developed within the framework of intertextuality. Not only certain passages of the Hebrew Bible are read queerly but also selected rabbinic sayings that build on these passages. Furthermore, some European works of art from the period of the Renaissance, the Baroque and the second half of the 19th century are discussed that significantly confirm the quasi-queer readings already prior to the scientific biblical interpretations of today by addressing pederasty, effeminate men, or sexually ambivalent figures.

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Photo by Sophie Popplewell on Unsplash

Photo by Sophie Popplewell on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Queer interpretations contribute to the goal of enabling more queer lifestyles today in order to support lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, intersexuals and others who question their sexual orientation or their identification with the sociocultural gender assigned to them. The application of queer studies to biblical studies, Jewish studies, and art history is an innovative undertaking that is unfortunately necessary due to the long and, to a certain extent, still existing homophobic and transphobic traditions associated with biblical texts.