We’re Here, We’re Queer… Or Are We? Queerness, Asexuality, and Communicative Capitalism on Tumblr

Abstract

In recent years there has been an explosion of LGBT communities online, Tumblr being one of the most popular social media sites among LGBT youth. The following thesis explores LGBT discussions on Tumblr concerning the terms “queer” and “asexuals”. My main question is why these discussions create such a negative and hateful environment. I write through the theoretical lens of communicative capitalism, a concept that describes the way communicative technologies are used for profit through capitalist and neoliberal means. I relate my topic to gender performativity, queer theory, and theory around slurs and their reclamation. I find that there are three main ways that contribute to communicative capitalism in this context: creating an increasing flow of information, disabling proper communication, and attempting to stop the discussions. There are aporias within the neoliberal view on technology, as well as within the terms I am focusing on, that create an ideal environment for communicative capitalism.