The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through Kari
Cities, marked by the strains of neoliberalism and neoconservatism, direct bodies in specific directions and orient themselves to regulate what counts as “good” and “poor.” While neoliberalism promotes individualism, neoconservatism is centered on conserving specific ways of life. The life of the so...
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| Language: | English |
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The International Academic Forum
2025-07-01
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| Series: | IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-cultural-studies/volume-10-issue-1/article-8/ |
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| author | Nanjani Gandhi S. Visaka Devi |
| author_facet | Nanjani Gandhi S. Visaka Devi |
| author_sort | Nanjani Gandhi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cities, marked by the strains of neoliberalism and neoconservatism, direct bodies in specific directions and orient themselves to regulate what counts as “good” and “poor.” While neoliberalism promotes individualism, neoconservatism is centered on conserving specific ways of life. The life of the social, impressed upon by these two strains, results in the process of embodiment vis-a-vis these influences. The city is mapped according to certain ideological frameworks, and it is difficult to feel at ease for bodies that do not subscribe to them. The current text analyses how urban spaces can foreclose themselves to queer people due to their inability to navigate life according to social norms. This paper endeavors to unravel the intricate dynamics between spatial exploration, feelings of estrangement, and the potential for reconnection within the neoliberal and neoconservative urban environments. It does so by a close reading of Amrutha Patil’s (2008) graphic novel Kari. Within the theoretical framework of phenomenology, the paper argues that after Kari’s engagement with the unproductive and unconventional spaces helps her reintegration into society as a more evolved version of herself. Focusing on Kari’s interactions with atypical spaces such as the sewers, dubious alleys, and the residence of an ill acquaintance/friend, the research aims to decipher how these locales amplify a sense of detachment from mainstream society, at the same time connecting her to the city. Rather than accepting alienation passively, the study looks at Kari’s engagement with such spaces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-38206841268544fbbdf8d8d7ded6e5f8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2187-4905 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | The International Academic Forum |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-38206841268544fbbdf8d8d7ded6e5f82025-08-20T03:12:20ZengThe International Academic ForumIAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies2187-49052025-07-0110119121010.22492/ijcs.10.1.08The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through KariNanjani Gandhi0S. Visaka Devi1 Pondicherry University, India Pondicherry University, IndiaCities, marked by the strains of neoliberalism and neoconservatism, direct bodies in specific directions and orient themselves to regulate what counts as “good” and “poor.” While neoliberalism promotes individualism, neoconservatism is centered on conserving specific ways of life. The life of the social, impressed upon by these two strains, results in the process of embodiment vis-a-vis these influences. The city is mapped according to certain ideological frameworks, and it is difficult to feel at ease for bodies that do not subscribe to them. The current text analyses how urban spaces can foreclose themselves to queer people due to their inability to navigate life according to social norms. This paper endeavors to unravel the intricate dynamics between spatial exploration, feelings of estrangement, and the potential for reconnection within the neoliberal and neoconservative urban environments. It does so by a close reading of Amrutha Patil’s (2008) graphic novel Kari. Within the theoretical framework of phenomenology, the paper argues that after Kari’s engagement with the unproductive and unconventional spaces helps her reintegration into society as a more evolved version of herself. Focusing on Kari’s interactions with atypical spaces such as the sewers, dubious alleys, and the residence of an ill acquaintance/friend, the research aims to decipher how these locales amplify a sense of detachment from mainstream society, at the same time connecting her to the city. Rather than accepting alienation passively, the study looks at Kari’s engagement with such spaces.https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-cultural-studies/volume-10-issue-1/article-8/amrutha patilgraphic novelneoliberalismneoconservatismphenomenologysouth asian queer fiction |
| spellingShingle | Nanjani Gandhi S. Visaka Devi The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through Kari IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies amrutha patil graphic novel neoliberalism neoconservatism phenomenology south asian queer fiction |
| title | The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through Kari |
| title_full | The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through Kari |
| title_fullStr | The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through Kari |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through Kari |
| title_short | The Queer State of Being: Navigating the Neoliberal City through Kari |
| title_sort | queer state of being navigating the neoliberal city through kari |
| topic | amrutha patil graphic novel neoliberalism neoconservatism phenomenology south asian queer fiction |
| url | https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-cultural-studies/volume-10-issue-1/article-8/ |
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