Sometimes It’s Not a Switch, It’s a Dial: An analysis of the genderqueer narrative in Symptoms of Being Human, and the effects of genderqueer representation in young adult literature

Abstract

This thesis explores how and why literary representation of genderqueer narratives are important through an in-depth analysis of the young adult novel Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin, published in 2016. The thesis asks what the novel might teach its reader about the genderqueer experience, especially given the rarity of genderqueer representation in current-day popular media, and how the novel might influence the future of genderqueer realities. Through a close reading of the novel, I inspect Garvin’s implied readers and how he appeals to them, addressing both the positive and the negative aspects of how the representation is portrayed in the novel. Chapter 1 highlights theories on the reader and the structural choices Garvin has made in order to appeal to his implied readers, while Chapter two is devoted to discussing the queer theory presented in the novel, whether explicitly or implicitly, looking at why representative narratives are important when it comes to marginalized and stigmatized queer groups. I argue that the novel offers an essential introduction to complex theories and terminology regarding nonconforming gender experiences, paving the way for future genderqueer narratives and experiences.

This thesis explores how and why literary representation of genderqueer narratives are important through an in-depth analysis of the young adult novel Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin, published in 2016. The thesis asks what the novel might teach its reader about the genderqueer experience, especially given the rarity of genderqueer representation in current-day popular media, and how the novel might influence the future of genderqueer realities. Through a close reading of the novel, I inspect Garvin’s implied readers and how he appeals to them, addressing both the positive and the negative aspects of how the representation is portrayed in the novel. Chapter 1 highlights theories on the reader and the structural choices Garvin has made in order to appeal to his implied readers, while Chapter two is devoted to discussing the queer theory presented in the novel, whether explicitly or implicitly, looking at why representative narratives are important when it comes to marginalized and stigmatized queer groups. I argue that the novel offers an essential introduction to complex theories and terminology regarding nonconforming gender experiences, paving the way for future genderqueer narratives and experiences.