This course traverses the geography of New York City across time, exploring queer life worlds from the mid-20th century to the present. Through an engagement with literature, performance, and film, students will look at various experiments in the production of queer art and culture. From Jack Smith’s trash aesthetics to Lady Quesa’Dilla’s Chicanx-inflected dragtivism, queer art practice has continually transformed the landscape of New York City and fueled the development of vibrant underground communities. In addition to examining queer historical landmarks such as the Chelsea Hotel and the Pyramid Club, students will think through the ephemeral nature of queer subcultures and investigate multiple aesthetic models for queerness.