What do transitions have to do with the nation state? More than you think! Ava Kim joins me to speak about how conceptions of gender are deeply (and problematically) entwined with the nation. Ava speaks about powerful examples of transition narratives from Chile, Vietnam and Argentina to illustrate this and gives us a sneak peek into her forthcoming book on trans genre.  

References:
Ava Kim’s Still / Life: Trans Genre and the Politics of Anti-Development (forthcoming)
Ava Kim’s “The Future is Child’s Play” GLQ (2025)
Davy Knittle
Mellon Foundation
Christoph Hanssmann
Stem the Tide: Trans Liberation in an Age of Fascism
Travesti
Nyke Slawik
Lucía Puenzo’s XXY (2007)
Marlene Wayar
Mauro Cabral Grinspan
Winnicott’s space of play
Paz Errázuriz
Gina Apostol’s Insurecto
Jessica Hagedorn’s Dream Jungle and Dogeaters
Trans subterfuge
Balangiga
Sebastián Lelio’s A Fantastic Woman/ Una Mujer Fantástica  

Questions you should be able to respond to after listening:

1.      Are you familiar with the term travesti? Please look it up and find a helpful definition.
2.      Which forms of transition does Ava talk about? How do they relate to one another?
3.      In how far is transition a narrative form? What does this have to do with the nation as a form?
4.      How does Ava define trans subterfuge?
5.      What are some of the connections between nation and gender Ava and I speak about? Can you think of others? Have you ever been affected by any of them?