Jose Munoz. (2009) ‘Preface’ (pp. i-xiv) and ‘Introduction’ from Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics (pp. 1-34)

In this text, Munoz investigates the idea of disidentification. Munoz’s theory of disidentification is developed from Michel Pecheuz’s comprehension of disidentification and how dominant forces punish and attempt to erase what does not fit into the norm of mainstream culture.

Munoz states disidentification is used as a survival strategy by minority groups to negotiate the majoritarian public sphere of the heterosexual, normative white, middle class. They do this in various ways, one being performance. Queer theatre and many queer artists use parody and satire to create performance material that, in turn, takes away dominant oppressive capabilities. Munoz draws examples from an artistic performance from Gomez, which plays on lesbian stereotypes to further demonstrate his argument. Munoz argues disidentification is a performance in itself. It is a proactive way of working on, with and against dominant ideology; a method of reworking cultural codes of the mainstream to immerse disidentifying subjects into it.

Munoz also states that subjects with more than one minority identity have a more challenging time identifying, thereby supporting Crenshaw's theory of intersectionality.

The text explores the psychoanalysis theory from Laura Mulvey and transvestism. It investigates how Miriam Hansen and other scholars of the time argued against this theory. They put forth the idea that in fact, within the male gaze, disidentification can arise and be deployed by minority spectators.

This reading has links to Anzaldua’s. Anzaldua discusses what it means to live in the margins of different categories, whether these be ethnic, gender or sexual. She discusses how can be forced to choose a community to belong to and therefore betray another. In Anzalduas case it’s the betrayal of her Chicano community by not conforming to the prescribed roles for women and identifying as lesbian. As discussed in Munoz article some communities see homosexuality as a white thing, and therefore further segregates queer people of colour, not within their own ethnic communities. Disidentification and queer theatre not only helps the marginalised to create new spheres to operate within it creates a sense of belonging and helps to challenging dominant oppressive structures.