“Europa ou Sivriada” and “Cidadania em Transição”

A Study of Bodies in Transition in two Chronicles by Paul B. Preciado

Abstract

This article is a study of two chronicles from the book “Um apartamento em Urano – crônicas da travessia”, a work that depicts the experiences of queer philosopher Paul Beatriz Preciado during his gender transition/reassignment while traveling around the world. In “Europa ou Sivriada”, the author writes about traversing the streets and islands of Istanbul, about art installations, and the walks he took alone or accompanied by participants of the art biennial that was taking place in the city, portraying conflicting realities and subjugated bodies. His role is to write about the Istanbul Art Biennial, which he does from his dissident and insurgent perspective. In “Cidadania em transição”, Preciado writes about the possible relationships between trans bodies, migrants, refugees, and exiles in the face of the forces of production, surveillance, selection, and exclusion of identities, particularly in the neoliberal nation-state context. This article presents references to symbols used by the author, unveils real meanings and historical contributions, and analyzes the information and correlations established in each chronicle and between them. Some fundamental theorists for the analysis include Augé (2003), Certeau (2001; 2008), Butler (2015), Merleau-Ponty (2006), and Tuan (1983).