Concept Of Queer Way Of Life In Judith Halberstam's Essay '

The notion of a “queer way of life” presented in Judith Halberstam’s essay, Queer Temporalities and Postmodern Geographies, can be quite jarring upon one’s first encounter with the alternative perception of the normal progression of a human being’s life; however, the continuous use of queer time and space found in Western contemporary films demonstrates our society’s acceptance, and desire, for representations of alternative ways of living. The complex characters and storylines developed in the famous musical and film Rent capture the essence of queer space and time, which is the possibility of existence lying “outside of those paradigmatic markers of life experience -- namely, birth, marriage, reproduction, and death” (Halberstam 365). Touching

Throughout the entire play, audiences are exposed to atypical characters who, despite their adversities, actively participate in their negatively viewed life choices. For example, Mark and Roger, two of the main characters, attempt to make careers out of their passions: Mark as a filmmaker, and Roger as a musician. Whilst acknowledging their poverty, such as when Mark explains how they are both “hungry and frozen,” they also openly admit that their “uncomfortable” life was created with agency, determined by Roger’s immediate response saying, “Some life that we’ve chosen” (Rent). Although they may be struggling due to their alternative lifestyles compared to those with typical full time office jobs, it is clear that they have chosen to live differently from the status quo and demonstrates how Rent is a good portrayal of queer alternative lifestyles. This is reinforced in the conclusion of the play, which alludes to Mark and Roger’s upcoming successes in their particular fields of