Queer Nightlife and Contemporary Art Networks: A Study of Artists at the Bar
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This is an original and well executed article that argues for the unique role that queer nightlife have played in the circulation of queer Latinx art and performance in LA. The essay is elegantly written and a joy to read. As part of my due diligence, I will point the author to a few bibliographic suggestions they might consider. Most importantly, late queer historian Horacio Roque Ramirez whose work resonates with this so much.
Roque Ramirez, Horacio N. “‘Mira, Yo Soy Boricua y Estoy Aquí’: Rafa Negrón’s Pan Dulce and the Queer Sonic Latinaje of San Francisco.” Centro Journal XIX, no. 1 (2007): 275–313. it also called to mind the creative cultural work in the form of theater & performance art that happened around HIV prevention in bars. So it reminds us that these spaces have this longer history of being used as alternate "breaking off" spaces. Horacio's earlier work on centrality of queer Latinx nightlife AS organizing and as a vehicle for other large scale queer Latino organizing efforts. In other words, queer Latinx nightlife spaces have been able to play this more pivotal role in incubating contemporary arts, because they have long incubated so many other community projects. Roque Ramirez, Horacio N. “‘That’s My Place!’: Negotiating Racial, Sexual, and Gender Politics in San Francisco’s Gay Latino Alliance, 1975-1983.” Journal of the History of Sexuality 12, no. 2 (2003): 224–58. https://doi.org/10.1353/sex.2003.0078. Also, It is odd to me how under cited the incredible work of madison moore is, rather than provide a break down in a historical or sociological sense, they engage the queer nightlife through aesthetic. In fabulous they have a chapter called In the Club, but they also published an earlier piece on nightlife as form. moore, madison. Fabulous: The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric. Illustrated edition. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2018. moore, madison. “Nightlife as Form.” Theater 46, no. 1 (February 1, 2016): 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1215/01610775-3322730.
Author Response
Thank you for reading my article and providing feedback. I really appreciate your insights and recommendations. I agree that Roque Ramírez’s work is important, and I am thankful for your recommended texts. I have gladly incorporated references to both of these texts in my section on “Why Queer Nightlife?” (p. 3, lines 98-107). It was also gratifying to read how madison moore describes nightlife through aesthetic terms in “Nightlife as Form” and I have incorporated citations from this text in my section on Hernandez’s YOU party to further connect that labor as part of their artistic practice (p. 12, lines 488-491). I also added a short reference from “Fabulous” in my section on “Why queer nightlife?” (p. 3, lines 96-97). In both of the moore texts, it is interesting to me how they refer to art or even artists, but have not written detailed entries about the artworks themselves. This motivated me to update my introduction to address my intentions behind writing about art in these spaces, and how this framework can help reshape work being done in both contemporary art and queer nightlife studies (p. 3, lines 96-97; 108-11).
With gratitude,
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The current version of "Queer Nightlife and Contemporary Art Networks: A Study of Artists at the Bar" is outstanding and, in my estimation, ready for publication. The essay is cogent, strongly argued, clear, and compelling on multiple levels. This essay is rich and illuminating, and will be invaluable for those of us working in Latinx and queer visual culture. I therefore recommend that Arts publish the essay as it stands. I look forward to reading it in the pages of the journal and teaching it in my undergraduate classes and graduate seminars.
Author Response
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. I deeply appreciate your kind remarks and I am excited to hear about the interest and relevance of this article/scholarship for your work in the classroom! That is the greatest compliment to hear. Thank you again.
With gratitude,
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Congratulations on an excellent article. It is highly interesting, engaged and engaging. I particularly like the succesful combination of participant observation and theoretical and historical overview. A stimulating glimpse into a fascinating world and a great read. On page 8 one paragraph is repeated. Theoretically and academically sound.
Author Response
I truly appreciate your kind remarks. I am grateful to hear that my mix of participant observation and critical analysis seemed successful from your perspective. I was initially unsure about the format but became more comfortable with it as time passed! I also appreciate your help in pointing out the repetition of text. I will make this revision and re-submit the updated manuscript.
With gratitude,
