2024-11-11 10:32:00
“What will it be dam ? “. A “homosexual”, according to the Le Robert dictionary, which specifies the “insulting” nature of the term, recalls the preface of the work Damspublished by Points on Friday. Like the book Fennelpublished in June 2023 by the same editions and co-written by eight gay authors, eight authors transcribed, through different subjects and formats, what their lesbian experiences represented behind the word “dyke”.
Marie Kirschen and Maëlle Le Corre, creators and coordinators of the project, return to 20 minutes about what this term means to them, how they constructed this book and why it was important for them to propose a new work on lesbianism.
How did the idea for this collective work come to you?
Maria Ciliegie : A year and a half ago I noticed that Points Editions were about to release the book Fennelwith eight gay authors. I told myself that it was a good initiative and that it had to be done at all costs for the female side: the lesbians. I was convinced it was already underway. I then emailed the publisher to find out what was going on and it turned out that Maëlle had had the same idea twenty-four hours earlier. This is how we decided to coordinate this book.
What does the word “lesbian” mean to you?
Maria Ciliegie : When we are children, on the playground, we hear the words “faggots” and “lesine” as insults. We understand that homosexuality is bad, as it is what we use to insult people. And when we realize that the insult is about ourselves, it can be a heartbreaking experience to live through. So there’s something very powerful about reclaiming that term, about being able to say, “Yes, I’m a lesbian. So what? I’m proud of it and there’s nothing wrong with that. » This is a very important tool for fighting shame, especially self-shame.
Maëlle Le Corre : It’s a very strong word. When you face it head-on, it makes you so powerful. It did me a lot of good to reclaim the term ”lesbian”. I actually did this before I could call myself a lesbian. As a young bisexual, I was progressing so much in my feminist beliefs that at one point lesbianism was everywhere in my life and the term “lesbian” became obvious.
What is the purpose of this book?
Maria Ciliegie : Regarding the book Fennelthere is this idea of returning the insult and being able to show the multiplicity of voices hidden behind the word lesbian, with a work intended for everyone, accessible to everyone.
Maëlle Le Corre : Someone will perhaps say to himself: “Ah! A book about lesbian identities? Over and over about coming out. For us, on the contrary, the idea was to offer something else, to turn to authors
How did you select the subjects for these stories?
Maëlle Le Corre : It was a big bet because we found ourselves, for example, with Amandine Agić’s text, on intra-community classism in the lesbian and queer community, completely unexpected because it is a relatively taboo topic.
We were lucky because it was quite fluid in terms of topics covered, no one had to give up on a topic. Obviously there are things that respond to each other in each other’s lyrics but there are no repetitions that would give the impression that it’s repetitive.
The collective work “Gouines” was published on Friday by Points, with eight different stories and formats behind this word, whose authors are Amandine Agić, Meryem Alqamar, No Anger, Marcia Burnier, Noémie Grunenwald, Erika Nomeni and the project coordinators, Marie Kirschen and Maëlle Le Corre.– C. Clavreul / Ed. Punti
Maria Ciliegie : There are also different literary forms: texts that resemble short essays, No Anger wrote a letter to one’s younger self, we also have poetry.
How did you choose the stories you would personally talk about?
Maria Ciliegie : It was difficult to make a choice. I decided to talk to exes about relationships. There’s this cliché that lesbians stay friends with their exes (that’s not always the case, of course). But between us, we’re joking. So I wanted to think about it. It may seem light or funny but, at the same time, it says deeper things about the kind of life we want to lead, the kind of bonds we create and the ways of building our “chosen” families, which do not necessarily go through the couple and have children.
Maëlle Le Corre : I wanted to talk about the constraint of heterosexuality, a concept from Adrienne Rich, and how we construct ourselves as lesbians in a heterosexual world. Talking to friends, I realized that many of us have had this experience, which calls into question our legitimacy in calling ourselves lesbians. So I wanted to retrace my entire lesbian journey to get to the lesbian I am today.
The lesbian genius from Alice Coffin to the photo book Sapphic lovers by Léa Michaelis. I’m happy to see it Dams is part of this movement of publications on these themes which, for a long time, have been silenced and made invisible. It’s nice that a young lesbian – and not only - can walk through the door of a bookshop and discover different books on these topics and allow these different texts to dialogue.
Interview: Understanding the Significance of “Gouines” in Modern Lesbian Discourse
Time.news Editor: Today, we are joined by Marie Kirschen and Maëlle Le Corre, the visionary coordinators behind the recent book “Gouines,” published by Points. Welcome, ladies! Your collective work sheds light on the multifaceted representation of lesbian identities. Can you start us off by sharing how this idea came about?
Marie Kirschen: Thank you for having us! About a year and a half ago, I noticed the release of the book “Fennel,” which featured eight gay authors. It struck me as a vital initiative, but I felt there was a stark absence of lesbian voices. Coincidentally, Maëlle had the same thought just a day before! This synchronicity led us to coordinate “Gouines,” aiming to represent the lesbian experience authentically.
Time.news Editor: That’s fascinating! And speaking of representation, what does the term “lesbian” mean to each of you personally?
Maëlle Le Corre: For me, reclaiming the word “lesbian” was incredibly empowering. As a young bisexual, I embraced feminist beliefs, and over time, the label felt natural and necessary. It’s about ownership and pride.
Marie Kirschen: I resonate with that. Growing up, I often heard derogatory terms like “faggot” and “lesine” aimed at homosexuals. It was a painful realization to understand those insults encompassed who I am. Reclaiming “lesbian” is like saying, “Yes, I’m proud to be who I am,” which is vital for combating societal shame, especially self-inflicted shame.
Time.news Editor: It’s inspiring to hear how both of you have turned such painful experiences into powerful affirmations of identity. Moving on to the book itself, what was the primary aim behind “Gouines”?
Marie Kirschen: One important aspect was to transform the negativity associated with the term and highlight the diversity of voices behind it. We wanted the work to be accessible, showing that the lesbian experience is not monolithic and can resonate with a broader audience.
Maëlle Le Corre: Exactly! We aimed to go beyond the typical narratives surrounding lesbians. We wanted to explore different dimensions, so readers might discover fresh perspectives, not just familiar stories of coming out.
Time.news Editor: How did you approach the selection of topics and stories for “Gouines”?
Maëlle Le Corre: That was quite a journey! We encountered unexpected but crucial topics, such as Amandine Agić’s piece on intra-community classism, which is often shied away from in discussions about identity.
Marie Kirschen: We were fortunate that the contributors expressed themselves freely, leading to a collection of writings in various literary forms—short essays, letters, poetry. Each voice adds a layer to the conversation, ensuring there’s no redundancy while covering diverse landscapes of experience.
Time.news Editor: The variety must create such a rich tapestry of narratives. How do you hope readers will respond to “Gouines”?
Maëlle Le Corre: We hope readers will find something that resonates with their own experience or opens their eyes to new perspectives. It’s about creating dialogue and fostering understanding.
Marie Kirschen: Yes, and we want individuals, regardless of their identity, to feel empowered to engage with the topics presented and to see the value in every story shared.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Marie and Maëlle, for sharing your insights. The passion and dedication you have for empowering voices within the lesbian community through “Gouines” is commendable. We’re looking forward to seeing how readers engage with this important work.