Marta Rose, a queer AuDHD writer and artist, and KR Moorhead, an AuDHD, gender non-compliant educator and author, explore the concept of neuroqueering. They discuss how identity and creativity can be fluid, challenging societal norms. The pair introduces 'spiral time' as a natural cycle for personal growth over linear productivity. They also tackle themes of shame, self-criticism, and the impact of compulsory executive functioning on neurodivergent lives. Their upcoming course promises to help creatives embrace these transformative ideas.
Neuroqueering challenges conventional norms by redefining identity and cognitive functioning, allowing individuals to embrace their unique experiences and resist authority.
Building community is essential in neuroqueer practices, as it transforms isolation into interconnectedness, enhancing creative expression through shared struggles and support.
The concept of spiral time reframes creative journeys as cyclical rather than linear, promoting a healthier relationship with productivity and personal exploration.
Deep dives
The Illusion of Stability
The concept of stability is often perceived as a desired state in various aspects of life, such as relationships, careers, and mental health. However, this notion can be misleading, as true stability is not reflective of the natural flux and change we experience. Embracing the reality of constant fluctuation allows individuals to release the guilt associated with not being stable. This mindset shift challenges societal norms propagated by capitalist structures that equate stability with success and self-worth.
Understanding Neuroqueering
Neuroqueering is defined as both an identity and an action that subverts conventional norms surrounding gender and cognitive functioning. This concept stems from the work of scholars who emphasize that individuals who identify as neuroqueer often enjoy redefining existing definitions and resisting authority. For example, someone may feel that their cognitive differences can inform their gender identity in unique ways, illustrating the diversity of neuroqueering experiences. The idea promotes a broader understanding of identity by recognizing that both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals can engage in neuroqueering practices.
Redefining Creative Practices
Neuroqueering invites individuals to deconstruct dominant narratives and impose new frameworks for creativity and work. It encourages a mindful shift from complying with societal expectations towards embracing personal methodologies that truly resonate with one's identity. Embracing inconsistency in creative processes can lead to fruitful outcomes, as individuals step back from imposed demands to focus on their authentic needs. This approach emphasizes transforming perceived failures into opportunities for growth, thereby enriching creative practices.
The Role of Community in Creativity
Building community is recognized as a vital aspect of neuroqueer practices, challenging the myth of the 'lone genius' artist. Collaborative environments foster creativity and allow individuals to share struggles and support one another in their artistic journeys. By leveraging community, neurodivergent individuals can reframe their experiences from isolation to interconnectedness, which is essential for creative expression. This paradigm shift suggests that collective experiences enhance the creative process and counter damaging narratives enforced by capitalist culture.
Embracing Incoherence and Fluidity
The discussions around spiral time illustrate the importance of viewing creative journeys not as linear paths, but as circular and spiraling experiences. Recognizing that progress involves cycles of activity and rest can alleviate feelings of inadequacy tied to productivity. Individuals can celebrate their creative explorations, regardless of whether they culminate in finished projects, as valuable learning experiences. This perspective fosters a healthier relationship with creativity and allows for a deeper engagement with one's work, reflecting the natural rhythms of life.
What does neuroqueering look like? What shape is time? How is executive functioning like compulsory heterosexuality?? All this and more in today’s episode featuring my dear friend Marta Rose, a queer AuDHD writer and artist who founded Divergent Design Studios, an online peer support space for neurodivergent creatives, and KR Moorhead, an AuDHD, gender non-compliant educator, author, and creative writing mentor. This fall, they’re running a 12-week course with Meg Max of Writers in Bloom called Neuroqueering Your Creative Practice, and I was curious to hear more about what neuroqueering means in their own lives.
* Marta and I mention the concept of “curatorial journalism” in discussing how she sees herself as a connection-maker — we got this from the writer Seth Abramson. See: his writing on metamodernism and metajournalism