In this engaging discussion, Vanessa Agard-Jones, a Columbia University professor, delves into the concept of chemical kinship in Martinique, shedding light on the lasting effects of toxic pesticides like chlordecone. She addresses the racial and postcolonial dynamics of contamination and explores how these issues intertwine with ideas of political independence. Vanessa also introduces her theoretical framework, emphasizing 'chemical kin/esthesia' and molecular ethnography. Plus, she provocatively suggests that the chemical turn is, at its core, a queer turn that warrants deeper exploration.
