Jonathan Alexander

Jonathan Alexander is the author, co-author, or co-editor of 22 books, including the Creep trilogy, which consists of Creep: A Life, A Theory, An Apology (finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, 2017); Bullied: The Story of an Abuse (2021); and Dear Queer Self: An Experiment in Memoir (2022). Other recent books include the memoir Stroke Book: The Diary of a Blindspot (2021) and the scholarly work Writing and Desire: Queer Ways of Composing (2023). Alexander is Chancellor’s Professor of English at the University of California, Irvine. His latest book, Damage: Meditations on Queer Visual Art, is forthcoming from Fordham University Press.

Articles

Writing Sex: Garth Greenwell
WRITING SEX is a series of short interviews with contemporary writers who are breaking new ground in writing about sex and sexuality.
Jonathan AlexanderAug 23, 2020
On Dennis Cooper and Becoming-Nothing
Jonathan Alexander reviews "Wrong," the new biography of Dennis Cooper by Diarmuid Hester.
Jonathan AlexanderJul 29, 2020
Photographing a Bruise: Catherine Opie’s “Rhetorical Landscapes” at the Regen Projects
Jonathan Alexander looks at bruises and swamps Catherine Opie’s “Rhetorical Landscapes.”
Jonathan AlexanderJul 18, 2020
Come Together: Queer Art in a Time of Social Distancing
Jonathan Alexander discusses how to view Xavier Schipani and Paul Mpagi Sepuya's exhibitions from behind a screen and have them still mean something.
Jonathan AlexanderApr 14, 2020
Getting Hard with Nayland Blake: On the Artist’s Recent Retrospective in Los Angeles
Jonathan Alexander explores a retrospective of artist Nayland Blake’s work now on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Jonathan AlexanderMar 7, 2020
- Art & Architecture
- Gender & Sexuality
Unapologetically Queer: Kit Williamson on “EastSiders” and Revolutionary Representation
Jonathan Alexander interviews actor, writer, and director Kit Williamson about his show “EastSiders."
Jonathan AlexanderFeb 24, 2020
- Gender & Sexuality
- Television
On Millennial Fluidity; or, a Second Open Love Letter to Nico Tortorella
Jonathan Alexander on Nico Tortorella, gender fluidity, and contemporary culture.
Jonathan AlexanderNov 26, 2019
The Problem of the Reparative in the Shadow of Stonewall
Jonathan Alexander on addressing the damage done to the LGBTQ community in the wake of Canada’s recent move to provide reparations for queer people.
Jonathan AlexanderJul 1, 2019
- Gender & Sexuality
- Politics
When Speaking Is Not Enough: On Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Shout”
A new verse memoir about sexual abuse uses poetry to indict and heal.
Jonathan AlexanderMar 12, 2019
Storytelling Can Change the World: An Interview with Ashley and Leslie Saunders
An interview with the authors of a new YA dystopia.
Jonathan AlexanderMar 2, 2019
- Young Adult & Children’s Literature
Practicing Utopia: Recent Retrospectives on the Work of David Wojnarowicz
The powerful multimedia legacy of the late AIDS activist and artist.
Jonathan AlexanderJan 2, 2019
- Art & Architecture
- Gender & Sexuality
Going for Gold: The Work and Career of Brian Jordan Alvarez
Jonathan Alexander looks at the work and future of DIY internet media impresario Brian Jordan Alvarez as he looks to transition to the big screen.
Jonathan AlexanderOct 5, 2018
Being Cruised
Jonathan Alexander plumbs the joys of cruising as well as the ethical binds that attend looking at the bodies of others and being looked at in return.
Jonathan AlexanderOct 2, 2018
- Gender & Sexuality
Pedagogic, Not Didactic: Michael Cart on Young Adult Fiction
On the growing sophistication of YA fiction and its audience.
Jonathan AlexanderApr 8, 2018
- Young Adult & Children’s Literature
Fantasy Lands: Black Panther and Call Me By Your Name
Jonathan Alexander discusses the fantastical elements of "Black Panther" and "Call Me By Your Name."
Jonathan AlexanderMar 15, 2018
Feeling the Fear of Difference: Celebrating “A Wrinkle in Time”
A symposium on Madeleine L’Engle’s classic YA fantasy.
Cecil Castellucci, Cecilia Latiolais, Eric L. Tribunella, Hope Larson, Jonathan Alexander, Julia WaltonMar 8, 2018
- SF
- Young Adult & Children’s Literature