Christian is Subject Leader for Cultural Studies on the Combined Honours Programme. He is Year Tutor for stage 1 CH Cultural Studies students and for stage 2 CH Cultural Studies, Sociology and Criminology Students. Christian teaches on a range of Cultural Studies and Sociology units. He is unit leader for the elective stage 3 unit ‘The Body, Sexuality and Culture'. He teaches the stage 3 unit ‘The Culture of Britishness' together with Shoba Arun. He further lectures (during term 2) and provides seminars for ‘Identity, Culture and Difference’ (stage 2). He further contributes to the teaching of ‘Introduction to Media and Cultural Studies’ (stage 1) and ‘Academic Methods’ (Foundation Year). Christian supervises research projects of graduate and postgraduate research students, primarily in the field of gender and sexuality studies.
Christian joined the Sociology Department of the Manchester Metropolitan University as a lecturer in Cultural Studies in August, 2006. Prior to that, he held the Sociological Review Research Fellowship 2004/2005 at Keele University. During his employment at Keele Christian was an active member of the AHRC Centre on Law, Gender, and Sexuality. In the years 2004-2006, he worked as an Associated Lecturer for the interdisciplinary Gender-Studies and Queer Theory Programme at the University of Hamburg in Germany, for which he designed and taught modules on the history of the lesbian, gay male, and bisexual movements, the concept of transgression in queer theory, and discourses on bisexuality in sexual theory, culture, and politics.
Christian's major research interests fall into the following areas:
Current research: ‘Transnational Activism regarding Sexual Politics in Poland’.
In this joint project with Jon Binnie (Environmental and Geographic Sciences, MMU) we explore questions regarding transnational co-operation and solidarity in contemporary LGBT politics in Poland.
1997-2003: 'Gay Male and Bisexual Non-monogamies. Resistance, Power and Normalisation.'
This research project explored how queer non-monogamous relationships are built and maintained in the face of conflicting and hierarchical discourses on sex, relationships, sexual politics and ethics in a societal context of power and heteronormativity.
1996: 'Identity Formation and Sexual Politics. The Life History of a Jewish Gay Male Activist.'
This life history research explored processes of ethnic, sexual, and political identification in the life story of a Jewish gay male activist in Britain. It interprets the life story of this activist against the back drop of the reconstruction of the politics of the groups, organisations and campaigns he has been involved in since the 1950s.
1996: 'Modern Primitivism and Body Modification.'
This research aimed to deconstruct the discourse of 'Modern Primitivism' that has gained some prominence in certain non-mainstream body modification subcultures in Western societies. It explored questions around race and representation and cultural appropriation.
Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Von der Möglichkeit und dem Versprechen, viele zu Lieben – Diskurse über ”Polyamory“’, Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, Dezember 2007, 20 (3): 316-330
Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Racialising the Politics Transgression: Body Modification in Queer Culture’ in S. Murray and J. Cadwallader (eds.) Special issue on body modification, Social Semiotics, September 2007 17 (3): 275-292
Klesse, C. (2007) “How to be a Happy Homosexual?!” Non-monogamy and Governmentality in Relationship Manuals for Gay Men in the 1980s and 1990s”, The Sociological Review, August 2007, 55 (3): 571-591
Haritaworn, J., Lin, C.J., Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Poly/Logue. A Critical Introduction to Polyamory’ in J. Haritaworn et al. (eds.) Special issue on Polyamory, Sexualities 9 (5), December 2006: 515-529
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Polyamory and its “Others”: Contesting the Terms of Non-Monogamy’ in Haritaworn, J. et al. (eds.) Special issue on Polyamory, Sexualities 9 (5), December 2006: 565-583
Easton, D. and Klesse, C. (2006) ‘The Trials and Tribulations of being a “Slut” – Ethical, Psychological, and Political Thoughts on Polyamory’ in J. Haritaworn et al. (eds.) Special issue on Polyamory, Sexualities 9 (5), December 2006: 643-650
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Heteronormativity, Non-monogamy and the Marriage Debate in the Bisexual Movement’ in M. Barker and D. Langdridge (eds.) Special issue on Same-sex Marriage, The Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review, July 2006: 162-173
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Beyond Visibility, Rights, and Citizenship – Critical Notes on Sexual Politics in the European Union’, Inter Alia, Issue No. 1, URL: http://www.interalia.org.pl/numery.php?nid=1&aid=8
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Über den Gleichheitsmythos: Lesben und Schwule als Avantgarde emotionaler und sexueller Demokratisierung?’, Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung 19 (1): 15-35
Klesse, C. (2005) ‘Bisexual Women, Non-monogamy, and Differentialist Anti-Promiscuity Discourses’, Sexualities 8 (4): 445-464
Klesse, C. (1999) ‘”Modern Primitivism“: Non-Mainstream Body Modification and Racialized Representation’, Body & Society 5 (2-3): 15-38
Forthcoming:
Klesse, C. (2009) '"... und richtete den Blick auf sich selbst ...": Autoethnographie als Methode kritischer Sexualforschung', Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, Dezember 2009, 22 (4) (in print)
Klesse, C. (2010) ‘Gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe und das Prinzip Gleicher Rechte. Beziehungsvielfalt, Nichtmonogamie und Paradoxien lesbischwuler Politik in Großbritannien’, in M. Rupp (ed.) Gleichgeschlchtliche Lebensgemeinschaften mit und ohne Nachwuchs, Sondernummer der Zeitschrift für Familienforschung (invited contribution, submitted, pending)
Klesse, C. (2007) The Spectre of Promiscuity. Gay Male and Bisexual Non-Monogamies and Polyamories, Ashgate
Hartmann, J., Klesse, C., Wagenknecht, P., Fritzsche, B. and Hackmann, K. (eds.) (2007) Heteronormativität. Empirische Studien zu Geschlecht, Sexualität und Macht, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag
Haritaworn, J., Lin, C.J. and Klesse, C. (eds.) (2006) Special issue on Polyamory of Sexualities 9 (5), December 2006
Klesse, C. (2008) ‘”Modern Primitivism”: Non-Mainstream Body Modification and Racialized Representation’, in Malacrida, J. and Low, J. (eds.) Sociology of the Body. A Reader, Ontario: Oxford University Press (republication)
Erel, U., Haritaworn, J., Gutiérrez Rodríguez, E. and Klesse, C. (2008) ‘On the Depoliticisation of Intersectionality-Talk. Conceptualising Multiple Oppressions in Critical Sexuality Studies’ in A. Kuntsman and E. Mikyake (eds.) Out of Place. Interrogating Silences in Queerness/ Raciality, Raw Nerve Books: 265-292
Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Gender, Sexuality, and Race in Post/modernisation Theories on the Intimate’ in Alejandro Cervantes-Carson and Nick Rumsfeld (eds.) The Sexual Politics of Desire and Belonging. Interdisciplinary Readings on Sex and Sexaulity, Tijnmuiden: Rodopi: 59-79
Hartmann, J. and Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Heteronormativität. Empirische Studien zu Geschlecht, Sexualität und Macht’ in J. Hartmann et al. (eds.) Heteronormativität. Empirische Studien zu Geschlecht, Sexualität und Macht, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag: 9-16
Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Heteronormativität und qualitative Forschung. Methodische Überlegungen’ in J. Hartmann et al. (eds.) Heteronormativität. Empirische Studien zu Geschlecht, Sexualität und Macht, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag: 35-54
Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Kulturelle Praxis und sexueller Diskurs: Inszenierungen von Geschlecht und Begehren – eine Einführung’ in J. Hartmann et al. (eds.) Heteronormativität. Empirische Studien zu Geschlecht, Sexualität und Macht,Wiesbaden: VS Verlag: 189-198
Erel, U., Haritaworn, J., Gutiérrez Rodríguez, E. and Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Intersektionalität oder Simultaneität?! – Zur Verschränkung und Gleichzeitigkeit mehrfacher Machtverhältnisse – Eine Einführung’ in J. Hartmann et al. (eds.) Heteronormativität. Empirische Studien zu Geschlecht, Sexualität und Macht, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag: 239-250
Klesse, C. (2007) ‘Weibliche bisexuelle Nicht-Monogamie, Biphobie und Promiskuitätsvorwürfe’ in J. Hartmann et al. (eds.) Heteronormativität. Empirische Studien zu Geschlecht, Sexualität und Macht,Wiesbaden: VS Verlag: 291-308
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘But if I was a man, they would think I’m a really big pervert!’ – Bisexuelle Nichtmonogamie und Postfeministischer Diskurs’ in B. Haas (Hg.) Der Postfeministische Diskurs, Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann: 137-156
Klesse, C. (2005) ‘This is not a Love Song! Über die Rolle von Liebe und Sex in Diskussionen über Nicht-Monogamie und Polyamory’ in L. Merritt, T. Bührmann, und N.B. Schefzig (eds.) Mehr als eine Liebe. Polyamouröse Beziehungen, Berlin: Orlanda: 123-130
Klesse, C. (2004) ‘Macht, Differenz und Intersubjektivität im Forschungsprozess. Poststrukturalistische Theorien als Herausforderung an die Empirische Praxisforschung’, in: J. Hartmann (Hg.) Grenzverwischungen. Vielfältige Lebensweisen im Gender-, Sexualitäts- und Generationendiskurs. Innsbruck: Studia: 137-150
Klesse, C. (2000) ‘”Modern Primitivism“: Non-Mainstream Body Modification and Racialized Representation’ in Mike Featherstone (ed.) Body Modification, London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage: 15-39
Forthcoming:
Klesse, C. (2009) ‘Paradoxes in Gender Relations: [Post] Feminism and Bisexual Polyamory’, in M. Barker and D. Langdridge (eds.) Understanding Non-monogamies, London: Routledge (in print)
Klesse, C. (2010) ‘”I did it my Way ...” Relationship Issues for Bisexual People’, in L. Moon (ed.) Counselling Ideologies: Queer Challenges to Heteronormativity, Aldershot: Ashgate (in print)
Erel, U., Haritaworn, J., Gutiérrez Rodríguez, E. and Klesse, C. (2010) ‘On the Depoliticisation of Intersectionality-Talk. Conceptualising Multiple Oppressions in Critical Sexuality Studies’, in Y. Taylor, S. Hines and M. Casey (eds.) Theorizing Intersectionality, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (republication) (in print)
Klesse, C. (2008) Polyamory. Im Zerrspiegel heteronormativer Beziehungskultur’ in Die Maske. Zeitschrift für Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie # 3, Juni 2008: 49-51
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Bisexuality’ (2000 word entry) in G. Ritzer (ed.) The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology Vol 1, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers: 301-305
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Polyamory’ (1000 word entry) in G. Ritzer (ed.) The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology Vol VII, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers: 3477-3479
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘The Repressive Hypothesis’ (1000 word entry) G. in Ritzer (ed.) The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology Vol. VIII, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers: 3882-3885
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Von der Möglichkeit, viele zu lieben. Hamburger Konferenz diskutiert Theorien und Praktiken der „Polyamory“’, AK. Analyse und Kritik, Jahrgang 30, Ausgabe 502, Jahrgang 36, 20.01.2006: 30
Klesse, C. (2006) ‘Individualität, Politik und ethisches Schlampentum. „Polyamory“-Aktivistin Dossie Easton im Gespräch’, AK. Analyse und Kritik, Jahrgang 30, Ausgabe 502, Jahrgang 36, 20.01.2006: 31
Klesse, C. (2004) ‘Von “Homophobie” zu “Heteronormativität. Konzepte für eine linke Machtanalyse’, AK. Analyse und Kritik, Jahrgang 34, Ausgabe 489, 19.11.2004: 18
Klesse, C. (2004) ‘Heterosexualität: Die Macht der Norm. Konzepte für eine linke Machtanalyse – Teil 2’, AK. Analyse und Kritik, Jahrgang 34, Ausgabe 490, 17. 12.2004: 11
Klesse, C. (2004) ‘Gleich und Gleicher. Zur Produktion von Häuslichkeit in gleichgeschlechtlichen Beziehungen’, AK. Analyse und Kritik, Jahrgang 34, Ausgabe 486, 20.08.2004: 21
Klesse, C. (2001) ‘Standpunkt Theorie und Identitätspolitik. Über den Zusammenhang von Unterdrückung und Bewusstsein’, AK. Analyse und Kritik, Jahrgang 31, Ausgabe 451, 07.06.2001:16
Klesse, C. (2000) ‘Zur SM Debatte: Über Macht, Identität und Politik’, AK. Analyse und Kritik, Jahrgang 30, Ausgabe 443, 26.10.2000: 26; also published at http://www.akweb.de)
Klesse, C. (2009) ‘Bisexuality’ (600 word entry) in G. Ritzer and J.M. Ryan (eds) Concise Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers (in print)
Klesse, C. (2009) ‘The Repressive Hypothesis’ (300 word entry) in G. Ritzer and J.M. Ryan (eds) Concise Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers (in print)
Klesse, C. (2009) Book Review: Fedwa Malti-Douglas (ed.) (2007) Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender (Four Volumes). Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference (Thomson Gale), Sexualities, June 2009, 12 (3): 402 - 403
Klesse, C. (2008) Buchbesprechung von: Fedwa Malti-Douglas (ed.), 2007, Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender (Four Volumes), Detroit (u.a.): Macmillan Reference USA (Thomson Gale); ISBN: 978-0-02-865960-2 (set hard cover); eISBN: 978-02-866115-5, URL: http://www.genderstudies-hamburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/neuerscheinungen/encyclopedia-2008.pdf
Klesse, C. (2006) Book review on: Victoria L., 2003, In the Flesh. The Cultural Politics of Body Modification, New York and Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, Body & Society 12 (2) (June, 2006): 135-140
Klesse, C. (2006) Book review on: Jo Eadie (ed.), 2004, Sexuality. The Essential Glossary. London: Arnold and Anne Cranny-Francis, Wendy Waring, Pam Stavropoulos, and Joan Kirkby (eds.), 2003, Gender Studies. Terms and Debates, Houndsmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, Macmillan, Sexualities 9 (1) (March, 2006): 111-113
Klesse, C. (2005) Book review on: Clare Hemmings, 2002, Bisexual Spaces. Geography of Sexuality and Gender , London: Routledge, The Sociological Review 53 (2) (May, 2005): 365-368
Klesse, C. (2003) Book review on: Michael Warner, 2002, Publics and Counterpublics, New York: Zone Books, Sexualities 6 (3-4): 501-503
Klesse, C. (2003) Book review on: Paula Rodríguez Rust (ed.), 2000, Bisexuality in the United States. A Social Science Reader. New York and Chichester: Columbia University Press, Sexualities 6 (2): 268-270
Klesse, C. (2002) Book review on: Jeffrey Weeks, Brian Heaphy and Catherine Donovan (eds.), 2001, Same Sex Intimacies. Families of Choice and Other Life Experiments. London: Routledge, Sexualities 5 (1), February 2002: 122-134
Klesse, C. (2001) Book review on Momin Rahman, 2000, Sexuality and Democracy. Identities and Strategies in Lesbian and Gay Politics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; in Contemporary Politics 7 (4), December 2001: 346-348
Klesse, C. (1999) Book review on The Bi Academic Intervention (eds.), 1997, The Bisexual Imaginary: Representation, Identity and Desire. London: Cassell, Sexualities 2 (4): 499-500
Room: Geoffrey Manton Building (Room 462)
Telephone: +44 (0)161 247 6424
E-mail: c.klesse@mmu.ac.uk