Between all the (hetero-)normative categories, some archival materials tend to show irregularities. In moments of difference like these, Sara Ahmed’s concept of “Queer Use” serves as a valuable tool for further exploring such materials. According to Ahmed, the conventional notion of use imposes restrictions on possibilities, whereas altering the original usage aligns with her concept of “Queer Use”. Another aspect of “Queer Use” involves challenging normative uses that “discard” certain archival materials by deeming them “useless.” For Ahmed, both are precisely where “Queer Use” intervenes—to discover new purposes for such materials and, in doing so, to “queer” the archive. In this course, we will explore various definitions and methods of “Queer Use” and visit two physical archives in Bremen (Staatsarchive Bremen, Belladonna Archive). Additionally, we will examine the online catalogue of the Turkish State Archives, focusing on the “Ottoman Archives” section. These three distinct archives present both normative structures and special categories where Ahmed’s concept of “Queer Use” can be activated and practiced. The participants can suggest further archives, we should look at. The course meets every second Tuesday. The first meeting is on 15.10.2024 at 14:00. The room will be announced. Literature and the course plan will be shared in the first meeting. Reference: Ahmed, Sara. What’s the Use?: On the Uses of Use. Durham: Duke University Press, 2019.