Shame and the Literary Configurations of Queer Masculinities in Ivan Mrak’s „Ivan O.”
Shame and the Literary Configurations of Queer Masculinities in Ivan Mrak’s „Ivan O.”

Summary/Abstract: The relationship between queer identity and shame is one of the key themes in queer theory, with shame sometimes becoming a fundamental aspect of identity for individuals within the queer community. This article focuses on literary representations of shame in Slovenian literature, particularly in connection with queer masculinities. It examines the work of Ivan Mrak, specifically his autofictional novel Ivan O., which is the first autobiographical literary work with a queer theme in the Slovenian context. The article discusses the complex nature of shame and its impact on the protagonist’s life experience, exploring how shame influences processes of identification and self-representation in society while attempting to outline the trajectory of decentring queer shame throughout the novel.

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