In 2023, Oceanen launched its very first literary program series, The Queer Gaze, which has received Nöjesguiden’s Gothenburg Award in the Club of the Year category. For several events, we have invited queer poets and authors to curate an evening on Oceanen’s stage, each based on a specific theme.

The term “The Male Gaze” was coined by Laura Mulvey to describe a perspective that views women as objects of heterosexual male pleasure. In response, “The Female Gaze” emerged as a way to disrupt this dynamic and position women as the observers. With the program series The Queer Gaze, Oceanen expands upon these concepts, using the queer gaze to deconstruct all gender-based power dynamics, allowing authors to act as subjects and share their stories on their own terms.

In 2024, the series continued with guest curators from across the Nordic region.
Last year’s program kicked off in February with a tribute to boundary-defying love, curated by Nioosha Shams. The evening combined poetry, music, and conversations exploring queer relationships and identities. A March event, curated by Sandy Harry Ceesay, highlighted the body’s potential as a space for resistance and community through dance, workshops, and discussions. In April, Mona Monasar and Frej Haar delved into queer memory and archiving, with the audience actively participating in the creation of a living archive.
In May, the poetry collective BAM curated an evening in solidarity with Gaza, featuring Palestinian authors sharing their experiences through readings and discussions. The autumn program began in September with Nadia Maghder and Elias Sadaq, who explored anti-colonial ideas and alternative realities. October featured an evening with Lou Mattei from Page 28, focusing on translation as a queer artistic practice.

In November, Maja Lee Langvad examined new forms of kinship and family, while December concluded with Theodor Hildeman Togner reflecting on queer dialogue and communication.