| Abstract: | “Seriality” is a useful critical heuristic for engaging the contours of identity politics, as it recognizes the limits of essentialism and simultaneously acknowledges its frequent necessity for accomplishing goals and building coalitions. Using contemporary debates about same-sex marriage, this essay places seriality into conversation with rhetorical theory to explore the discursive possibilities of this conceptual practice. While seriality focuses explicitly on the “practico-inert” materiality of objects, this analysis argues that the rhetorical features of seriality should be given more light to offer support for those valuing difference in democratic politics. |
