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Compares and Contrasts how Queer Theory is Utilized in Literary Analysis versus Film Studies

Kaelan Liu

Course Number: ESL 15

Ying Luo

09/24/2024
Queer theory, as a critical framework, aims to challenge traditional understandings of

gender, sexuality, and identity. Its application in literary analysis and film studies offers unique

insights and challenges. By comparing and contrasting how queer theory is utilized in these two

disciplines, we can understand its impact on highlighting gender and sexual fluidity and the

specific opportunities and limitations each medium presents.

In literary analysis, queer theory is often employed to examine how texts resist

heteronormative structures. In Judith Butler's theory of performativity, they think gender is not a

natural characteristic, instead, it’s an enacted through repeated behaviors. Gender is

performative, it is shaped by society. And people are all being disciplined by society. Butler’s

work allows literary critics to explore how characters in literary texts “perform” gender roles in

ways that either conform to or subvert the social normativity of gender. For example, in Virginia

Woolf’s Orlando, the protagonist, Orlando, experienced the life of two different genders through

their journey. The sharp contrast of social expectation based on gender mirrors Butler’s idea that

gender is shaped by a series of performative actions, rather than a stable or natural identity. By

using queer theory, literary critics can explore how texts offer alternative understandings of

identity, often focusing on the ambiguity and subtext that authors employ to navigate restrictive

social norms.

Literature offers a wonderfully complex place for exploring queer identities. Through its

metaphor, authors often write about queers that may not be obvious at first glance. Centuries ago,

open discussions of sexuality were out of the question. Writers had to be carefully embedding

queer subtext in ways, so that the people who would know could be profoundly revealing. Queer

theory in literary analysis helps uncover these hidden meanings, revealing resistance to
heteronormative frameworks and enabling reinterpretation of both classic and contemporary

texts.

When comparing literary analysis and film studies, a clear similarity is that both use

queer theory to challenge heteronormative narratives and offer alternative interpretations of

identity. However, they differ in audience engagement: literature provides a more intimate

experience with subtext and ambiguity, while film offers direct but sometimes symbolized

queerness.

Queer theory in film studies emphasizes visual representation. A notable example is

Paris is Burning, a documentary showcasing New York City’s drag culture, which vividly

illustrates the performative nature of gender as per Butler’s theory. According to a GLAAD

report, there are 22 (18.6%) films included characters that were lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ). This represents a slight increase from the previous year’s

report (18.2%, 20 out of 110 films) and the highest percentage of inclusive films found in the

eight-year history of the report. (GLAAD, 2020). Additionally, the Media, Diversity & Social

Change Initiative (MDSIC) found that films are about 1.5 times more likely than literary works

to feature openly queer main characters (Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative, 2020).

However, applying queer theory to film studies presents challenges. The visual medium

can oversimplify complex identities, with mainstream films often relying on stereotypes that can

reinforce harmful norms. MDSCI revealed that more than 35% of LGBTQ+ characters in

popular films were portrayed using stereotypes (2020). Unlike literature, film often presents a

fixed visual narrative, restricting the audience’s engagement with queer identities in a nuanced

way.
Another significant difference is the historical development of queer representation.

While film has seen a dramatic shift in portraying queer identities, moving from strict censorship

to becoming a more visible medium for queer narratives. While literature has a long tradition of

encoding queer identities beneath the surface, especially during times when open discussions of

sexuality were repressed. Writers like Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf subtly embedded queer

themes to get rid of restrictions.

In conclusion, queer theory is applied in both literary analysis and film studies to

deconstruct and challenge traditional narratives about gender and sexuality, but each medium

offers unique strengths and faces distinct challenges. Literature provides subtle and ambiguous

portrayals of queer identities, often requiring deeper analysis. While film offers immediate visual

representations but can sometimes oversimplify complex identities with stereotypes. Both are

contributing unique perspectives and enhancing our understanding of queer identities across

different cultural and historical contexts.


References

GLAAD. (2020). " GLAAD’S 2020 STUDIO RESPONSIBILITY INDEX: HIGHEST

RECORDED PERCENTAGE OF LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE FILMS BUT RACIAL DIVERSITY

DROPS AND ZERO TRANSGENDER CHARACTERS APPEAR "

Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative. (2020). " Inequality in 1,300 Popular Films "

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