Publication Date

2017

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Ferris, Kerry O.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Sociology

LCSH

Sociology; Sexual minorities--Study and teaching; Motion pictures--Study and teaching

Abstract

Drawing from a sample of 15 "gay/lesbian"-themed films shown in theaters in the U.S. between 1980 to 2016, a qualitative analysis was conducted of the film narratives, looking at the co-constructions of queer (LGBTQ) identity and violence. Films were selected based on widest theatrical release within the genre list "Gay/Lesbian." Both the categories of queer identity and violence were drawn broadly to incorporate both easily identifiable and "ambiguously" queer characters, as well as to account for both physical and nonphysical forms of violence. Analysis identifies plot developments of exclusion, threat, and physical forms of harm as expressions of violence and argues that to varying degrees these expressions of violence mark queer protagonists and other queer supporting characters as deviant and/or damned within their fictitious social realities.

Comments

Advisors: Kerry O. Ferris.||Committee members: Carol S. Walther; Simon E. Weffer.||Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

49 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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