Hello, my loves! October is here and with it comes the season of costumes and lots of fun. Today I want to talk about cinema, villains, and icons, how many of you are around? Throughout history, queer characters in films have been portrayed stereotypically, mostly with roles of villains or marginalized figures. This has been a reality!
In an environment where visibility is power, this trend created a conception that queer was synonymous with danger or perversity.
However, figures who were once shown as villains are now seen in a new light, as icons of resistance and liberation; over time, there has been a transformation in the representation of queer characters in the film.
Let’s go with a little bit of history because she’s a drunk but good and intelligent girl. Many years ago the repression of an “unaccepted” sexual identity was translated into a threat that had to be silenced, feeding homophobic prejudices. Directors resorted to stereotypes of effeminate or hypersexual characters to create a sense of discomfort or danger in the audience. This helped to reinforce the idea that queer was perverse and harmful. But no my loves, it’s not, and you know it.
This reaffirmed the idea that queer identity should be kept in the shadows, something shameful and deviant that had no place in the narrative of the stories. We were being demeaned, would you believe it!
Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by Tim Curry, is a transgressive alien who mixes the masculine and feminine fluidly and playfully, just like your favorite hostess! Although his character is eccentric and causes chaos, he is not the true antagonist of the film. Frank-N-Furter represents a liberation from gender and sexuality norms, a message that resonated deeply with queer audiences of the time.
Frank-N-Furter invites characters and viewers to explore their desires without guilt and to embrace diversity in all its forms. This character becomes a symbol of queer empowerment. Rather than being a threat, he is the driver of sexual and personal liberation for those around him. And blazing a trail for the LGBTIQ+ community in film.
It is true! Times have changed, but there is history and we can’t forget it. As culture evolves, so does cinema. The new way of narrating queer characters in film has allowed us to continue to see more and more queer stories told from authentic perspectives. By challenging negative stereotypes and celebrating diversity, a film can be a platform for inclusion, empathy and reclaiming queer identities.
What started with marginalized characters is now generating a wave of positive visibility and empowerment. So don’t be afraid to come out of the closet and be you, free and empowered. To start, come for a rumba at Bar Chiquita, I won’t let you down!
