LGBT themes in horror fiction refers to sexuality in horror fiction that can often focus on LGBTQ+ characters and themes within various forms of media. It may deal with characters who are coded as or who are openly LGBTQ+, or it may deal with themes or plots that are specific to gender and sexual minorities.
Illustration of painter Basil Hallward and aristocrat Lord Henry Wotton observing the picture of Dorian Gray.
Depending on when it was made, it may contain open statements of gender variance, sexuality, same-sex sexual imagery, same-sex love or affection or simply a sensibility that has special meaning to LGBTQ+ people.
The relation between gay fiction and horror is often attributed to the Gothic novels of the 1790s and early 1800s.[4] Many Gothic authors, like Matthew Lewis, William Thomas Beckford, and Francis Lathom, were homosexual. LGBT horror publisher and general editor James Jenkins offered that "the traditional explanation for the gay/horror connection is that it was impossible for them to write openly about gay themes back then (or even perhaps express them, since words like 'gay' and 'homosexual' didn't exist), so they sublimated them and expressed them in more acceptable forms, using the medium of a transgressive genre like horror fiction."[4] Early works with clear gay subtext include Lewis's The Monk (1796) and both Charles Maturin's The Fatal Revenge (1807) and Melmoth the Wanderer (1820).[4] Influential and controversial entries in the genre include the lesbian vampire novella Carmilla (1872) by Sheridan Le Fanu[1][2][3] and The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) by Oscar Wilde, which shocked readers with its sensuality and overtly homosexual characters.[5] Jenkins also points out what he sees as gay subtext in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), as the titular character wards off other female vampires and claims Jonathan Harker, stating "This man belongs to me!"[4] Richard S. Primuth of The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide writes that Stoker, a closeted gay man and close friend of Oscar Wilde, began writing Dracula just as Wilde was sentenced to hard labor after his conviction for gross indecency.[6] Talia Schaffer writes in ELH that "Dracula explores Stoker's fear and anxiety as a closeted homosexual man during Oscar Wilde's trial... This peculiar tonality of horror derives from Stoker's emotions at this unique moment in gay history."[6][7]
Though the Motion Picture Production Code prohibited LGBT characters or themes during its entire existence from 1930 to 1968, certain films like Dracula's Daughter (1936) and The Haunting (1963) pushed the envelope by showing what they could within the guidelines, coding it so that gays and lesbians could see it, but those who chose to ignore it still could.[8] Additionally, the control of the book industry by larger publishers made it difficult to distribute the increasingly overt gay content being produced.[9]Queer horror got a boost with the advent of the pulp novel in the 20th century,[10] a cheap way to manufacture paperback novels that became popularized during World War II.[11]Three on a Broomstick (1967) by Don Holliday is an early example of the gay horror pulp.[10] In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, more widespread acceptance of the LGBT community has allowed more explicitly LGBTQ+ characters to be added to horror stories such as Stranger Things and comedy-horrors such as The Owl House without the LGBT and horror aspects of the stories necessarily being linked.
Vampirism and homosexual desireedit
The erotic metaphor of vampirism, inspired by Carmilla, resulted in numerous vampire films since the 1970s that either strongly implied or explicitly portrayed lesbianism. Author James R. Keller writes that in particular, "Gay and lesbian readers have been quick to identify with the representation of the vampire, suggesting its experiences parallel those of the sexual outsider."[12]Richard Dyer discusses the recurring homoerotic motifs of vampire fiction in his article "Children of the Night", primarily "the necessity of secrecy, the persistence of a forbidden passion, and the fear of discovery."[12][13] With the vampire having been a recurring metaphor for same-sex desire from before Stoker's Dracula, Dyer observes that historically earlier representations of vampires tend to evoke horror and later ones turn that horror into celebration.[12][13] The homoerotic overtones of Anne Rice's celebrated The Vampire Chronicles series (1976–2018) are well-documented,[12][14][15][16] and its publication reinforced the "widely recognized parallel between the queer and the vampire."[12]
Awardsedit
The Queer Horror Awards were created to honor works that involve significant, and generally positive, portrayal of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender characters, issues or themes within the area of horror.[17]
The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor works in science fiction, fantasy and horror which include positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender characters, themes, or issues.
^ abGarber, Eric; Lyn Paleo (1983). "Carmilla". Uranian Worlds: A Guide to Alternative Sexuality in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. G K Hall. p. 76. ISBN978-0-8161-1832-8.
^Schaffer, Talia (Summer 1994). "A Wilde Desire Took Me: The Homoerotic History of Dracula". ELH. 61 (2): 381–425. doi:10.1353/elh.1994.0019. S2CID 161888586.
^Stryker, Susan (2001). Queer Pulp: Perverted Passions from the Golden Age of the Paperback. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN9780811830201.
^ abDoyle, Dave (2009). "Conquering the Demon Within". In Drewey Wayne Gunn (ed.). The Golden Age of Gay Fiction. MLR Press. ISBN978-1-60820-048-1.
^Michael Bronski, ed. (2003). Pulp Friction: Uncovering the Golden Age of Gay Male Pulps. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN9780312252670.
^ abcdeKeller, James R. (2000). Anne Rice and Sexual Politics: The Early Novels. McFarland. pp. 12–14. ISBN978-0786408467.
^ abDyer, Richard (1988). "Children of the Night: Vampirism as Homosexuality, Homosexuality as Vampirism". In Susannah Radstone (ed.). Sweet Dreams: Sexuality, Gender, and Popular Fiction. London: Lawrence & Wishart Ltd. p. 64.
^"Submit to Anne". Salon.com. September 16, 1996. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
^Maslin, Janet (November 11, 1994). "Film Review: Interview with the Vampire; Rapture and Terror, Bound by Blood". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
^James, Caryn (November 13, 1994). "In Search of the Man Within the Monster". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
^"The Queer Horror Awards". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
External linksedit
QueerHorror - a website exploring GLBT folks and the horror genre
GLBT Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature - A Web Directory
GLBT Science Fiction and Fantasy Resources
Wavelengths Online - a review journal for science fiction, fantasy, and horror with a focus on LGBT themes
CampBlood.org - "a Website dedicated to all things queer in Horror Cinema."
Gay Male Vampire - an informative and resourceful website for gay vampire news, fiction, movies, television and literature
Fincher, Dr. Max (March 14, 2011). "Queer Gothic". Gothic.stir.ac.uk. Scotland, UK: University of Stirling. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
November 24, 2023
lgbt, themes, horror, fiction, refers, sexuality, horror, fiction, that, often, focus, lgbtq, characters, themes, within, various, forms, media, deal, with, characters, coded, openly, lgbtq, deal, with, themes, plots, that, specific, gender, sexual, minorities. LGBT themes in horror fiction refers to sexuality in horror fiction that can often focus on LGBTQ characters and themes within various forms of media It may deal with characters who are coded as or who are openly LGBTQ or it may deal with themes or plots that are specific to gender and sexual minorities Illustration of painter Basil Hallward and aristocrat Lord Henry Wotton observing the picture of Dorian Gray Depending on when it was made it may contain open statements of gender variance sexuality same sex sexual imagery same sex love or affection or simply a sensibility that has special meaning to LGBTQ people Contents 1 History 1 1 Overview and origins 1 2 Vampirism and homosexual desire 2 Awards 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editOverview and origins edit nbsp Illustration by D H Friston from the first publication of the lesbian vampire novella Carmilla 1872 by Sheridan Le Fanu 1 2 3 nbsp The horrific painting at the center of Oscar Wilde s horror classic The Picture of Dorian Gray painted by Ivan Albright for the 1945 film adaptationThe relation between gay fiction and horror is often attributed to the Gothic novels of the 1790s and early 1800s 4 Many Gothic authors like Matthew Lewis William Thomas Beckford and Francis Lathom were homosexual LGBT horror publisher and general editor James Jenkins offered that the traditional explanation for the gay horror connection is that it was impossible for them to write openly about gay themes back then or even perhaps express them since words like gay and homosexual didn t exist so they sublimated them and expressed them in more acceptable forms using the medium of a transgressive genre like horror fiction 4 Early works with clear gay subtext include Lewis s The Monk 1796 and both Charles Maturin s The Fatal Revenge 1807 and Melmoth the Wanderer 1820 4 Influential and controversial entries in the genre include the lesbian vampire novella Carmilla 1872 by Sheridan Le Fanu 1 2 3 and The Picture of Dorian Gray 1890 by Oscar Wilde which shocked readers with its sensuality and overtly homosexual characters 5 Jenkins also points out what he sees as gay subtext in Bram Stoker s Dracula 1897 as the titular character wards off other female vampires and claims Jonathan Harker stating This man belongs to me 4 Richard S Primuth of The Gay amp Lesbian Review Worldwide writes that Stoker a closeted gay man and close friend of Oscar Wilde began writing Dracula just as Wilde was sentenced to hard labor after his conviction for gross indecency 6 Talia Schaffer writes in ELH that Dracula explores Stoker s fear and anxiety as a closeted homosexual man during Oscar Wilde s trial This peculiar tonality of horror derives from Stoker s emotions at this unique moment in gay history 6 7 Though the Motion Picture Production Code prohibited LGBT characters or themes during its entire existence from 1930 to 1968 certain films like Dracula s Daughter 1936 and The Haunting 1963 pushed the envelope by showing what they could within the guidelines coding it so that gays and lesbians could see it but those who chose to ignore it still could 8 Additionally the control of the book industry by larger publishers made it difficult to distribute the increasingly overt gay content being produced 9 Queer horror got a boost with the advent of the pulp novel in the 20th century 10 a cheap way to manufacture paperback novels that became popularized during World War II 11 Three on a Broomstick 1967 by Don Holliday is an early example of the gay horror pulp 10 In the late 20th and early 21st centuries more widespread acceptance of the LGBT community has allowed more explicitly LGBTQ characters to be added to horror stories such as Stranger Things and comedy horrors such as The Owl House without the LGBT and horror aspects of the stories necessarily being linked Vampirism and homosexual desire edit The erotic metaphor of vampirism inspired by Carmilla resulted in numerous vampire films since the 1970s that either strongly implied or explicitly portrayed lesbianism Author James R Keller writes that in particular Gay and lesbian readers have been quick to identify with the representation of the vampire suggesting its experiences parallel those of the sexual outsider 12 Richard Dyer discusses the recurring homoerotic motifs of vampire fiction in his article Children of the Night primarily the necessity of secrecy the persistence of a forbidden passion and the fear of discovery 12 13 With the vampire having been a recurring metaphor for same sex desire from before Stoker s Dracula Dyer observes that historically earlier representations of vampires tend to evoke horror and later ones turn that horror into celebration 12 13 The homoerotic overtones of Anne Rice s celebrated The Vampire Chronicles series 1976 2018 are well documented 12 14 15 16 and its publication reinforced the widely recognized parallel between the queer and the vampire 12 Awards editThe Queer Horror Awards were created to honor works that involve significant and generally positive portrayal of gay lesbian bisexual or transgender characters issues or themes within the area of horror 17 The Lambda Literary Award includes an award for Science Fiction Fantasy Horror The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor works in science fiction fantasy and horror which include positive explorations of gay lesbian bisexual or transgender characters themes or issues See also edit nbsp LGBT portal nbsp Speculative fiction portal nbsp Speculative fiction Horror portalGaylaxicon LGBT literature LGBT culture LGBT themes in speculative fiction List of horror television series with LGBT characters List of lesbian gay bisexual or transgender related films Lists of television programs with LGBT characters The Babadook as a gay iconReferences edit a b Garber Eric Lyn Paleo 1983 Carmilla Uranian Worlds A Guide to Alternative Sexuality in Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror G K Hall p 76 ISBN 978 0 8161 1832 8 a b LeFanu J oseph Sheridan 1872 Carmilla In a Glass Darkly London R Bentley amp Son a b LeFanu J oseph Sheridan 1993 Carmilla In Pam Keesey ed Daughters of Darkness Lesbian Vampire Stories Pittsburgh PA Cleis Press a b c d Healey Trebor May 28 2014 Early Gay Literature Rediscovered Huffington Post Retrieved May 31 2014 Garber amp Paleo 1983 The Picture of Dorian Gray Uranian Worlds p 148 a b Primuth Richard S February 11 2014 Vampires Are Us The Gay amp Lesbian Review Worldwide Retrieved March 19 2018 Schaffer Talia Summer 1994 A Wilde Desire Took Me The Homoerotic History of Dracula ELH 61 2 381 425 doi 10 1353 elh 1994 0019 S2CID 161888586 Russo Vito 1987 The Celluloid Closet Homosexuality in the Movies Harrow amp Row Stryker Susan 2001 Queer Pulp Perverted Passions from the Golden Age of the Paperback San Francisco Chronicle Books ISBN 9780811830201 a b Doyle Dave 2009 Conquering the Demon Within In Drewey Wayne Gunn ed The Golden Age of Gay Fiction MLR Press ISBN 978 1 60820 048 1 Michael Bronski ed 2003 Pulp Friction Uncovering the Golden Age of Gay Male Pulps New York St Martin s Griffin ISBN 9780312252670 a b c d e Keller James R 2000 Anne Rice and Sexual Politics The Early Novels McFarland pp 12 14 ISBN 978 0786408467 a b Dyer Richard 1988 Children of the Night Vampirism as Homosexuality Homosexuality as Vampirism In Susannah Radstone ed Sweet Dreams Sexuality Gender and Popular Fiction London Lawrence amp Wishart Ltd p 64 Submit to Anne Salon com September 16 1996 Retrieved June 25 2014 Maslin Janet November 11 1994 Film Review Interview with the Vampire Rapture and Terror Bound by Blood The New York Times Retrieved June 25 2014 James Caryn November 13 1994 In Search of the Man Within the Monster The New York Times Retrieved June 25 2014 The Queer Horror Awards Retrieved 25 February 2018 External links editQueerHorror a website exploring GLBT folks and the horror genre GLBT Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature A Web Directory GLBT Science Fiction and Fantasy Resources Wavelengths Online a review journal for science fiction fantasy and horror with a focus on LGBT themes CampBlood org a Website dedicated to all things queer in Horror Cinema Gay Male Vampire an informative and resourceful website for gay vampire news fiction movies television and literature Fincher Dr Max March 14 2011 Queer Gothic Gothic stir ac uk Scotland UK University of Stirling Retrieved June 27 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LGBT themes in horror fiction amp oldid 1182371307, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
