What is ‘queer drama’? Since when have there been representations of queerness in British drama? Can we speak of queerness avant la lettre, and if so, what did it look like? How did queer representations in British theatre change throughout the twentieth century? What influence did stage censorship have on representations of queerness? What happened before the sudden eruption of queer drama after the abolition of stage censorship, and by which means could the legal taboo on queerness be circumvented? How did queer representations in the theatre influence notions of queerness in society and vice versa? These are some of the leading questions this book addresses.
Does this book have anything to offer you? Are you gay, lesbian, or heterosexual? Are you a trans-, a-, bi-, non-sexual being? Or are you insecure of who you are? Really, it does not matter very much. You are the potential reader of this book, and if you decide to go on reading you will read things that may prove of significance to you. Because you’re human. You are a human being who can, potentially, fall in love, aren’t you? If you are, this book concerns you.
Taking the beginning of the twentieth century as the starting point for discussion, this book aims at exploring representations of queerness in British drama before the abolition of theatre censorship in 1968 and at demonstrating that queerness did not merely appear in the margins of pre-1960s British theatre, but that it can be detected in its very centre, namely in many of the most popular and most successful plays of their time. To achieve this aim, a selection of plays by three eminent male playwrights writing within the British cultural and socio-political context of the first half of the twentieth century will be analysed.
The focus will predominantly be on plays by William S. Maugham (1874-1965), Noël Coward (1899-1973), and Terence Rattigan (1911-1977), all of whom were extremely popular and commercially highly successful at their time. Finally, this book aims at developing and testing a cognitive model of queer reading and writing strategies which is intended to enable us to account for this seeming paradox concerning queerness in British drama before 1968, namely the paradox that British drama is full of ‘queer plays’ in spite of the taboo on representing queerness: the model of the ‘default reader’ as it is outlined in the theory part of this book and applied in the (queer) readings of plays.
Now, let’s get queer.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Invitation
- Introduction, or: Let me queer you.
- Part I Getting Started – Getting Queer(ed)
- (Queer) Theories and Propositions
- Some Heuristic Definitions, or: Queer Propositions
- A Short Introduction to Queer Theories
- Introducing the Default Reader, Queer Textual Structures, and a Cognitive Model of Queer Reading and Writing Strategies
- A Very Short Introduction to (Queer) Script Theory
- Antecedents of Queer British Drama before the Twentieth Century and Preconditions for Play Productions
- Queerness and Censorship
- Queerness and Comedy
- Part II Queering the Stage – Staging Queerness
- Queer Codes, Symbols and Metaphors: Queering The Sacred Flame (1927)
- Exploiting Subcultural Knowledge: Queer Codes
- Of Closets, Masks, and Cigarette Cases: Queer Symbols
- Queer Metaphors
- Queerness as Medical 'Condition': Invalidity and Impotence in The Sacred Flame
- The Queerness of Impotence
- Queering Moral Standards by Querying Standard Morality, or: The Queer Views of the (M)other
- On the Bleakness of Queerness in The Sacred Flame
- Queerness as Moral Depravity, Crime, or Nameless Offence
- Interim Findings
- Queer(ing) Clichés: Swirling in Coward's Queer The Vortex (1923/24)
- On the Deployment of (Queer) Clichés and Stereotypes
- Sex, Drugs, and Piano Playing, or: Clichés and Stereotypes in The Vortex
- Camping it up: The Play's Number One Queer and the Use of Campness
- The (Occluded) ‘Queer Couple': Nicky Lancaster and Bunty Mainwaring
- Interim Findings
- Allusions to Queer Culture: Proudly Presenting a Queer Adventure Story (1949)
- Queer References
- Queer References to History
- It's Getting Personal: Queer References to People
- “In whatever queer bar . in London or Paris or New York”: Queer References to Places
- Queer References to Texts
- Queer Signals: Queer Signal Words, Discourses, and Themes
- Queer Signal Words and Discourses
- 'Feelings can't be helped ...': Queer Themes
- “You've been a homosexual all your life, and you know it!”: Straight References to Queerness
- Interim Findings
- Queer Ambiguity, Obfuscation, and Oscillation: Playing with a Queer Variation on a Theme (1958)
- From Queer Clichés to Scripts
- Queer Oscillation
- Queer Obfuscation
- The Queer Rhetoric of Reticence: Queer Gaps, Indeterminacies and Ambiguity, Puns, Double Entendre and Innuendo
- Of Bendable Genders: Gender Ambiguity
- Queerness in the Eye of the Beholder: Queer Images
- Interim Findings
- Extending the Homosocial Continuum: From Hero-Worship in Post-Mortem (1930/31) to Homo-Eroticism and Same-Sex Coupling in Home and Beauty (1919)
- Hero-Worship and Love between Men (in War) in Post-Mortem
- From Homosociality to Homoeroticism and Same-Sex Coupling in Home and Beauty
- Interim Findings
- The Heteronormative Matrix Suspended: Sexually Predatory Fallen Angels, an Astonishingly Queer Design for Living and the Queer Half-World of Semi-Monde
- Representing Illegitimate Desire, Staging Queer Ménages à trois and Disrupting Heteronormative Institutions
- Queering Norms and Naturalness
- Reversing Marginality and Dominance: Suspension of the Heteronormative Matrix
- Interim Findings
- Queerness Goes Mainstream: A Very Brief Outlook on Queer Drama after 1968
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to explore the representation of queerness in British drama before 1968. It investigates how queer themes, characters, and relationships were portrayed, coded, and negotiated within the constraints of censorship and societal norms. The study analyzes various dramatic techniques and strategies employed by playwrights to express queerness indirectly or subtly, considering the historical context and cultural attitudes of the time.
- The evolution of queer representation in British drama across different historical periods.
- The use of codes, symbols, and metaphors to depict queerness in a censored environment.
- The interplay between queerness and broader societal norms, such as morality, gender, and sexuality.
- Analysis of specific plays and their contribution to the portrayal of queer themes.
- The impact of censorship and social attitudes on the representation of queerness.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
(Queer) Theories and Propositions: This chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis by establishing heuristic definitions of queerness and introducing relevant queer theories. It explores the concept of the "default reader" and how texts can be structured to engage in a dialogue with queer perspectives. The chapter also briefly introduces queer script theory, providing essential theoretical frameworks for interpreting the plays examined in later chapters. The discussion of cognitive models of queer reading and writing offers a crucial lens for understanding how authors navigate censorship and societal expectations while simultaneously expressing queer themes.
Antecedents of Queer British Drama before the Twentieth Century and Preconditions for Play Productions: This chapter delves into the historical context of queer representation in British drama before the 20th century. It explores the significant role of censorship in shaping how queer themes could be expressed and the limitations placed upon playwrights. The discussion on comedy's relationship with queerness highlights the often subversive ways in which potentially controversial subjects could be addressed, highlighting the delicate balance between entertainment and coded messages. This lays the foundation for understanding the creative strategies employed by playwrights throughout the book.
Queer Codes, Symbols and Metaphors: Queering The Sacred Flame (1927): This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of Noel Coward's *The Sacred Flame*, examining how queerness is encoded through symbols, metaphors, and subcultural knowledge. It delves into the representation of queerness as a medical condition, exploring themes of invalidity and impotence and how these concepts were used to subtly convey queer identities and experiences. The chapter also analyzes the moral implications attached to queerness in the play, considering how it challenged and reinforced societal standards and expectations. The analysis of specific scenes and dialogue illustrates how Coward managed to express potentially contentious themes without explicitly mentioning homosexuality.
Queer(ing) Clichés: Swirling in Coward's Queer The Vortex (1923/24): This chapter focuses on another of Coward's plays, *The Vortex*, analyzing the deployment of queer clichés and stereotypes. It explores the use of camp as a performance strategy and examines the portrayal of relationships and characters within the play. The analysis considers how these clichés were employed both to fulfill audience expectations and to subtly critique societal norms related to gender and sexuality. The chapter's deep dive into character analysis, particularly the ambiguous relationships between characters, shows how the play employs both conventional and unconventional representations of queerness.
Allusions to Queer Culture: Proudly Presenting a Queer Adventure Story (1949): This chapter analyzes a play (not explicitly named in the provided text) focusing on how it alludes to queer culture through references to history, people, places, and texts. It investigates the use of "queer signal words" and discourses to subtly suggest queer themes and identities. The chapter also examines instances where straight characters refer to queerness, highlighting the contrasting perspectives and the evolving understanding of sexuality during that time. This chapter demonstrates how subtle textual references and signals can weave a rich tapestry of queer experience within the confines of a potentially heteronormative narrative.
Queer Ambiguity, Obfuscation, and Oscillation: Playing with a Queer Variation on a Theme (1958): This chapter delves into a play that utilizes ambiguity, obfuscation, and oscillation to explore queer themes. It examines the transition from using clichés to more sophisticated narrative strategies in expressing queerness. The analysis explores the play's use of reticence, puns, double entendres, and innuendo to convey queer identities and experiences without explicit mentions. The study of gender ambiguity within the play, and the interpretation of queerness based on the viewer's perspective, emphasizes the subjective nature of understanding queerness within the context of the text.
Extending the Homosocial Continuum: From Hero-Worship in Post-Mortem (1930/31) to Homo-Eroticism and Same-Sex Coupling in Home and Beauty (1919): This chapter compares two plays, analyzing how they depict relationships between men. It examines the progression from homosocial bonds, often found in war settings, to the representation of homoeroticism and same-sex coupling. The chapter discusses how these evolving portrayals reflect broader societal changes and attitudes towards male relationships and intimacy. The detailed analysis of each play will reveal the subtle nuances in portraying affection and desire between men in different historical contexts.
The Heteronormative Matrix Suspended: Sexually Predatory Fallen Angels, an Astonishingly Queer Design for Living and the Queer Half-World of Semi-Monde: This chapter analyzes plays that challenge heteronormative structures and expectations. It examines the portrayal of illicit desire, ménages à trois, and the disruption of traditional institutions. The chapter analyzes how these plays subvert societal norms around sexuality and gender, presenting alternative models of relationships and identities. This chapter will explore the ways in which playwrights utilize their art to question and even upend traditional conceptions of the family and society, highlighting the subversive nature of queer representation.
Queerness Goes Mainstream: A Very Brief Outlook on Queer Drama after 1968: This chapter briefly looks at the changes in queer representation in British drama after 1968, offering a concise overview of the shift from coded language to more overt depictions of queerness. It sets the stage for future research by acknowledging the transition in the portrayal of queer themes and providing a bridge between the earlier, more circumspect era, and the era of increased openness and visibility in subsequent decades.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Queer British drama, censorship, codes and symbols, metaphors, camp, homosociality, homoeroticism, heteronormativity, gender ambiguity, queer theory, script theory, historical context, literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is this text about?
This text is a comprehensive language preview of a scholarly work exploring the representation of queerness in British drama before 1968. It provides a detailed overview of the book's contents, including the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the main objectives of the study?
The study aims to examine how queer themes, characters, and relationships were portrayed in British drama before 1968, considering the constraints of censorship and societal norms. It investigates the evolution of queer representation across different historical periods, the use of codes and symbols to depict queerness subtly, and the interplay between queerness and broader societal norms (morality, gender, sexuality).
What plays are analyzed in this book?
While not all plays are explicitly named in the preview, the analysis includes in-depth examinations of Noel Coward's The Sacred Flame (1927) and The Vortex (1923/24), and also mentions Post-Mortem (1930/31), Home and Beauty (1919), and an unnamed "Queer Adventure Story" (1949). Other plays are discussed in relation to broader themes of queer representation.
How does the study analyze the representation of queerness?
The study utilizes various analytical approaches. It explores the use of codes, symbols, metaphors, and clichés in conveying queer themes indirectly. It examines the deployment of camp, ambiguity, obfuscation, and oscillation as narrative strategies. The analysis also considers the impact of censorship, societal attitudes, and the evolution of homosociality to homoeroticism in shaping the representations of queerness.
What theoretical frameworks are used?
The study utilizes queer theory and script theory to frame its analysis. It introduces the concept of the "default reader" and explores cognitive models of queer reading and writing strategies to understand how authors navigate censorship while expressing queer themes.
What are the key themes explored in the book?
Key themes include the evolution of queer representation in British drama, the use of codes and symbols to depict queerness in a censored environment, the interplay between queerness and societal norms (morality, gender, and sexuality), the impact of censorship and social attitudes, and the analysis of specific plays and their contribution to the portrayal of queer themes. Specific thematic explorations include queerness as a medical condition, moral depravity, and the subversion of heteronormative structures.
What are the key chapters and their focuses?
The book is divided into parts. Part I establishes theoretical foundations and historical context. Part II analyzes specific plays, exploring how they represent queerness through various techniques (codes, symbols, metaphors, ambiguity, etc.). Each chapter focuses on a specific play or a thematic cluster, offering interim findings before concluding with a brief outlook on queer drama after 1968.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Keywords include Queer British drama, censorship, codes and symbols, metaphors, camp, homosociality, homoeroticism, heteronormativity, gender ambiguity, queer theory, script theory, historical context, and literary analysis.
Who is the intended audience of this book?
The intended audience is likely academics and students interested in queer studies, British drama, literary analysis, and the history of LGBTQ+ representation in art and culture. The detailed theoretical framework and scholarly analysis suggest a focus on a sophisticated academic readership.
Where can I find more information about this text?
More information, including the full text and potential publication details, would need to be sought from the original publishing company that provided the OCR data.
- Quote paper
- Hanna Kubowitz (Author), 2018, Stages of Queerness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/426208
