During the time before the 1970s, queer cinema was largely censored and suppressed due to societal hostility towards homosexuality and same-sex desire. In order to evade these strict censorship laws, filmmakers employed various techniques such as coded narratives, symbolism, and aesthetic strategies that allowed them to explore LGBTQ+ themes without explicitly stating them.
Filmmakers used metaphors, double entendres, and visual imagery to convey queerness in their films.
One example is the classic film "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" directed by Richard Brooks. The film tells the story of Brick Pollitt, a troubled married man who struggles with his sexual identity while trying to come to terms with the death of his best friend. While the movie itself does not explicitly state that Brick is gay, the characters' behaviors and actions suggest it.
The character Skipper refers to Brick as being "the cat" and says he has been lying around like one all day. This could be interpreted as a reference to the phrase "cat on a hot tin roof," which was popular slang for a closeted gay person during the time period.
Another example is "The Children's Hour," directed by William Wyler. In this film, two women are accused of having an affair, leading to their professional and personal lives falling apart. While the relationship between the two women is never explicitly stated, the film suggests that they are lovers through its use of symbolism and aesthetics.
The color red is used throughout the film to represent passion and desire, which could be interpreted as a reference to the red flag that was commonly associated with homosexuality at the time.
These techniques have continued to influence contemporary media theory, particularly in the area of queer studies. Scholars often analyze movies and television shows to uncover coded messages about LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. They also look for subtextual meanings in mainstream media representations of queerness, such as in the popular sitcom "Will & Grace." This show features a gay male lead character named Will Truman, who navigates dating, work, and family life alongside his straight roommate Jack McFarland. By presenting queerness in a more nuanced and complex way than previous decades, the show helped pave the way for future portrayals of queer characters in mainstream media.
How did queer cinema prior to the 1970s employ coded narratives, symbolism, and aesthetic strategies to navigate censorship and societal hostility, and how does this history inform contemporary queer media theory?
In the early years of queer filmmaking, before the legalization of homosexuality in many countries, directors had to find creative ways to represent LGBTQ+ characters and themes without explicitly stating their sexual orientation or identity. One way they did this was through the use of coded language, symbolism, and visual metaphors that could be interpreted by viewers who were familiar with gay subculture.