Closet Monsters: Queer Identity and Representation in Horror Film

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

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Closet Monsters: Queer Identity and Representation in Horror Film

24 February 2021

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Deliberately or otherwise, the horror genre has always intertwined with ideas of queer theory, identity and representation. From representations of tragic “otherness” in James Whale’s Frankenstein, to the coded lesbian desire in The Seventh Victim, to controversial conflations of monstrousness and queerness in the likes of Silence of the Lambs, there are myriad ways in which horror can be understood, celebrated and criticised from a queer perspective. Over the decades, queer identity in horror movies has moved increasingly from subtext to text, but the relationship between the two remains a fraught and fascinating one.

As part of Stockport’s LGBT+ History Month a free online panel and Q&A will walk us through and attempt to untangle some of the histories, talking through LGBTQ+ horror, from representation to creation to fandom. Titled ‘Closet Monsters: Queer Identity and Representation in Horror Film’, the panel is hosted by Robyn Adams, a trans actress and contributor to an upcoming Shudder queer history documentary. She will be joined by filmmakers James Swanton and Selene Kapsaski, as well as Andrew Scott and Mark Waters. An online after party will be held via the Manchester’s Grimmfest Facebook group.

Where to go near Closet Monsters: Queer Identity and Representation in Horror Film

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Come to Swithens Farm for a great family day out in Leeds. Our farm has plenty to offer whatever age you are!Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around. We now have a farm shop, café, playbarn and petting farm. When we first opened we only had the usual farm animals – cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and it was free entry. We now have llamas, alpacas, meerkats, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys and a pony.On the working farm, we breed our own cows, pigs and sheep and we sell the meat through the farm shop and the café. If you buy a sausage sandwich from the café the sausage will be from the butcher who has made the sausage by hand using our own pork. We also produce our own free-range eggs.
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Swithens Farm

Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around.

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