Journal article
Smashing the heteropatriarchy: Representations of queerness in reimagined fairy tales
Text, Vol.22(2), pp.1-14
2018
Abstract
Fairy tales rely on conventions that perpetuate heteropatriarchal ideals, which makes this an apt genre for deliberate modification to better represent queer perspectives. This article surveys queer reimaginings of the fairy tale published between 1997 and 2010, identifying several problems with representations of queerness and sexuality in existing literature. This canon often works to distance and marginalise those who do not fit the dominant stereotype of a monosexual identity. Further, the frequent depiction of explicit sexual acts, violent and unhealthy relationships, and inappropriate language has worked to exclude young adult audiences. In this article, I identify a growing but still relatively small field of new queer fairy tale literature directed at young adults since 2015: texts that tend to posit the importance of self-identification. Nuanced representations of queer characters in recent young adult fiction make space for the lived experiences of queer youth and have the potential to influence future queer reimaginings of fairy tales, as well as to challenge heteropatriarchal conventions in other genres.
Details
- Title
- Smashing the heteropatriarchy: Representations of queerness in reimagined fairy tales
- Authors
- Alayna M Cole (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
- Publication details
- Text, Vol.22(2), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- Australian Association of Writing Programs
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.52086/001c.25181
- ISSN
- 1327-9556
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Reproduced here with kind permission of the author.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Creative Industries - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450906802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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