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"A valuable reference guide for film collections and LGBTQIA+ studies." - Library Journal, Starred Review
The depictions of LGBTQIA+ characters in film have always varied immensely. However, the negative depictions often seem to outweigh the positive, perhaps because of the hurt they inspire or perhaps because they regrettably outnumber the positive films.
The Encyclopedia of LGBTQIA+ Portrayals in American Film explores works from the past fifty years in order to not only discuss how LGBTQIA+ characters are portrayed in American film, but also how these portrayals affect viewers. Contributors to this valuable reference include film and media scholars, gender studies scholars, journalists, LGBTQIA+ advocates, and more, representing countries from around the world. This rich array of perspectives provide careful and critical examinations of more than 100 films, ranging from the ethical and compassionate to the deliberately cruel and destructive.
Featuring films such as American Beauty, Batman v Superman, Fight Club, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Little Miss Sunshine, and Venom, this extensive volume informs and educates scholars and general readers alike, guiding them to see injustice more clearly and inspiring future generations to create art that is both inclusive and thoughtful.
About the author
Erica Joan Dymond is assistant professor of English at East Stroudsburg University. Her research privileges gender studies as it applies to horror and independent film. Her work has appeared in journals such as The Journal of Popular Culture and The Explicator as well as books such as The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Film and A Cuban Cinema Companion. She is the co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Sexism in American Films (Roman & Littlefield).
Salvador Jiménez Murguía is associate professor of sociology at Akita International University, Japan. He is the author, editor, or co-editor of several books, including Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Cinema, Encyclopedia of Racism in American Film, and A Cuban Cinema Companion, all published by Rowman & Littlefield.
Summary
The Encyclopedia of LGBTQIA+ Portrayals in American Film explores both the best of LGBTQIA+ cinematic depictions and the most problematic. Mainstream and art house/indie films from the last fifty years are unpacked and carefully examined by a diverse collection of talented writers from across the globe.
