Queer horror isn't a recent trend—LGBTQ+ influences have been woven into the genre for centuries, from Gothic literature and homoerotic subtext to queer filmmakers and coded characters in classic horror films. In this video, we explore the hidden queer history of horror, from The Castle of Otranto, Frankenstein, and Dracula to Nosferatu, James Whale's films, and the openly LGBTQ+ horror stories being created today.
Learn how queer themes shaped horror long before openly LGBTQ+ characters appeared on screen, how censorship pushed queerness into subtext and villainy, and how queer creators are reclaiming horror to explore identity, repression, trauma, and resilience.
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Listen to the full podcast episode: https://www.ajadedgay.com/28-gay-horror/
Read more on the topic in my blog: https://www.ajadedgay.com/blog/the-hidden-queerness-of-horror-unmasking-the-genres-lgbtq-roots/
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ajadedgay
Sources:
Britannica - Horror Story: https://www.britannica.com/art/horror-story
Gothic Literature: https://www.thoughtco.com/gothic-literature-2207825
The History of Horror is Gay: https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/the-history-of-horror-is-gay
Guessing the Mould: Homosocial Sins and Identity in Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286288816_Guessing_the_Mould_Homosocial_Sins_and_Identity_in_Horace_Walpole%27s_The_Castle_of_Otrantoi
Queering Gothic in the Romantic Age: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Queering_Gothic_in_the_Romantic_Age/gIiFDAAAQBAJ
The History of Horror is the History of Queerness: https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/402352/the-history-of-horror-is-the-history-of-queerness/
Did Mary Shelley Lose Her Virginity on Her Mother’s Grave?: https://www.snopes.com/articles/378364/mary-shelley-mothers-grave/
Did Mary Shelley Keep Her Late Husband’s Heart?: https://www.snopes.com/articles/378531/mary-shelley-keep-husbands-heart/
Famous Bis: Mary Shelley: https://bi.org/en/articles/famous-bis-mary-shelley
Lesbian Representation in the Vampire Classic Carmilla: https://bookriot.com/lesbian-representation-in-carmilla/
The Queer Life of Bram Stoker: https://medium.com/queertheory/the-sexuality-of-bram-stoker-8aacd96cc74d
Out of the Shadow of ‘Nosferatu’: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-04-ca-8053-story.html#:~:text=Murnau%20was%20a%20closet%20homosexual,a%20flood%20tide%20of%20speculation
A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2 Freddy's Revenge 1985 Film Clips I've Got The Brains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYPtrUjx9mc
The Nightmare Behind the Gayest Horror Film Ever Made: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/louispeitzman/the-nightmare-behind-the-gayest-horror-film-ever-made
Welcome to Our Nightmares: Behind the Scene with Today's Horror Actors: https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Our-Nightmares-Behind-Todays/dp/0786479868
Get Out: The Rise and Rise of Queer Horror: https://ew.com/movies/rise-of-queer-horror-hannibal-chucky-shudder/
33 Essential LGBTQ+ Horror Movies: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/lgbtq-horror-movies/
Top 100 Gay Horror Films: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls074360857/
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