Examining sex and climaxes in Blue is the Warmest Colour and Carol
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Authors
Wheeler, Kerri-Lynn
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Date
2017-12-21
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Journal Article
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Carol (Film - 2015)
Blue Is the Warmest Colour (Film - 2013)
queer films
sex scenes in films
lesbians in films
male gaze
feminism
authenticity
film studies
Blue Is the Warmest Colour (Film - 2013)
queer films
sex scenes in films
lesbians in films
male gaze
feminism
authenticity
film studies
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Wheeler, K-L. (2017). Examining Sex and Climaxes in Blue is the Warmest Colour and Carol. Pūrātoke: Journal of Undergraduate
Research in the Creative Arts and Industries. 1(1), 49-56. Unitec ePress. Retrieved from: http://www.unitec.ac.nz/epress
Abstract
This essay uses the films Blue is the Warmest Colour (Kechiche, 2013), and Carol (Haynes, 2015) to examine the challenges and questions which arise when a male filmmaker directs a film with a queer female relationship at its centre. Whenever a male creator has authorial power over queer female subjects their authenticity comes into question. This is especially notable in the critical response to Blue is the Warmest Colour’s explicit sex scenes.
Carol , however, was seen as a more authentic representation as it does not eroticise its characters to the same extent. This essay uses textual analysis of the films’ climaxes and sex scenes to contrast the way in which the two relationships are represented. It also draws on feminist film scholarship.
Through this, it becomes clear that it is possible for a male filmmaker to represent queer female relationships in a way which can be perceived as authentic. However, a film’s sex scene will inevitably be read in the context of the filmmaker’s gender and sexuality.
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Unitec ePress
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Unitec ePress
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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License