Queer Public Figures in Biopics

Abstract

This work considers the impact of queer representation and queer visibility in the biopic genre, with a specific focus on the morality of artifice when representing the life story of a real figure. How does a figure’s representation impact their legacy, reputation, and the perception of queer people in general? The biopic is defined and analysed in terms of genre, subgenre, and conventions. Filmmaker intentions and motivations are highlighted within case studies including Dallas Buyers Club (Vallée, 2014) and a close comparison between Behind the Candelabra (Soderberg, 2013), Bohemian Rhapsody (Singer, 2018) and Rocketman (Fletcher, 2019). Considering the impact of archetypes, the hero’s journey and generic narrative structures, this work highlights the potential impact of changes to a figure’s life story for the purpose of revenue, critical acclaim, and entertainment.

Date of Award	26 Aug 2021
Original language	English
Supervisor	Sarah Crews (Supervisor) & Geraint D'Arcy (Supervisor)