‘Show gay people for the often-awful people they are’: Reframing queer monstrosity | Intellect Skip to content
1981
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture
  4. Volume 7, Issue 1
  5. Article
Rethinking Marginality in New Queer Television
  • ISSN: 2055-5695
  • E-ISSN: 2055-5709

Abstract

Monsters have an established presence on screen as a cipher for queer identities. However, such presentations are often limiting, with queer monsters being either irredeemably evil or eliciting viewer sympathies for their helpless monstrous condition. Both forms of queer monster are highly queerphobic, but the issue this article takes with this representational binary is that it stifles the depictions of monstrous queer characters. To offer a counterpoint, I draw attention to BBC America’s (2018–22) and its queer monster Villanelle (Jodie Comer). I argue that Villanelle presents a new vision of the queer monster, where queerness and monstrosity are not interlocked parts of her characterization – a disconnect that allows her to be a more compelling monster and express her queerness in a plethora of ways. In this article, I focus on two ways in which Villanelle’s queerness manifests in the show: her fashion and style; and her sense of humour. I demonstrate that Villanelle’s queer humour and style provide her with a means to be a more dangerous and effective assassin, whilst also facilitating a means for expressing her queerness in complex ways. Her style, for example, enables her to dip in and out of both butch and femme aesthetics as she pleases and her humour provides a means to disarm her targets. In all, this article points towards Villanelle’s mercurial character as a positive form of queer representation, for her constant flitting creates a queer character who can be awful and provides a means for queerness to be displayed through multiple, yet legible, ambiguities.

© 2022 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/qsmpc_00066_1
2022-06-01
2024-04-23
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Adam, Y. F., and Don. [usernames, real names not known] ( 2015;), ‘ Futch scale. ’, Know Your Meme, 10 March, https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futch-scale. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Allaire, C.. ( 2020;), ‘ Killing Eve is back, and Villanelle is dressed to kill. ’, Vogue, 12 April, https://www.vogue.com/article/killing-eve-season-3-fashion-sam-perry-costume-designer. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. ‘Are You from Pinner?’ ( 2020), S. Murphy (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 3 Episode 5 (10 May, UK: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content);.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. ‘Are You Leading or Am I?’ ( 2020), D. Thomas (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 3 Episode 8 (31 May, UK: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production, Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  5. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story ( 2018, USA:: Scott & Larry Productions, Color Force, FXP and 20th Television;).
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Banks-Walker, H.. ( 2021;), ‘ Killing Eve: How to shop Villanelle’s wardrobe on the high street ahead of season four. ’, Grazia, 1 April.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. BBC ( 2020;), ‘ Killing Eve, Series 3: 5. Are You from Pinner?. ’, BBC iPlayer, 11 May, https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p089kkz3/killing-eve-series-3-5-are-you-from-pinner. Accessed 19 January 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Benshoff, H. M.. ( 1997), Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and the Horror Film, Manchester and New York:: Manchester University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Blackhurst, R., and McGinn, B.. ( 2016), Amanda Knox, USA:: Netflix;.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Bordo, S.. ( 2021), TV, New York, London and Dublin:: Bloomsbury;.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Cartner-Morley, J.. ( 2019;), ‘ Red-carpet fashion at Oscars 2019: “A bright pink confetti explosion”. ’, The Guardian, 25 February, https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/feb/25/red-carpet-fashion-oscars-2019. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Cruz, C.. ( 2019;), ‘ Killing Eve season 2 fashion: See who designed Villanelle’s amazing clothes. ’, Entertainment Weekly, 16 April, https://ew.com/tv/killing-eve-season-2-fashion-clothes/. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Davis, F.. ( 1992), Fashion, Culture, and Identity, Chicago, IL:: The University of Chicago Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Dexter ( 2006–2013, USA:: The Colleton Company, John Goldwyn Productions, Clyde Philip Productions, 801 Productions and Devilina Productions;).
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer ( 2019, USA:: Raw TV;).
     [Google Scholar]
  16. ‘Don’t I Know You?’ ( 2018), J. East (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 1 Episode 3 (22 April, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Finnigan, K.. ( 2019;), ‘ How Oscar night found its inner drama queen. ’, Vogue, 25 February, https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/how-the-oscars-found-its-inner-drama-queen. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Geczy, A., and Karaminas, V.. ( 2013), Queer Style, London and New York:: Bloomsbury;.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Gilbert, J. R.. ( 2004), Performing Marginality: Humor, Gender, and Cultural Critique, Detroit, MI:: Wayne State University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Gilligan, S., and Collins, J.. ( 2021;), ‘ Fashion-forward killer: Villanelle, costuming and queer style in Killing Eve. ’, Film, Fashion & Consumption, 10:2, pp. 353–76, https://doi.org/10.1386/ffc_00030_1. Accessed 21 May 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Goldberg, B.. ( 2018;), ‘ The queer ambiguity of Killing Eve. ’, Into, 2 July, https://www.intomore.com/culture/the-queer-ambiguity-of-killing-eve/. Accessed 21 May 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Halberstam, J.. ( 1995), Skin Shows: Gothic Horror and the Technology of Monsters, Durham, NC and London:: Duke University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Hancock II, J. H.,, Johnson-Woods, T., and Karaminas, V.. ( 2013;), ‘ Introduction. ’, in J. H. Hancock II,, T. Johnson-Woods, and V. Karaminas. (eds), Fashion in Popular Culture: Literature, Media and Contemporary Studies, Bristol and Chicago, IL:: Intellect;, pp. ix–xvi.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Hannibal ( 2013–2015, USA:: Dino de Laurentis Company, Living Dead Guy Productions, AXN Original Productions and Gaumont International Television;).
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Harris, L., and Crocker, E.. ( 1997;), ‘ An introduction to sustaining femme gender. ’, in L. Harris, and E. Crocker. (eds), Femme: Feminist, Lesbians, and Bad Girls, New York and London:: Routledge;, pp. 1–14.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Hidalgo, M.. ( 2018;), ‘ How to dress like TV’s chicest assassin. ’, The Cut, 27 April, https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/killing-eve-best-style-moments.html. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Hitchcock, A.. ( 1948), Rope, USA:: Transatlantic Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. ‘I Don’t Want to Be Free’ ( 2018), D. Thomas (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 1 Episode 7 (20 May, UK: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  29. ‘I Hope You Like Missionary!’ ( 2019), F. Gregorini (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 2 Episode 6 (12 May, UK: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  30. ‘I’ll Deal with Him Later’ ( 2018), H. Bradbeer (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 1 Episode 2 (15 April, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Kaiser, S.. ( 2001;), ‘ Minding appearances: Style, truth, and subjectivity. ’, in J. Enwistle, and E. Wilson. (eds), Body Dressing, Oxford and New York:: Berg;, pp. 79–102.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Krentcil, F.. ( 2019;), ‘ This year’s “camp” Met Gala comes with streetwear merch. ’, Elle, 6 May, https://www.elle.com/fashion/shopping/a27377421/met-gala-camp-collection/. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Kulick, D.. ( 2014;), ‘ Humorless lesbians. ’, in D. Chairo, and R. Bacconlini. (eds), Gender and Humor: Interdisciplinary and International Perspectives, New York and London:: Routledge;, pp. 85–99.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Liao, S.. ( 2018;), ‘ Killing Eve’s queer representation could have gone very wrong: Then it didn’t. ’, The Verge, 29 May, https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/29/17312618/killing-eve-bbc-america-finale-lgbtq. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. The Metropolitan Museum of Art ( 2019;), Camp: Notes on Fashion. , The Met, 6 May, https://www.metmuseum.org/press/exhibitions/2019/camp. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. ‘Nice and Neat’ ( 2019), D. Thomas (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 2 Episode 2 (14 April, UK: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  37. ‘Nice Face’ ( 2018), H. Bradbeer (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 1 Episode 1 (8 April, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Reed, J.. ( 2011;), ‘ Sexual outlaws: Queer in a funny way. ’, Women’s Studies, 40:6, pp. 762–77, https://doi.org/10.1080/00497878.2011.585590. Accessed 12 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Rosseinsky, K.. ( 2018;), ‘ Dressed to kill: How Villanelle became TV’s subversive style icon. ’, Grazia, 28 September, https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/tv-and-film/killing-eve-costumes/. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Saraiya, S.. ( 2018;), ‘ Why the fashion on Killing Eve is its own delicious subplot. ’, Vanity Fair, 27 July, https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/killing-eve-fashion-jodie-comer. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Shapira, J. A.. ( 2015;), ‘ Stylishly executed: The clothes of Hannibal and how to dress like Lecter. ’, Gentleman’s Gazette, 18 September, https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/suits-hannibal-lecter-how-to-style/. Accessed 25 January 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. ‘Slowly Slowly Catchy Monkey’ ( 2020), T. McDonough (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 3 Episode 1 (12 April, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  43. ‘Smell Ya Later’ ( 2019), F. Gregorini (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 2 Episode 5 (5 May, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  44. ‘Take Me to the Hole!’ ( 2018), D. Thomas (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 1 Episode 6 (13 May, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Tang, E.. ( 2019;), ‘ Pink dresses emerge as the biggest red carpet trend at 2019 Oscars. ’, Elle, 25 February, https://www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/a26501465/pink-dresses-red-carpet-trend-oscars-2019/. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Vänskä, A.. ( 2014;), ‘ From gay to queer: Or, wasn’t fashion always already a very queer thing?. ’, Fashion Theory, 18:4, pp. 447–63, https://doi.org/10.2752/175174114X13996533400079. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Weinberg, L.. ( 2019;), ‘ Costume Designer’s Guild Awards: “Hustlers”, “Rocketman” among nominees. ’, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 December, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-costume-designers-guild-awards-full-list-nominations-1259668/. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Westengard, L.. ( 2019), Gothic Queer Culture: Marginalized Communities and the Ghosts of Insidious Trauma, Lincoln, NE:: University of Nebraska Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Whitehead, G. D., and Petrov, J.. ( 2018;), ‘ Introduction: Fashion and fear. ’, in J. Petrov, and G. D. Whitehead. (eds), Fashioning Horror: Dressing to Kill on Screen and in Literature, London and New York:: Bloomsbury;, pp. 1–24.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. ‘Wide Awake’ ( 2019), D. Thomas (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 2 Episode 7 (19 May, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Wilson, E.. ( 1990;), ‘ Deviant dress. ’, Feminist Review, 35, pp. 67–74, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1395401. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Yotka, S.. ( 2018;), ‘ Killing Eve is the most fashionable show on TV. ’, Vogue, 27 April, https://www.vogue.com/article/killing-eve-is-the-most-fashionable-show-on-tv. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  53. ‘You’re Mine’ ( 2019), D. Thomas (dir.), Killing Eve, Season 2 Episode 8 (26 May, UK:: Sid Gentle Films, BBC America Original Production and Endeavor Content;).
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Zemler, E.. ( 2019;), ‘ Killing Eve’s costume designer Charlotte Mitchell knows she’s pushing it. ’, Elle, 14 May, https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g27470837/killing-eve-season-2-costumes/. Accessed 23 July 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Brassington, Thomas. ( 2022;), ‘ “Show gay people for the often-awful people they are”: Reframing queer monstrosity. ’, Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture, 7:1&2, pp. 27–40, https://doi.org/10.1386/qsmpc_00066_1
     [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/qsmpc_00066_1
Loading
  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): fashion; humourlessness; Killing Eve; monster; psychopath; queer biography; style; television; thriller; unreliable narrator

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error