Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality, 2024
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Queer Representations and LGBTQ+ Stereotypes in the Media: A Comparative Study of the Book and Film Versions of Sargento Garcia by Caio Fernando Abreu
Juan Filipe Stacul
ABSTRACT:
In this paper, we aim to discuss the construction of the character Isadora in Caio Fernando Abreu’s “Sargento Garcia” (1987). Through the literary text, we can observe the creation of a gender identity linked to a notion crystallized in common sense, based on a dialogue with the images of the divas of the gay cultural universe. Abreu’s literature presents scenarios that subvert specific mythical notions of categories through a game of representations, highlighting the multiple ways of conceiving genders as social constructs. To facilitate the discussion, we use queer theory and its articulation with the theoretical-critical legacy of Michel Foucault, as presented by Louro (2009) and Miskolci (2009). Additionally, this article analyzes the representations of Isadora in the 2000 film adaptation of “Sargento Garcia,” comparing it to the original book. Through this analysis, we aim to explore how different media can draw and transform a character’s representation, especially regarding their gender identity. This discussion can offer insights into how popular culture delineates and reinforces gender roles and how queer theory can be used to subvert these representations. The work contributes to contemporary Brazilian literature’s discussions of gender identity and the fields of queer theory and cultural studies. By examining the character of Isadora and her representations in different media, we aim to highlight the importance of critical analysis in understanding how gender identity and representation are constructed and perpetuated in contemporary society.
keywords: cultural studies; gender identity; media studies; queer theory; representation