Queer Screams: A History of LGBTQ+ Survival Through the Lens of American Horror Cinema

The horror genre mirrors the American queer experience, both positively and negatively, overtly and subtextually, from the lumbering, flower-picking monster of Frankenstein (1931) to the fearless intersectional protagonist of the Fear Street Trilogy (2021). This is a historical look at the queer experiences of the horror genre's characters, performers, authors and filmmakers. Offering a fresh look at the horror genre's queer roots, this book documents how diverse stories have provided an outlet for queer people--including transgender and non-binary people--to find catharsis and reclamation. Freaks, dolls, serial killers, telekinetic teenagers and Final Girls all have something to contribute to the historical examination of the American LGBTQ+ experience. Ranging from psychiatry to homophobic fear of HIV/AIDS spread and, most recently, the alienation and self-determination of queer America in the Trump era, this is a look into how terror may repair a shattered queer heart.

Author: Abigail Waldron
Publisher: McFarland and Company, Inc.
Published: 08/17/2022
Pages: 237
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 9.80h x 6.60w x 0.50d
ISBN13: 9781476687421
ISBN10: 1476687420
BISAC Categories:
- Performing Arts | Film | Genres | Horror
- Social Science | LGBTQ+ Studies | General

About the Author
Abigail Waldron is a queer historian and horror film scholar whose work can be seen on horror sites such as Horror Press, Gayly Dreadful, and Rue Morgue. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.