'Luca': A metaphorically charged queer experience.

Authors

  • Athulya S Menon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53007/SJGC.2024.V9.I2.226

Abstract

Queer theory in film explores narratives that veer away from the traditional heteronormative

perspectives. Queer theory’s origins are complex, melding aspects from feminism, oppositional

film making, post-structuralism and radical movie making. Queer theory in film is both an

academic approach and a form of political action, challenging the dominant norms of

heterosexuality within film making. One key concept in queer film theory is the idea of

queering the gaze, which involves challenging the stereotypical and traditional notions as well

as the overpowering heterosexual viewpoints in cinema. This can include subverting the gender

norms, exploring non-binary identities, portraying relationships outside the mainstream. This

article is an attempt to dissect the metaphorically charged and queer coded possibilities of the

2021 Pixar animated movie, ‘LUCA’ and how the film's central relationship between the two

young protagonists, Luca and Alberto, has taken on an even deeper significance - one that

speaks to the evolving landscape of queer representation in animation. Not only is this an

attempt to spark intriguing discourse surrounding the potential of animation as a queer medium,

embracing ambiguity and fluidness but is also aimed at understanding queering a medium,

especially when its possibility is explicitly denied, highlighting the tarnished morals behind

queer baiting.

Author Biography

Athulya S Menon

Bionote: Athulya S Menon is a 19-year-old student pursuing her bachelor's in English

Language and Literature at CMS College (AUTONOMOUS) Kottayam, Kerala. With a keen

interest in the multifaceted intersections of gender, queer studies, philosophy, and sociology,

her academic pursuits are driven by a profound fascination with how these disciplines

illuminate the complexities of human identity and social structures. Her current research focus

extends beyond the textual to encompass the cinematic, with a particular interest in films that

grapple with identity politics and their socio-cultural implications, delving into the possibilities

of animation as a queer medium, specifically analyzing the film "LUCA" through a queer lens.

Through her critical analysis, Athulya seeks to understand how narratives, both literary and

filmic, reflect, shape, and challenge societal norms surrounding gender, sexuality, and

marginalized identities.

Downloads

Published

2025-02-02

How to Cite

Athulya S Menon. “’Luca’: A Metaphorically Charged Queer Experience”. Samyukta: A Journal of Gender and Culture, vol. 9, no. 2, Feb. 2025, doi:10.53007/SJGC.2024.V9.I2.226.

Issue

Section

Articles