Killing Off the Lesbians : A Symbolic Annihilation on Film and Television

Spoiler Alert: the lesbian character always dies. That is what seems to happen in television shows and films from all around the world. But is it true and is it something new? And does it even matter when women who love women can be found right across the media landscape? Looking at the fates of characters over decades, this wide-ranging and lively book argues that killing off the lesbian-even if she only appears via the subtext-is nothing new. It is a form of symbolic annihilation that has an impact in real life. Industry surveys and scholarly studies show that it is now easier for actors to come out and be role models. When more women are working behind the scenes the quality of what appears on-screen also becomes more diverse, but the storylines do not necessarily change. From the Xenaverse to GLAAD to the Lexa Pledge, fans have demanded better from the entertainment industry. As their fan fiction migrates from the computer screen to the printed page, they reanimate the dead and insist on happy endings. So, the film or television lesbian character dies. It seems to happen frequently. But does it really? If so, is it something new? Surveying the fates of numerous characters over decades, this study shows that killing off the lesbian is not a new trend. It is a form of symbolic annihilation and it has had an impact in real life. When more women are working behind the scenes, what appears on-screen also becomes more diverse--yet unhappily the story lines don't necessarily change. From the Xenaverse to GLAAD to the Lexa Pledge, fans have demanded better. As fan fiction migrates from the computer screen to the printed page, authors reanimate the dead and insist on happy endings -- Back cover Table of Contents 6 Introduction 8 1. The Evil/Dead Lesbian—What a Cliché! 18 2. The Subtext Will Not Protect You 47 3. Who Poisoned the Box Office? 80 4. All the Dead Lesbians (IRL) 104 5. It Gets Better 112 6. Fans Demand Better 139 7. Rejecting Death Narratives 167 Conclusion 190 Bibliography 196 Index 211 Spoiler Alert: the lesbian character always dies. Looking at the fates of characters over decades, this wide-ranging and lively book argues that killing off the lesbian - even if she only appears via the subtext - is nothing new. It is a form of symbolic annihilation that has an impact in real life.