Category: Art
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The Male Gaze and Lesbian Censorship in Film
It’s of little surprise to most sapphic movie buffs that Hollywood doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to positive lesbian representation. From the widespread trope of “bury your gays” to the equally widespread phenomenon of gay-baiting, it can be hard out there for a film loving dyke. Hays Code A lot of…
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A Cellist’s Resistance: the bravery of Frieda Belinfante
The year is 1940. World War II has just begun. The talented Dutch cello player Frieda Belinfante has to give up the fame she has recently obtained as the first female orchestra director in her country… Frieda Belinfante was born in Amsterdam, 1904. Her father Aaron Belinfante was a concert piano player who introduced his…
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Girlfriends or Gal Pals? Decoding Intimacy Between Women in Old Photographs
Love between women has existed forever, despite the crumbs of documentation and the meddling with evidence. Homosexuality didn’t begin with gay rights awareness in the 20th century. However, society still denormalises same-sex love as a new trend. In style. A fad. An abomination. A political choice. An act of rebellion. Bow-bowww. They’re wrong. Women lovin’…
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Patricia Highsmith: a Painful Lesson
Patricia Highsmith was the author of The Price of Salt (1952): the inspiration for the film Carol (2015). It was the first lesbian novel with a happy ending. However, while many adored her, Patricia Highsmith was not known as a particularly cheerful person. The prolific author wrote 22 novels and many short stories over her…