Exploring representations of queer aging in North American fiction, this book illuminates a rich yet previously unheeded intersection within American culture. At a time when older LGBTQ persons gradually gain visibility in gerontological studies and in the media, this work provides a critical perspective concerned with the ways in which the narratives and images we have at our disposal shape our realities. Each chapter shines a spotlight on a significant work of queer fiction, beginning with post-WWII novels and ending with filmic representations of the 2010s, exploring narratives as both reflections and agents of broader cultural negotiations concerning queer sexuality and aging. As a result, the book not only redresses queer aging’s history of invisibility, but also reveals narratives of queer aging to be particularly apt in casting new light on the ways in which growing older is perceived and conceptualized in North American culture.
Table of Content
1. Introduction: Queer Aging and the Significance of Representation.- 2. The Older Lesbian as Predator: Dorothy Baker’s
Trio: A Novel (1943).- 3. The Menace of Gay Aging: James Baldwin’s
Giovanni’s Room (1956).- 4. Lesbian Feminist Aging: June Arnold’s
Sister Gin (1975).- 5. Gay Times in NYC: Andrew Holleran’s
Dancer from the Dance (1978).- 6. Gay Aging after AIDS: Andrew Holleran’s
The Beauty of Men (1996).- 7. Visible Old Lesbians: Suzette Mayr’s
The Widows (1998).- 8. New Stories About Gay Aging: Mike Mills’
Beginners (2010).- 9. Lesbian Aging Hits The Road: Thom Fitzgerald’s
Cloudburst (2011).- 10. Conclusion: Ask What Queer Aging Can Do For You.
About the author
Linda M. Hess is Assistant Professor of American Studies (wissenschaftl. Mitarbeiterin) at the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany. She has published articles on the intersection of aging studies and queer studies, and she is co-editor of Exploring the Fantastic: Genre, Ideology, and Popular Culture (2018).
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