ST. MARY'S TATLER
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Our Archives
  • News
  • Sports
  • A & E
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
  • the Drumstick
  • Podcast
  • Quarantined

Arts & Entertainment.

The "Haunting of Bly Manor" depicts a positive representation of the queer community

11/8/2020

0 Comments

 

By Meghan Aslin 

Picture
Art by Michelle Jun
Released on Netflix on Oct. 9, “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” spinoff of the original “Haunting of Hill House,” hit horror-lovers hard. Being one myself, I was ecstatic to sit down to watch it, and, embarrassingly enough, I finished the show in only three days. I found that I was not actually obsessed with the show itself, though, but a relationship built across the nine episodes – a queer love story.

As a gay woman, I constantly look for positive representation of myself in the media. I appreciated “Love, Simon” as much as the next teenager did, but after the Hulu spinoff “Love, Victor” was released, I was annoyed to say the least. I started asking myself where the other queer women, especially queer women of color, were.

“The Haunting of Bly Manor” is one of the greatest media representations of love between two women that I have seen. It feels organic, kind, and most importantly, is not in any way solely focused on the physical relationship between the characters, Dani (Victoria Pedretti) and Jamie (Amelia Eve). The unnecessary focus on the physical relationships between two female, queer characters in the media only further enables the disgusting fetishization of an identity. Nora Eikner (11), co-leader of the St. Mary’s GSA said, “A lot of female relationships are seen with the focus away from the deep emotional connections … there is such a different tone for gay men, like I’ve seen a lot more representation for them. And even with bisexuality – where is the positive and normalized representation for all of the LGBTQ community?”

It carefully shows the questioning and coming-out process and the psychological effects that it can have on queer folk. The creators, however, do create a sort of U-haul mentality in Dani and Jami – playing on an old lesbian stereotype in which two women commit earlier in a relationship than a heteronormative couple would; however, I think it is very appropriate to the strong emotional connection that the two make throughout the show.

Hopefully by exemplifying what love at its core looks like, “The Haunting of Bly Manor” is a step in the right direction. In an interview with E! Magazine, Eve said, “[Dani and Jamie] complemented one another so well. What felt so lovely in this story is that it didn’t matter that they were two women, it was that they were two human beings that connected in that way.” 



​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    For & By Students

    Our website videos were made in partnership with St. Mary's video-making publication, Bella Vista.

    Click on the author or artist's name to view more of her work!

    HAVE AN ARTICLE IN MIND?
    Search our site!


    MISSION STATEMENT

    Tatler, a student-run news publication, connects the St. Mary’s community to local and global issues through thoughtful reporting and shared stories. Meet our team here.

    WANT TO READ MORE?
    Check out our Archives.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Our Archives
  • News
  • Sports
  • A & E
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
  • the Drumstick
  • Podcast
  • Quarantined