The Carnal Pleasure of Eating and Queer Sexuality: A Case Study on the Corporeal Sensations of Eating and Queer Sex within Blue is the Warmest Color
(2023) SIMZ21 20231Graduate School
- Abstract
- This thesis investigates how the cinematographic techniques implemented during eating and sex scenes in movies involving queer characters affect the feelings of the spectator. In more detail, it proposes to elaborate on the emphasis placed on carnal pleasure and the corporeal sensation of queer characters with a specific focus on the corporeal reaction provoked in the viewer.
The elaboration is built on some theoretical contributions functional to establish the relationship between sexual and gustatory desires as similar forms of sensations. Since the research highlights the interdependence between power structures and emotions, a significant part is also dedicated to scholars such as Michel Foucault and Judith Butler who have focused on... (More) - This thesis investigates how the cinematographic techniques implemented during eating and sex scenes in movies involving queer characters affect the feelings of the spectator. In more detail, it proposes to elaborate on the emphasis placed on carnal pleasure and the corporeal sensation of queer characters with a specific focus on the corporeal reaction provoked in the viewer.
The elaboration is built on some theoretical contributions functional to establish the relationship between sexual and gustatory desires as similar forms of sensations. Since the research highlights the interdependence between power structures and emotions, a significant part is also dedicated to scholars such as Michel Foucault and Judith Butler who have focused on heteronormative power relations behind the construction of queer sexuality. The analysis is based on the deep analysis of visual and sound effects implicated in the case study of the movie Blue is the Warmest Color (2013) using methodological tools of visual culture such as Gillian Rose and Laura Marks. The study finds that the sound effects implicated in the scenes concerning eating and sex scenes play a crucial and complementary role to the visual techniques such as close-ups and lights on the actresses’ bodies. This results in a multisensory experience involving all five senses. The similarity of the sensations depicted in the frame, transmitted to the viewer, creates a relationship between eating pleasure and sexual pleasure generating parallel reactions. Finally, this study uncovered the heteronormative power relations that shape this process reinforcing the association of queer sexuality to “wildness”. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- This study investigates the scenes of eating and sex involving queer characters in order to discover how carnal pleasure is depicted through film techniques. The aim is to explore the correlation between the pleasure of eating and queer sex within movies. In addition, the power relations of this association are studied. Therefore, the corporeal sensations provoked in the viewer consider the position taken by the viewer in the social hierarchy. These elements are explored in the movie Blue is the Warmest Color (2013), where I analyzed the visual and sound effects implemented during all the eating and explicit queer sex. For instance, I explored the close-ups of the actresses’ bodies and the sound effects that emphasized the bodily... (More)
- This study investigates the scenes of eating and sex involving queer characters in order to discover how carnal pleasure is depicted through film techniques. The aim is to explore the correlation between the pleasure of eating and queer sex within movies. In addition, the power relations of this association are studied. Therefore, the corporeal sensations provoked in the viewer consider the position taken by the viewer in the social hierarchy. These elements are explored in the movie Blue is the Warmest Color (2013), where I analyzed the visual and sound effects implemented during all the eating and explicit queer sex. For instance, I explored the close-ups of the actresses’ bodies and the sound effects that emphasized the bodily experience. From here, inspired by the theoretical contributions explained in the thesis, I analyzed the similarities in the depiction of these two spheres focusing on the power dynamics. I found that the insistence of the camera on actions such as chewing food (in eating) and touching bodies (in sex) transmits an intense sensation of pleasure in the spectator. In addition, I
noticed that the high volume of the sound effects related to these gestures contributes to creating a corporeal pleasure in the viewer. The similarity of sensations and the consequentiality of the eating and sex scenes underline a similarity between the two forms of pleasure. These elements create a sensory experience defined as multisensory since it involves all five senses: the feelings that are emphasized remind us of sight, smell, taste, hear, and touch experiences that are felt by the observer who is watching the character experiencing the same sensation. The exploration of this association highlights the power relations behind the feelings since queer subjectivities feel penetrated in their intimacy. This is caused by the most common narrative that often depicts queer sexuality as something excessive and perverse. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9123229
- author
- Saba, Valentina LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SIMZ21 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Sensory experiences, cinematic techniques, queer sexuality, eating pleasure, sexual desire, heteronormativity
- language
- English
- id
- 9123229
- date added to LUP
- 2023-06-21 14:39:17
- date last changed
- 2023-06-21 14:39:17
@misc{9123229,
abstract = {{This thesis investigates how the cinematographic techniques implemented during eating and sex scenes in movies involving queer characters affect the feelings of the spectator. In more detail, it proposes to elaborate on the emphasis placed on carnal pleasure and the corporeal sensation of queer characters with a specific focus on the corporeal reaction provoked in the viewer.
The elaboration is built on some theoretical contributions functional to establish the relationship between sexual and gustatory desires as similar forms of sensations. Since the research highlights the interdependence between power structures and emotions, a significant part is also dedicated to scholars such as Michel Foucault and Judith Butler who have focused on heteronormative power relations behind the construction of queer sexuality. The analysis is based on the deep analysis of visual and sound effects implicated in the case study of the movie Blue is the Warmest Color (2013) using methodological tools of visual culture such as Gillian Rose and Laura Marks. The study finds that the sound effects implicated in the scenes concerning eating and sex scenes play a crucial and complementary role to the visual techniques such as close-ups and lights on the actresses’ bodies. This results in a multisensory experience involving all five senses. The similarity of the sensations depicted in the frame, transmitted to the viewer, creates a relationship between eating pleasure and sexual pleasure generating parallel reactions. Finally, this study uncovered the heteronormative power relations that shape this process reinforcing the association of queer sexuality to “wildness”.}},
author = {{Saba, Valentina}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Carnal Pleasure of Eating and Queer Sexuality: A Case Study on the Corporeal Sensations of Eating and Queer Sex within Blue is the Warmest Color}},
year = {{2023}},
}