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University of South Wales

Queer Public Figures in Biopics

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This work considers the impact of queer representation and queer visibility in the biopic genre, with a specific focus on the morality of artifice when representing the life story of a real figure. How does a figure’s representation impact their legacy, reputation, and the perception of queer people in general? The biopic is defined and analysed in terms of genre, subgenre, and conventions. Filmmaker intentions and motivations are highlighted within case studies including Dallas Buyers Club (Vallée, 2014) and a close comparison between Behind the Candelabra (Soderberg, 2013), Bohemian Rhapsody (Singer, 2018) and Rocketman (Fletcher, 2019). Considering the impact of archetypes, the hero’s journey and generic narrative structures, this work highlights the potential impact of changes to a figure’s life story for the purpose of revenue, critical acclaim, and entertainment.

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
Master's Thesis
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
Student thesis
Year dc:date.issued
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Thorpe, Eleanor
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Crews, Sarah

Rights

Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/949f8d57-060f-4a05-a574-e2c4fd15d5ed
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/949f8d57-060f-4a05-a574-e2c4fd15d5ed

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of South Wales
Base URL
pure.southwales.ac.uk/ws/oai
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Thorpe, Eleanor. Queer Public Figures in Biopics. Student thesis thesis, 2021. https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/949f8d57-060f-4a05-a574-e2c4fd15d5ed