From future homemaker of America to the lesbian continuum: the queering of Mary Ann Singletone in Armistead Maupin's Tales

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is a turning point in homosexual literature in twentieth century America. This paper mainly examines the character of Mary Ann Singleton and the "queering" of her character. The writings of Michael Foucault, Judith Butlter, Adrienne Rich, Eve K. Sedgewich, and Simone de Beauvoir are vital in understanding how a straight woman journeys onto the lesbian continuum as a revolt against gender roles (defined by Butler and Beauvoir) and as a result of her friendship with Michael Tolliver. Michael's character provides a discourse (as defined by Foucault) on homosexuality and through this discourse, he provides a contrast to the dysfunctions of compulsory heterosexuality in Mary Ann's journey. The combination of these two characters intertwines feminism and queer rights in Maupin's narrative.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• White, Sara Katherine

Contributors dc:contributor

• Guy, Matthew W.
• Stuart, Christopher J.; Palmer, Heather
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Homosexuality in literature
• Singleton
• Mary Ann (Fictitious character)
• Maupin, Armistead. Tales of the city series

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/47

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1046