Queer Interruptions

This book explores the experiences of queer female and genderqueer fans through interviews and an original documentary. Inspired by fan reactions to the death of a popular lesbian character on the television series The 100 (2014-2020), the book focuses on the fans’ experiences with the “Bury Your Gays” trope and seeks to illustrate the enduring impact of these fictional deaths on viewers in our contemporary political landscape. The book draws on queer theory to frame the experiences of queer female and genderqueer fans as experiences of queer time: as deviations from heteronormative life timelines, as anachronistic backward turns, and as queer melancholia. By exploring the “backward” feelings and experiences of fans, this book illustrates how the pain of the queer past persists in the present, challenging simplistic narratives of progress and highlighting the progress yet to be made onscreen and in the wider political context. Dr Evangeline Aguas (she/her) is a Lecturer in Digital and Social Media at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. With a robust background in professional film and television production, her interdisciplinary research aims to combine the fields of queer theory, digital media, and fan studies with creative practice. She has a particular interest in how film and visual media can be utilised to further disseminate research beyond the academy.