Hannah's Annotated Bibliography on A Streetcar Named Desire

Through my research I feel myself gravitating towards making a claim about identity and how identity is formed, through the lens of queer theory. I am not totally sure exactly what my claim will be, but I have an idea. 

1. [eBook found through searching “Queer Theory” on E-Book Central]
Ferens, Dominika. Out Here : Local and International Perspectives in Queer Studies, Cambridge Scholars Publisher, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/byu/detail.action?docID=1114150.

This eBook focuses on the foundations of Queer Theory and the idea of what is acceptable and normal to society. I found it interesting how it explored the idea that repetition is what creates normality, which made me think about the idea of identity and how repetition plays a role in one’s identity. This relates to my study of Queer Theory in A Streetcar Named Desire, as it explores homosexuals who tried to escape their identity through participating in the heteronormative society.

2. [Non-textual Source, movie adaptation of A Streetcar Name Desire from 1951. Found under “videos’ on the HBLL main page.]

A Streetcar Named Desire. 1951. [film] Hollywood: Elia Kazan.

This film accurately portrays the events that take place in a Streetcar Named Desire, and even added to my understanding of the different roles light played in the play. There is a moment in the movie that depicts Blanche talking with Mitch just moments before she is seen under the light. In this scene the lights are flickering on and off, demonstrating the difference between light and dark and her own exposure to the increasing light. In this scene it also demonstrates Blanche’s true nature as she becomes subject to the light, he voice becomes deeper and more assertive. This relates to my theory as the light is a representation of who are in hiding, such as homosexuals during this time often found themselves hiding their true sexual identity.

3. [Digital Journal, found through JSTOR, Online full-text databse]

Vlasopolos, Anca. “Authorizing History: Victimization in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’” Theatre Journal, vol. 38, no. 3, 1986, pp. 322–338. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3208047. Accessed 18 Mar. 2020.

This article looks at the genre of the play, it’s “modern tragedy” and the characterization of a hero in the play. This article speculates the possibility of Blanche being a hero, yet she is eventually the one who falls to victimization. This can relate to my use of Queer Theory and blanche’s represenataion of homosexuals during this time in a sense that although gay individuals during this time might see themselves as the hero to their lives, they often fell victim to hetero norms during this time.

4. [Print source, fonud through my own collection of books]

Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. New York: Routledge, 2006. Print.

This textbook contained a sectioned that described Lesbian, gay and queer criticism. It described more aspect of the theory that I had not yet considered, such as homosocial bonding and same-sex “doubles” which I had not yet considered looking in to in Streetcar.

5. [Newspaper article, found through HBLL database finder under “newspapers”]

“Pervert Investigation.” Washington Post, May 31, 1950

This source adds to the historical background that is essential to my claim. It is an article that was published which talks about the blackmail that homosexuals could experience because of their sexuality. It also displays the criminal attitude people had towards homosexuals at this time.