PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (PART B - REPRESENTATION)

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT - PART B - REPRESENTATION:

1. Who is the intended audience of the film.

The intended audience of the film are middle-aged women and gay men, as they enjoy the music featured in the film, such as Abba, Gloria Gaynor, etc.  The film helped bring out a positive portrayal of the LGBT individuals, that helped to introduce LGBT themes to a mainstream audience.  However, the film has also been criticized for perceived racist and sexist stereotyping.  As seen from the female being portrayed as a Filipino who is Bob's wife.

2. Select a character and make notes on how they are presented:

• Consider their physical characteristics and personality
• How are they represented in terms of gender?
• Are there stereotypes presented or challenged?
• Is the representation positive or negative or a balance of both?

Character : Adam

Actor: Guy Pearce

Physical characteristics and personality:

• Young
• Flamboyant
• Obnoxious
• Immature

How are they represented in terms of gender?

Male - Young, very happy, excited

Drag Queen - Wants to cause trouble, flamboyant

Are the stereotypes presented or challenged?

• Challenged as they are mocked in the film, where it is ultimately is personalized with the three individuals’ experiences in the outback. 
• For example, in one scene that stands out in my mind is when Adam is chased and beaten up by a group of men who represent the stereotypical outback masculinity. 
• I believe that the scene breaks down the stereotypes of drags queens and reveals them as individuals who go through struggles and face dire consequences for being true to themselves.

Is the representation positive or negative or a balance of both?

• Balance of both

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (PART A - NARRATIVE)

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT - PART A - NARRATIVE:

Questions:

1. Is the narrative linear or non-linear? Is there any deviation from the structure?
2. Identify the 5 stages of the narrative based on Todorov’s theory
3. Are there any narrative strands in the film?
4. Which binary oppositions can you identify in the film.

Answers:

1. The narrative is non-linear, as it follows the journey of 3 drag queens but also has flashbacks which makes it non-linear.
2. 5 stages of the narrative:


•  A state of equilibrium. - Tick, Adam and Bernadette leave for a drag show in a bus.
• A disruption of that order by an event. - Bus has been vandalized with homophobic hates and they are stuck in the outback.
• A recognition of the disorder. - Bus breaks down and they meet a middle aged mechanic, Bob, and joins them on their journey.  Adam gets beaten up by a homophobic gang where he is saved by Bob and Bernadette.
• An attempt to fix the disorder. - Tick and Marion have a son, and Tick is nervous about exposing his son to his profession and tries to get to know his son.  Tick is surprised that his son already knows about it and fully supports his career.
• A new equilibrium - conclusion. - Tick, Adam, Bernadette climb Uluru in full drag costume. Tick and Adam head back to Sydney while Bernadette and Bob remains at the resort.
3. Multi strand, as it focuses on 3 drag queens instead of 1.  As well later in the film Bob, the mechanic is also added into the plot.
4. Good and Bad, Gay and Straight, Homosexual and Heterosexual