The literary adaptation as a form of queer reading (exemplified by R. W. Fassbinder’s film version of A. Döblin’s “Berlin Alexanderplatz”) Cover Image

Fassbinders „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ – Literaturverfilmung als Queer Reading
The literary adaptation as a form of queer reading (exemplified by R. W. Fassbinder’s film version of A. Döblin’s “Berlin Alexanderplatz”)

Author(s): Aleksandra Elisseeva
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, German Literature, Film / Cinema / Cinematography
Published by: Ústav svetovej literatúry, Slovenská akadémia vied
Keywords: Queer reading; Literary adaptation; Rainer Werner Fassbinder; Alfred Döblin;

Summary/Abstract: The term queer reading is borrowed from the writings of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick. Via the example of R. W. Fassbinder’s Berlin Alexanderplatz it is demonstrated that the literary adaptation can appear as a form of queer reading strategy. The film accents queer subtexts contained in the novel. The paper investigates the means of accentuating such content. These means include narrative condensation, concentration on main characters, repetition, speech ambiguity, body language, facial gestures, music and close ups. Some of these means belong to the repertoire of melodrama.

  • Issue Year: 9/2017
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 62-73
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: German