Queer Cinema and Melodrama: A Perspective from Queer Directors

Esra Yılmaz; Çiğdem Tanyel Başar

doi:10.5195/cinej.2025.744

Queer Cinema and Melodrama: A Perspective from Queer Directors

Authors

Esra Yılmaz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5185-5485
Çiğdem Tanyel Başar İzmir Demokrasi University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Associate Professor https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5740-336X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2025.744

Keywords:

queer cinema, melodrama, queer theory, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Todd Haynes, Ümit Ünal

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between queer cinema and melodrama through the works of queer directors like Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Todd Haynes, and Ümit Ünal. It explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, and queer identities, focusing on conflicts between feminist and queer theories. The study examines the historical context, aesthetic elements, and evolution of melodrama in relation to queer cinema. Through case studies and qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and document analysis, the findings reveal how melodrama highlights queer experiences, critiques social norms, and serves as a transformative force in queer cinema.

Author Biographies

Esra Yılmaz

Esra Yılmaz (b. 1998, Ankara) is a researcher specializing in cinema and interdisciplinary arts. She earned her bachelor's degree in Film Design (Editing-Sound-Image) from Dokuz Eylül University and her master's degree in Interdisciplinary Art and Design from İzmir Democracy University. Her research examines the intersection of queer cinema and melodrama from the perspective of queer directors, with a particular focus on identity and representation in film.

Çiğdem Tanyel Başar, İzmir Demokrasi University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Associate Professor

Çiğdem Tanyel Başar is an Associate Professor at Izmir Democracy University, specializing in contemporary art and art-based research methodologies. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. focused on enhancing artistic expression through conceptual art practices. She works extensively with interdisciplinary approaches, such as A/r/tography and the photovoice method. With experience in teaching and participating in national and international exhibitions, she strives to integrate artistic practice with academic research.

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Published

2025-12-03

How to Cite

Yılmaz, E., & Tanyel Başar, Çiğdem. (2025). Queer Cinema and Melodrama: A Perspective from Queer Directors. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 13(2), 460–488. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2025.744

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Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): Fall

Section

Articles

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