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Original poster

Historic Lesbian and Gay books, art and films for teens

65 replies

WandsOut · 17/12/2024 11:01

Any recommendations on these?
Poetry, novels, films, art... fashion designers etc

Ideally non captured of course!

OP posts:
WinterCrow · 17/12/2024 12:36

The Naked Civil Servant and I, Clavdivs were brilliant BBC adaptations of the books by (respectively) Quentin Crisp and Rupert Graves. Both star John Hurt.

I think current 16 year olds might enjoy them.

Classical poetry includes the works attributed to Sappho, and the poems of Catullus (check which translation you acquire of the latter).

WhistPie · 17/12/2024 12:29

Frost in May by Antonia White?

Original poster
WandsOut · 17/12/2024 12:19

DeanElderberry · 17/12/2024 11:45

Murdoch Mysteries would be quite good I think. There's plenty of early feminism, racism, prejudice against indigenous people, anti-Catholicism, so the struggles of the lesbian, gay and bisexual characters don't happen in a vacuum, the central focus is on solving crimes and tracking down criminals and there's a great sense of a world that is rapidly changing - motor cars, airplanes, movies, medical advances . . .

That's a good idea. Episodes of things that be very revealing about attitudes of the time.

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Original poster
WandsOut · 17/12/2024 12:17

Butterchunks · 17/12/2024 11:18

Try Sarah Waters books

Her books are so vivid you can see them - definitely a recommendation when they get older.

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Original poster
WandsOut · 17/12/2024 12:04

Flustration · 17/12/2024 11:51

Would the poetry of Wu Zao/Tsau be too sexual? There's nothing explicit, just lots of angsty yearning which might appeal to teens!

Have a look at For the Courtesan Ch'ing Lin https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/wutsao/FortheCourtesan.html

Oh wow.
That's so beautiful.

OP posts:
Flustration · 17/12/2024 11:51

Would the poetry of Wu Zao/Tsau be too sexual? There's nothing explicit, just lots of angsty yearning which might appeal to teens!

Have a look at For the Courtesan Ch'ing Lin https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/wutsao/FortheCourtesan.html

For the Courtesan Ch'ing Lin

https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/wutsao/FortheCourtesan.html

DeanElderberry · 17/12/2024 11:45

Murdoch Mysteries would be quite good I think. There's plenty of early feminism, racism, prejudice against indigenous people, anti-Catholicism, so the struggles of the lesbian, gay and bisexual characters don't happen in a vacuum, the central focus is on solving crimes and tracking down criminals and there's a great sense of a world that is rapidly changing - motor cars, airplanes, movies, medical advances . . .

Original poster
WandsOut · 17/12/2024 11:38

Basically my child's friend group (some LGB, some straight) want to explore LGB history but of course it's all been queered now. Generally they are a shy bunch of sixteen year olds.

Resources at the school tend to be put in by LGBT Youth Scotland etc and there's Juno Dawson in the book section :(

So they want alternatives for now and as they get older which represent stories about love or learning about discrimination and not just the focus on sex.

I'm bisexual but the representation of bi and lesbian women in films often runs to the over sexualised in a way that it wouldn't in a regular rom com for example, but that's another aspect that I think ends up blurring the lines of comfort and discomfort for young and anxious L/B women.

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DeanElderberry · 17/12/2024 11:32

If they have a tolerance for mystery series with historical settings, Murdoch Mysteries (1890s to 1910s Canada) has gay and lesbian recurring characters - who inevitably face nasty prejudice and suffer angst, but are still regarded as goodies not baddies, and have happy times too. So far no trans, and fairly family-viewing friendly. It's possibly a few seasons in before we get to know some peoples 'secret'.

Butterchunks · 17/12/2024 11:24

Also "If these walls could talk 2", a film featuring 3 lesbian couples in different time periods

Original poster
WandsOut · 17/12/2024 11:22

DeanElderberry · 17/12/2024 11:17

Nineteen year old teens, anything they want.

Thirteen year old teens maybe a narrower range.

Yes thinking more the under 16's so could also be inspirational figures, sportspeople (we've been watching docs about Martina Navratilova for example) fashion designers, singers etc

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Original poster
WandsOut · 17/12/2024 11:20

I was originally thinking period drama, but actually anything up to the 90's will work. The problem is finding things that aren't over sexualised which given the writing is usually about sexuality can be tricky, but also looking for things for a group of young people to watch without too much embarrassment!

Oranges was wonderful. The book and the series. Charlotte Coleman was a singular gift to the acting world.

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Butterchunks · 17/12/2024 11:18

Try Sarah Waters books

DeanElderberry · 17/12/2024 11:17

Nineteen year old teens, anything they want.

Thirteen year old teens maybe a narrower range.

Bananalanacake · 17/12/2024 11:11

'Oranges are not the only fruit', book by Jeanette Winterson, though I don't know how historic you mean,

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