The logic of Mrs. Madrigal
Queer mothering at 28, Barbary Lane
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13131/unipi/xjt5-q759Keywords:
Queer Literature, Trans Representation, Melodrama, UtopiaAbstract
The paper focuses on the portrayal of the character of Anna Madrigal in Armistead Maupin’s series Tales of the City. Through an analysis of Maupin’s style and manner of outlining the character, we will see how the portrayal of this character represents a milestone in queer literature as a rare example of non-struggling, non-tragic trans figure. Reflecting on the intersection of gender-nonconformity and motherhood, we will investigate the influence of the structure of Ballroom Houses on how Maupin portrays the concept of chosen family, which he calls ‘logical family.’ As the home of 28 Barbary Lane has come to represent a utopistic space for queerness and otherness, we will also see how the different on-screen adaptations of the series have dealt with the issue of trans representation, conveying subversion through optimism.
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