Date of Award
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in English Composition
Department
English
First Advisor
Rhodes, Jacqueline
Second Advisor
Gil-Gomez, Ellen
Third Advisor
Hyon, Sunny
Abstract
This thesis contends that the notion of an uncanny valley can be extended to explain the lack of lesbian presence in the traditional dramatic canon. Because mainstream theatre audiences are unfamiliar with lesbian dramatic representation, lesbian theatre often provokes an uncanny valley response in general audiences and this negative response leads to little commercial success for lesbian plays. This project examines how both the reading of lesbian dramatic literature and the performance analysis of lesbian plays can offer insight into those dominant cultural tenets that not only oppress lesbians in everyday society, but also contribute to their erasure from academic study.
Recommended Citation
Hanson, Gina Marielynn, "Theatre of the uncanny: Lesbian theatre and the uncanny valley response" (2010). Theses Digitization Project. 3789.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3789
Included in
Dramatic Literature, Criticism and Theory Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons
