Date of Award

6-2023

Document Type

Open Access

Department

Spanish and Hispanic Studies

First Advisor

Silvina Yi

Language

English

Keywords

"Fresa y Chocolate", LGBTQ, "El lobo, el bosque y el hombre nuevo", Cuba, gender studies / estudios de género, media representation / la representación en la industria de los medios de comunicación

Abstract

This work examines the differences between the short story "El lobo, el bosque y el hombre nuevo" by Senel Paz (1990) and its film adaptation Fresa y Chocolate de Tomás Gutiérrez Alea y Juan Carlos Tabío Cuba (1993), with a focus on the expansion on and inclusion of two female characters. It argues that these differences build and promote a heterosexual narrative that was not intended in the original story. The context regarding the LBGTQ community, specifically the discrimination they faced during the Communist Revolution in Cuba, is given as a precursor to the subsequent analysis of the works. The focus then shifts to the comparison of these works, primarily regarding the expansion of the character Vivían and the creation of the character Nancy in the film adaptation. The inclusion of these women in the film pushed a heterosexual narrative by defining the sexuality of the main character, David. Both women are utilized as pawns, included only to advance the storyline of the men, and presented only as objects to define and appeal to male sexuality. This presents a heteronormative, sexist view that the original work did not seek to promote and actively worked against. This heteronormative narrative silences the voices of the LGBTQ community by depriving them of representation. This new film narrative promotes problematized views and beliefs surrounding these marginalized communities.

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Rights Statement

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.