It Came From the Closet : Queer Reflections on Horror
(Autor) Joe Vallese"Horror opened me up to new possibilities for survival ... I saw power in freakery and transgression and wondered if it could be mine." The relationship between horror films and the LGBTQ+ community? It's complicated. Haunted houses, forbidden desires and the monstrous can have striking resonance for those who've been marginalised. But the genre's murky history of an alarmingly heterosexual male gaze, queer-coded villains and sometimes blatant homophobia, is impossible to overlook. There is tension here, and there are as many queer readings of horror films as there are queer people. Edited by Joe Vallese, and with contributions by writers including Kirsty Logan and Carmen Maria Machado, the essays in It Came from the Closet bring the particulars of the writers' own experiences, whether in relation to gender, sexuality, or both, to their unique interpretations of horror films from Jawsto Jennifer's Body. Exploring a multitude of queer experiences from first kisses and coming out to transition and parenthood, this is a varied and accessible collection that leans into the fun of horror while taking its cultural impact and reciprocal relationship to the LGBTQ+ community seriously.
Joe Vallese
Joe Vallese is a poet, writer, and editor known for his experimental and innovative approach to language and form. His work often explores themes of identity, memory, and the intersection of the personal and political. Vallese has published several collections of poetry, including "This World Is Not Altogether Bad" and "The Arrogant Hour." He is also the founder and editor of the literary journal "The Operating System." Vallese's unique voice and boundary-pushing style have made him a significant figure in contemporary poetry, influencing a new generation of writers to push the boundaries of traditional forms. His most famous work, "The Arrogant Hour," showcases his ability to blend the personal with the political, creating a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience.