Out Takes

29 Dec 2015

Star Wars vs. Christmas: the ultimate battle?

Arts, TV & Film

This week on Out Takes we take a look at 2015’s most anticipated theatrical release: Star Wars. It’s broken every box office record to date but why is it so popular? And, more importantly, can we queer it?

To help us understand this far away galaxy we’re joined by JOY’s own Sonja Hammer from Sci-Fi and Squeam and Jimmy Twin, self-professed sci-fi geek and author of Frankie. We discover that there really is something decidedly queer about Star Wars after all: the sense of escape it encourages, its aesthetic of pastiche, its potential for reinterpretation and reappropriation and, perhaps above all, its message that the force is with us.

Next, we get in the festive spirit and turn our attention to films that really are as camp as Christmas!

We look at the best, the worst, and the gayest Christmas cinema. From Judy Garland singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ to Divine screaming for cha cha heels; from Kathy Griffin as the ghosts of Christmas past to Whitney in The Preachers Wife.

They might be saccharine and you’ll either love them or hate them but these films will definitely get you in the spirit.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:36 — 21.8MB)

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