The Queer Significance of Liquidness in Contemporary Digital Cinema

In recent years, the cinematic representation of liquidness has gained significant attention as a symbol of queerness and resistance against the normative demands of digital networks. This essay argues that liquidness is not only a metaphorical representation of queer identity but also a material strategy for defending and dissenting against the binary logic of digitality.

One of the earliest examples of the cinematic queerness of water can be found in João Pedro Rodrigues' 2000 film O Fantasma, where water is depicted as an aphrodisiac force. Similarly, Robert Bresson's 1967 film Mouchette portrays liquidness as a means of exploring queer identity outside the realm of sexuality.

However, the relationship between water and queerness has taken on new relevance in recent years, particularly in the era of digital connectivity. With the rise of online platforms and social media, our lives are increasingly governed by the binary logic of 0s and 1s. In this context, liquidness becomes a powerful symbol of resistance against the norms of digitality.

Filmmakers such as Alain Guiraudie (Stranger by the Lake, 2013) and Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, 2016) have turned to aquatic symbolism in their work to explore what it means to be queer in a world governed by digital networks. These films use water as an allegorical representation of the instability and multivalence of queer identity.

In Guiraudie's Stranger by the Lake, the protagonist's relationship with another man is mirrored by his relationship with the lake, where he finds solace and connection. Similarly, Jenkins' Moonlight uses the imagery of water to explore themes of queerness, identity, and belonging in a world that often seeks to define and categorize individuals.

In conclusion, the significance of liquidness in contemporary digital cinema lies not only in its metaphorical representation of queer identity but also in its material strategy for defending and dissenting against the norms of digitality. As we continue to navigate the complexities of digital connectivity, it is essential that we recognize the power of liquidness as a symbol of queerness and resistance.

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