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When three's a crowd: Ex-lovers and lesbian families in 2 girls in love

McWilliam, Kelly (2004) When three's a crowd: Ex-lovers and lesbian families in 2 girls in love. Journal of Lesbian Studies 8(3/4):pp. 165-176.

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Abstract

This paper explores the role of the ex-lover within the fictionalised lesbian family in The Incredibly True Adventure of 2 Girls in Love (1995). In the opening scenes of the film, teen protagonist Randy describes her family as a "normal, typical, regular lesbo household." But what is that? And what does it mean? Randy's family includes three lesbians: herself, her Aunt Rebecca, and Rebecca's girlfriend Vicki. The stability of this family, however, is threatened early in the film by the arrival of Rebecca's ex-lover, Lena. This paper argues that 2 Girls in Love offers a particular examination of the role of the ex-lover in contemporary lesbian families, through its fictional mediation of the topic. Specifically, the paper argues that the film enacts a didactic shift from a hetero-normative representation of family to "families of friends".

Item Type:Journal Article
Status:Published
Keywords:Lesbian film, queer kinship
Subjects:420000 Language and Culture > 420300 Cultural Studies > 420303 Culture, Gender, Sexuality
ID Code:8850
Deposited By:McWilliam, Kelly
Deposited On:02 August 2007
Alternative Locations:http://www.haworthpress.com/store/product.asp?sku=j155
Copyright Owner:Copyright 2004 Haworth Press Inc
Additional Information:For more information, please refer to the journal’s website (see hypertext link) or contact the author. Author contact details: k.mcwilliam@qut.edu.au