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Start Date
25-6-2022 12:00 AM
End Date
25-6-2022 12:00 AM
Abstract
Queer characters and narratives abound in Casey McQuiston’s Red White and Royal Blue (2019), a romantic-comedy novel about two politically elite men, Henry and Alex, going from enemies to lovers. Although it’s a fictional love story with an optimistic ending, there are several intriguing ways the novel explores pertinent queer issues of representation and politics. In my research, I first discuss the book’s representation of two openly bisexual characters, Alex and his best friend and confidant Nora, and how it depicts the two characters’ identifications of their own bisexuality and sexual experiences differently based on how and when they realized they were bisexual. I then examine how the book depicts coming-out narratives, particularly Henry and Alex’s, and how their coming out is also framed uniquely as a result of their distinct sexual histories and the cultural beliefs of their families. While the book is fictional, I also explore how it mirrors the real-world political climate and makes reference to how political power and repression of sexuality impact the characters in the book. Lastly, I explore audience responses to the novel and its queer themes, by investigating the Red, White, and Royal Blue fan community on TikTok, particularly within the viral hashtag “#booktok.” Overall, while the novel in many ways adheres to the codifiable identity categories of straight, homosexual and bisexual, and presents more or less “traditional” coming out narratives, many aspects of the book attempt to push these boundaries and tackle the complexities of politics and power that surround sexuality.
Bisexuality, Coming Out, and the Politics of Queer in Casey McQuiston’s Red, White and Royal Blue
Queer characters and narratives abound in Casey McQuiston’s Red White and Royal Blue (2019), a romantic-comedy novel about two politically elite men, Henry and Alex, going from enemies to lovers. Although it’s a fictional love story with an optimistic ending, there are several intriguing ways the novel explores pertinent queer issues of representation and politics. In my research, I first discuss the book’s representation of two openly bisexual characters, Alex and his best friend and confidant Nora, and how it depicts the two characters’ identifications of their own bisexuality and sexual experiences differently based on how and when they realized they were bisexual. I then examine how the book depicts coming-out narratives, particularly Henry and Alex’s, and how their coming out is also framed uniquely as a result of their distinct sexual histories and the cultural beliefs of their families. While the book is fictional, I also explore how it mirrors the real-world political climate and makes reference to how political power and repression of sexuality impact the characters in the book. Lastly, I explore audience responses to the novel and its queer themes, by investigating the Red, White, and Royal Blue fan community on TikTok, particularly within the viral hashtag “#booktok.” Overall, while the novel in many ways adheres to the codifiable identity categories of straight, homosexual and bisexual, and presents more or less “traditional” coming out narratives, many aspects of the book attempt to push these boundaries and tackle the complexities of politics and power that surround sexuality.
Bio
I received my BA in Theatre Arts from Rollins College in 2014. I then received my Professional Writing Graduate Certificate in 2017, followed by my MA in Rhetoric and Composition in 2020, both from University of Central Florida. I have continued studying and working at UCF, pursuing my PhD in Texts and Technology and teaching First Year Composition courses. My research interests include queer representation, popular media and fan studies.