I usually think of the heroine-interrupts-duel moment as "masculine values" (pride, dominance, phallic shaped things) being challenged/overcome by "feminine values" as embodied by the heroine. There's something subversive about the heroine defeating toxic masculinity with the Power of Love but it's mostly a heteronormative and simplistic version of the conflict. I feel like this take has really blown this thing wide open for me. I need to go reread some duels!
I'm intrigued by the switch to pistols-- ahem, the French Method-- for the final meeting in The Duellists. There's... something there, for a queer reading, right? Not sure what it is though.
Stunning. Fabulous. Show-Stopping.
I usually think of the heroine-interrupts-duel moment as "masculine values" (pride, dominance, phallic shaped things) being challenged/overcome by "feminine values" as embodied by the heroine. There's something subversive about the heroine defeating toxic masculinity with the Power of Love but it's mostly a heteronormative and simplistic version of the conflict. I feel like this take has really blown this thing wide open for me. I need to go reread some duels!
I'm intrigued by the switch to pistols-- ahem, the French Method-- for the final meeting in The Duellists. There's... something there, for a queer reading, right? Not sure what it is though.