A Movie With a Messy Ending: Mess as a Queer Tactic in Lebanese Cinema

Abstract

This article examines the “queer mess” created by non-normative bodies to challenge two primary sources of oppression in Lebanon: “patriarchal connectivity” (Joseph 1997) and “sectarianism”. Through an analysis of two contemporary Lebanese queer films, I propose the concept of “queer mess” as a transgressive framework and tactic that subverts heteronormative power structures and conventional social dynamics, while creating spaces for alternative modes of existence. This liberating mess favors the bodies of those who don’t measure up on the homophobic, classist, poverty, and sectarianist matrix. Employing contextual analysis, the study identifies two primary messy queer Lebanese tactics: “disclosure of sexuality to foster authentic family connections”, and “disobedience” against normative power, particularly hegemonic masculinity and Lebanese sectarianism. These tactics are contextualized within the framework of class and educational privileges, which shape each of the queer strategies.