DRIFTING BODIES AND FLOODED SPACES: VISUALIZING THE INVISIBILITY OF HETERONORMATIVITY IN TSAI MING-LIANG'S THE RIVER.

Essays; River, The (Film); Tsai, Ming-Liang, 1957-; LGBTQ+ people in motion pictures; Heterosexuality; Social norms; Social history

An essay is presented on how the motion picture "The River," directed by Tsai Mingliang, challenges the normativeness of heterosexual life through its depiction of bodies. The author discusses Tsai's career and how his films reflect social conditions for LGBT people in Taiwan and the mainstreaming of gays and lesbians in Taiwanese culture. He comments on the depiction of gay characters in "The River" and suggests pain suffered by the main character symbolizes heterosexuality.