Abstract

This paper will explore the emergence and evolution of the concept of ‘queer urban space’ in Madrid and its visual representation in recent Spanish cinema. We take the film Chuecatown/Boystown (dir. Juan Flahn, 2007) as the main case study and use Collins’ (2004) ‘queer space’ model as a point of departure. We consider the extent to which the putatively ‘global’ concept of queer and queer space may clash with more local issues, such as national identity, history and culture. We investigate how Madrid’s queer space, its urban space and lifestyle more generally differs from those in cities such as San Francisco, Toronto or New York. We will ask whether a queer neighborhood (and its cinematic representation) can bridge other kinds of differences, such as the global and the local, and what are the advantages and limitations of applying global models to the Spanish case.