Into the Wilde - Evolving Representations of Sexuality in Film Adaptations of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) by Oscar Wilde is an infamous tale that has remained popular well over a century after its initial release. Wilde’s novel has held public attention and continues to do so today, with a new adaptation appearing every few years. The novel has been adapted many times and in many different formats, including screen, stage, audio, and graphic novel appearances. This thesis will focus primarily on three film adaptations. It will explore how these three adaptations have represented sexuality, and how these representations have evolved alongside changing societal and political landscapes. It analyses adaptations that were made at three important points: 1945 - a period of conservatism and heteronormativity, 1970 - sexual liberation and hypersexuality and 2009 - freedom and comprehensive representation. The arguments made will be supported by visual evidence from the adaptations themselves as well as promotional material produced for the films.