Comparing Isolde's Camelot 3000 And Queer Theory

Camelot 3000 and Queer Theory Queer Theory is the idea that our identity is generated from fluid components and heteronormative society suppresses the fluidity of these components forcing those who identify as queer to rebel against heteronormative society. This suppression of fluidity and rebellion of heteronormative identity is prevalent throughout Camelot 3000. Isolde is the figure piece for everything queer and goes against any form of heteronormative identity. She is a woman who loves a man trapped in a woman’s body. Isolde’s love for Tristan transcends his physical sex as she sees him as he sees himself. Tristan is a woman who sees himself as a man and Isolde’s love goes against the heteronormative view that she must continue to

The mix of her appearance between male and female designated hairstyles and odd costumes exemplifies the nature of her rebellion against a heteronormative society. Isolde’s queerness is rarely confined to normal panels; instead, she overwhelms the borders of the panels. This insinuates a type of counterculture to what society follows by defying any norm. Her queerness works as a destructive force in heteronormative order. As Isolde arrives and meets Tristan once again, she makes him question everything and long for his male body again. This swirl of emotion causes him to almost destroy the round table. This can be seen as a metaphor regarding how queer theory’s purpose is to overturn the established order of heteronormative thinking. Queer theory stands to defy what is perceived to be ‘normal’ by deviating from any established heteronormative standard within society. Isolde’s queerness draws from her refusal to bend to society’s norms. Consequently, her queerness helps destroy the heteronormative identity that was preventing Tristan from embracing his love for her. Isolde’s queerness in avertedly shatters the boundaries within sexuality, by establishing a fluid spectrum of sexuality

When Isolde first meets Tristan eye to eye again, she professes her concern for his safety as if nothing mattered and their love remained as it always was. Her queerness can be seen through the page as she is not featured in a panel and simply exists outside the bounds of rational and conservative panels just like her love for Tristan (Camelot 3000 Chapter 6 p. 24). There is a diagonal line in the background illustrating the dynamic and changing force that Isolde’s love represents. Isolde’s love for Tristan is a major disruption of the established heteronormative identity. This is a defiance of heteronormative identity, while everyone views Tristan as a woman now; Isolde acknowledges Tristan as the man he sees himself as. This is a clear rebellion to the heteronormative standard, but it also demonstrates the benefits of a love that bypasses all norms and is true only to the person inside regardless of gender. At first Tristan’s love for Isolde is overshadowed for his self-hatred of not physically being a man. He must first come to terms with his queerness instead of attempting to become ‘normal’ by fitting into a heteronormative standard in which Isolde helps him break out of and find