Private desires, public narratives: the intersection of sexuality and cultural citizenship in Danish state-supported cinema

Abstract

ABSTRACT There is considerable scholarship to support the idea that shared cultural narratives—about what it means to belong, to contribute, to be of value—are very effectively mediated through the mass media, and, in particular, through popular fictional formats such as feature film. This article analyses two contemporary, state-supported Danish films, Nymphomaniac, Director’s Cut and Dronningen (Queen of Hearts), arguing that these cultural artefacts explore the notion of cultural citizenship: a mode of citizenship that I define as the capacity to speak and be heard, and which cultivates a sense of belonging. Through their portrayal of sexually transgressive female characters, these films grapple with and subvert the gendered expectations around femininity, appearing to reinforce the international reputation of Denmark as a politically progressive state. By situating these depictions within their broader social context, though, I illustrate how they present the agency to use one’s own voice as a right that is not, in fact, possessed equally by all citizens. Building on existing literature on cultural citizenship and the Scandinavian welfare state system, I advocate for increased scholarly attention to the role of cinema in creating space for identification and the exploration of belonging.