Dr Sam Hirst
@romgothsam.bsky.social
Cat sitter. Gothic lit and theology. Gothic romance. Queer Gothic. Runs 'Romancing the Gothic'.
Ian Hancock's 'We are the Romani People' is also a good basic intro to some issues and histories.
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Ian Hancock's 'We are the Romani People' is also a good basic intro to some issues and histories.
I personally think the Emerald Fennel quote is telling. It speaks to a history of sexy white Heathcliff's largely stemming from Laurence Olivier's turn in 1939 (before that Heathcliff wasn't really... sexy to pretty much anyone). Behold him yearning. 104/
November 14, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I personally think the Emerald Fennel quote is telling. It speaks to a history of sexy white Heathcliff's largely stemming from Laurence Olivier's turn in 1939 (before that Heathcliff wasn't really... sexy to pretty much anyone). Behold him yearning. 104/
Last but not least (back to the marathon)
Let's talk sexy Heathcliff.
Let's talk sexy Heathcliff.
![‘Fennell explained her decisions, recalling the moment she “wanted to scream” when she saw Elordi with sideburns on the Saltburn set, as he reminded her of Dirk Bogarde and “looked exactly like the illustration of Heathcliff on the first book that I read”.’
(Emerald Fennell quoted in Hollie Richardson ‘There’s an enormous amount of sado-masochism in this book’: Emerald Fennell defends her Wuthering Heights adaptation in The Guardian, Monday 29 September 2025)
I have also included a picture of Jacob Elordi, presumably looking sexy or sexualised [do not ask this sapphic asexual to tell] but shot looking up as through crawling and begging.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2gzpgojlox34ch5exdepkksr/bafkreico2ncv2bobmvwtcavnb76vs7xiwvutvn5bny4cxaggcjnoiwmz3y@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Last but not least (back to the marathon)
Let's talk sexy Heathcliff.
Let's talk sexy Heathcliff.
Not just my Romani friends, any Romani person speaking up. So, here is a load of information that can get you started, basically. Now, go do some research and listen to actual Romani people. A good history intro? Here you go. 102/
November 14, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Not just my Romani friends, any Romani person speaking up. So, here is a load of information that can get you started, basically. Now, go do some research and listen to actual Romani people. A good history intro? Here you go. 102/
It's worth noting that this wasn't Arnold's position, but you can probably see why the Romani community didn't want to collaborate on the project when you see her explanation of casting 97/
November 14, 2025 at 4:21 AM
It's worth noting that this wasn't Arnold's position, but you can probably see why the Romani community didn't want to collaborate on the project when you see her explanation of casting 97/
The praise at the time for the casting was clouded as we see here by ideas that this was finely the 'right way' to address race, partly because it was 'not as the vaguely exotic dark-skinned Gypsy, but as simply Black' that Heathcliff appeared. 94/
November 14, 2025 at 4:18 AM
The praise at the time for the casting was clouded as we see here by ideas that this was finely the 'right way' to address race, partly because it was 'not as the vaguely exotic dark-skinned Gypsy, but as simply Black' that Heathcliff appeared. 94/
In the 2009 edition, Heathcliff is immediately identified as Romani. He is called a 'gypsy boy' and this identification is explicitly linked to specific behaviour and a specific place in society. 'He needs to be shown his place or he'll kill us all in our beds.' 71/
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
In the 2009 edition, Heathcliff is immediately identified as Romani. He is called a 'gypsy boy' and this identification is explicitly linked to specific behaviour and a specific place in society. 'He needs to be shown his place or he'll kill us all in our beds.' 71/
The musical imagines Heathcliff wondering the world first tricking an unidentified African people, then violently colonising India, then trading with China. With lots of yellow and brown face, a collection of enslaved people he takes with him, and a song and dance at each stop. 68/
November 14, 2025 at 3:40 AM
The musical imagines Heathcliff wondering the world first tricking an unidentified African people, then violently colonising India, then trading with China. With lots of yellow and brown face, a collection of enslaved people he takes with him, and a song and dance at each stop. 68/
CONTENT WARNING: Racist language and depiction
In an update opening number, Heathcliff is referred to as a 'gypsy bundle', 'devil-touched' and as a 'dirty, ragged, coloured breed.' The songs asks whether his 'own blood' could not take him in, meaning not family, but race. 66/
In an update opening number, Heathcliff is referred to as a 'gypsy bundle', 'devil-touched' and as a 'dirty, ragged, coloured breed.' The songs asks whether his 'own blood' could not take him in, meaning not family, but race. 66/
November 14, 2025 at 3:35 AM
CONTENT WARNING: Racist language and depiction
In an update opening number, Heathcliff is referred to as a 'gypsy bundle', 'devil-touched' and as a 'dirty, ragged, coloured breed.' The songs asks whether his 'own blood' could not take him in, meaning not family, but race. 66/
In an update opening number, Heathcliff is referred to as a 'gypsy bundle', 'devil-touched' and as a 'dirty, ragged, coloured breed.' The songs asks whether his 'own blood' could not take him in, meaning not family, but race. 66/
It is a term applied to him over and over again in almost every adaptation with few exceptions (see 1950 Charlton Heston version)
CONTENT WARNING: racist language
'Gypsy' is clearly and repeatedly, over and over again, used as a slur.
CONTENT WARNING: racist language
'Gypsy' is clearly and repeatedly, over and over again, used as a slur.
November 14, 2025 at 3:26 AM
It is a term applied to him over and over again in almost every adaptation with few exceptions (see 1950 Charlton Heston version)
CONTENT WARNING: racist language
'Gypsy' is clearly and repeatedly, over and over again, used as a slur.
CONTENT WARNING: racist language
'Gypsy' is clearly and repeatedly, over and over again, used as a slur.
Right from the very first adaptation in 1920, Heathcliff is identified explicitly as a 'gypsy' (here 'gypsy foundling' 59/
November 14, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Right from the very first adaptation in 1920, Heathcliff is identified explicitly as a 'gypsy' (here 'gypsy foundling' 59/
Just as quick aside for you here - British actors of colour have been playing Heathcliff on stage for a while now. 58/
November 14, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Just as quick aside for you here - British actors of colour have been playing Heathcliff on stage for a while now. 58/
It's a pretty common view that Andrea Arnold was the first film-maker to actually address race. That only works if a) you ignore the international Wuthering Heights adaptation juggernaut and b) if you view casting an actor of colour as the only way to address or depict questions of race. 56/
November 14, 2025 at 3:16 AM
It's a pretty common view that Andrea Arnold was the first film-maker to actually address race. That only works if a) you ignore the international Wuthering Heights adaptation juggernaut and b) if you view casting an actor of colour as the only way to address or depict questions of race. 56/
A couple of quotes for you here. Worth noting that as well as associations with theft, deceit, violence, dark magic and curses, other key tropes focus on sexualisation, romanticisation or 'fairy-tale-isation' 51/
November 14, 2025 at 3:11 AM
A couple of quotes for you here. Worth noting that as well as associations with theft, deceit, violence, dark magic and curses, other key tropes focus on sexualisation, romanticisation or 'fairy-tale-isation' 51/
One reason that people often don't push back hard on anti-Roma racism in film, tv, literature and art is they mistake it for 'good' representation (somehow). The Romani face two main issues in depiction: demonisation and exoticisation. 50/
November 14, 2025 at 3:09 AM
One reason that people often don't push back hard on anti-Roma racism in film, tv, literature and art is they mistake it for 'good' representation (somehow). The Romani face two main issues in depiction: demonisation and exoticisation. 50/
A really good example of how erasure, conflation of groups (or lack of interest in the fact that there are multiple travelling communities in the UK) and negative stereotypes mix together is found in Andrea Arnold's fish tank. 46/
November 14, 2025 at 3:04 AM
A really good example of how erasure, conflation of groups (or lack of interest in the fact that there are multiple travelling communities in the UK) and negative stereotypes mix together is found in Andrea Arnold's fish tank. 46/
Sorry, forgot the alt-text on the last one. Got it here. 44/
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Sorry, forgot the alt-text on the last one. Got it here. 44/
Always being defined from the outside, the 1968 Caravan effectively redefined 'gypsy' to be synonymous to nomadic, erasing racial identity and more government forms include a choice of 'White: Roma', ignoring that the majority of Roma are a visible minority. 43
November 14, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Always being defined from the outside, the 1968 Caravan effectively redefined 'gypsy' to be synonymous to nomadic, erasing racial identity and more government forms include a choice of 'White: Roma', ignoring that the majority of Roma are a visible minority. 43
The other image I use on that slide points to a whole other aspect of the problem - the erasure of the very real Romani people (an ethnic group originating in India) with a 'lifestyle', freedom, floaty vibes or some sort of fashion statement. 41/
November 14, 2025 at 2:54 AM
The other image I use on that slide points to a whole other aspect of the problem - the erasure of the very real Romani people (an ethnic group originating in India) with a 'lifestyle', freedom, floaty vibes or some sort of fashion statement. 41/
Myths and stereotypes continue to have real world consequences, such as the public enmity directed against Romani refugees from the Balkans and Eastern Europe and accusations of Romani families stealing children leading to children being take from their parents because they were blonde 40/
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Myths and stereotypes continue to have real world consequences, such as the public enmity directed against Romani refugees from the Balkans and Eastern Europe and accusations of Romani families stealing children leading to children being take from their parents because they were blonde 40/
Racist stereotypes and portrayals also continue on both the right and left. Top quote is from a now Reform MP Lee Anderson where he manages to hit both key types of dehumanising depiction often facing the Roma: criminal and thieves vs. fairy-tale like creatures of the white fantasy imagination 39/
November 14, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Racist stereotypes and portrayals also continue on both the right and left. Top quote is from a now Reform MP Lee Anderson where he manages to hit both key types of dehumanising depiction often facing the Roma: criminal and thieves vs. fairy-tale like creatures of the white fantasy imagination 39/
I'll just focus on the UK context here (because that is the setting of WH). Laws still impact the Roma in a number of ways, particularly travelling Romani people and other travelling groups most notably through the 2022 Police, Crime and Sentencing Act. 35/
November 14, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I'll just focus on the UK context here (because that is the setting of WH). Laws still impact the Roma in a number of ways, particularly travelling Romani people and other travelling groups most notably through the 2022 Police, Crime and Sentencing Act. 35/
There was increasing interest in the Roma in the 19th century. Their true origins became increasingly known. There was also interest in their lives and folklore, ultimately leading to the Gypsy-lore society which took a usually outsider view and also perpetuated stereotypes and misconceptions 30/
November 14, 2025 at 2:22 AM
There was increasing interest in the Roma in the 19th century. Their true origins became increasingly known. There was also interest in their lives and folklore, ultimately leading to the Gypsy-lore society which took a usually outsider view and also perpetuated stereotypes and misconceptions 30/
These stereotypes, used to marginalise and alienate Romani communities as well as disproportionately imprison and prosecute them when crimes are committed (profiling) continue to this day and were key to 18th and 19th century conceptions of the Roma (when WH was set and written). See below! 29/
November 14, 2025 at 2:20 AM
These stereotypes, used to marginalise and alienate Romani communities as well as disproportionately imprison and prosecute them when crimes are committed (profiling) continue to this day and were key to 18th and 19th century conceptions of the Roma (when WH was set and written). See below! 29/
On this slide, you can see the actual wording of the act, pulling out these various stereotypes. 28/
November 14, 2025 at 2:18 AM
On this slide, you can see the actual wording of the act, pulling out these various stereotypes. 28/