Queer Representations in Audiovisual Translation: The Case of Q-Force

Öz

In the past, translation was regarded only as the transfer of linguistic elements, but with the cultural turn, translation is considered in its sociological, cognitive, and psychological aspects. These approaches have triggered new problems and research arising from intersections with other fields. Research on audiovisual translation serves as a tangible manifestation of this tendency. This research intertwines audiovisual translation studies with queer studies. Queer representations in audiovisual media have been on the rise in recent years. The proliferation of queer media production and distribution has intensified with the advent of over-the-top (OTT) media platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+. At this point, the vital role of translation in the circulation of different sexual identities and orientations is undeniable. This research takes the current ten episodes of the adult animated comedy miniseries Q-Force as the corpus of research. The dubbing and subtitling versions on the Netflix platform are analyzed comparatively within the framework of queer translation, which constitutes the theoretical framework of the research. The study seeks to analyze which translation strategies are used to represent the queer identities and the potential reasons underlying the use of those strategies. In the light of descriptive translation studies, the methodological perspective of the research is based on queer translation strategies, including ‘eradicalization’ and ‘acqueering.’ The findings indicate that dubbing emphasizes the queer identities more than subtitle translations. In these aspects, the research seeks to contribute to queer studies, audiovisual translation studies, and to shed light on the problems of representation in contemporary media.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Audiovisual translation
• queer translation
• acqueering
• eradicalization
• Q-Force

Görsel-İşitsel Çeviride Kuir Temsiller: Q-Force Örneği

Öz

Geçmişte çeviri sadece dilsel öğelerin aktarımı olarak ele alınırken kültürel dönemeç ile çeviri sosyolojik, bilişsel ve psikolojik yönleriyle ele alınmaya başlanmıştır. Bu yaklaşımlar başka alanlarla kesişimden doğan yeni araştırmaları tetiklemiştir. Görsel-işitsel çeviri odağındaki araştırmalar bu eğilimin somut göstergelerinden sayılabilir. Bu araştırma, görsel-işitsel çeviri çalışmaları ile kuir çalışmalarını birleştirmektedir. Görsel-işitsel medya üzerinde kuir temsiller son yıllarda artış göstermektedir. Kuir medya üretimindeki ve dolaşımındaki artış Netflix, YouTube ve Disney+ gibi over-the-top (OTT) medya servislerinin ortaya çıkışıyla ivme kazanmıştır. Bu durum, anlatıları çeşitlendirmekte ve dolaşımını kolaylaştırmaktadır. Bu araştırma, yetişkin animasyon komedisi Q-Force mini dizisinin, mevcut on bölümünü araştırmanın bütüncesi olarak ele almaktadır. Netflix platformunda yer alan dublaj ve altyazı çevirileri, araştırmanın kuramsal çerçevesini oluşturan kuir çeviri çerçevesinde karşılaştırmalı olarak ele alınmaktadır. Bu araştırmanın amaçları arasında, kuir temsilin ortaya konuş sürecinde ne gibi stratejilere başvurulduğu ve bu stratejilerin kullanılmasının altında yatan olası nedenleri çözümlemek bulunmaktadır. Araştırmanın yöntemsel bakış açısını, betimleyici çeviribilim çalışmaları ışığında, ‘kuir unsurların örtükleştirilmesi’ ve ‘kuirleştirme’ stratejileri oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın sonucunda, dublaj çevirilerinin altyazı çevirilerine göre kuir temsili göreceli olarak daha fazla öne çıkardığı gözlemlenmektedir. Bu yönleriyle araştırma, kuir çalışmalarına, görsel-işitsel çeviri çalışmalarına katkıda bulunmaya ve çağdaş medyada temsil sorunlarına ışık tutmaya çalışmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Görsel-işitsel çeviri
• kuir çeviri
• kuirleştirme
• kuir unsurların örtükleştirilmesi
• Q-Force

Kaynakça

1. Abdal, G. (2023). The bounds of translatorial perspective in the Turkish translation of Rita Mae Brown’s Rubyfruit Jungle. Litera, 33(2), 107–126. https://doi.org/10.26650/LITERA2023-1301814
2. Acar, S. (2021). The role of language use in identity construction amongst LGBTQI+ YouTubers. [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. University of Alabama. http://ir.ua.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/7926/file_1.pdf? sequence=1&isAllowed=y
3. Alan, C. (2011). A descriptive study on censorship in the translation of South Park [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Hacettepe Üniversitesi.
4. Alan, C. (2024). Censoring or queering? TV-subtitling of South Park in Türkiye. İstanbul Üniversitesi Çeviribilim Dergisi - Istanbul University Journal of Translation Studies, 21, 150–163. https://doi.org/10.26650/iujts.2024.1552761
5. Alan, C., & Okyayuz, A. Ş. (2022). İkilik dışı cinsel kimliklerin görsel-işitsel çeviride yansıtımına ilişkin sorun odaklı bir yaklaşım. Çeviribilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi, 33, 20–41. https://doi.org/10.37599/ceviri.1209263
6. Algül, M. (2021). Queer medyayı alımlamak: Bir queer televizyon çalışması olarak Netflix televizyon içeriklerinin incelenmesi [Yayımlanmamış doktora tezi]. İstanbul Üniversitesi.
7. Anderson, G.L. (2009). Advocacy leadership: Toward a post-reform agenda in education (1. Basım). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203880616
8. Baer, B. J. (2020). Queer theory and translation studies: Language, politics, desire. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315514734

9. Baer, B. J., & Kaindl, K. (2017). Introduction: Queer(ing) translation. B. J. Baer & K. Kaindl (Ed.), Queering translation, translating the queer: Theory, practice, activism içinde (ss. 1–10). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315505978
10. Bassnett, S., & Lefevere, A. (1990). Translation, history and culture. Printer Publishers.
11. Bayramoğlu, Y. (2025). Turkey’s queer struggle: Digital media and nightlife as the new frontiers. P. Dinç & O. S. Hünler (Ed.), The Republic of Turkey and its unresolved issues içinde (pp. 217–230). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-1583-4_13
12. Brim, M., & Ghaziani, A. (2016). Introduction: Queer methods. Women’s Studies Quarterly, 44(3/4), 14–27. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44474060
13. Butler, J. (1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge.
14. Cambridge Dictionary. (t.y.a). Sprain. In Cambridge English–Turkish Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-turkish/sprain
15. Cambridge Dictionary. (t.y.b). Dyke. Cambridge English Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dyke
16. Cambridge Dictionary. (t.y.c). Versatile. In Cambridge English Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/versatile
17. Cambridge Dictionary. (t.y.d). Abbey. Cambridge English–Turkish Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/abbey
18. Cambridge Dictionary. (t.y.e). Pride. Cambridge English–Turkish Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/pride
19. Canakis, C. (2015). The desire for identity and the identity of desire. Gender and Language, 9(1), 59–81. https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v9i1.18460
20. Carter, C. (2012). Sex/gender and the media: From sex roles to social construction and beyond. K. Ross (Ed.), The handbook of gender, sex, and media içinde (ss. 365–382). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118114254
21. Cavalcante, A. (2017). Breaking into transgender life: Transgender audiences’ experiences with“first of its kind” visibility in popular media. Culture & Critique: Communication, 10(3), 538–555. https://doi.org/10.1111/cccr.12165
22. Chen, X. (2023). Reframing queer pop through media paratexts: translation of Chinese TV drama World of Honor in cyberspace. Translation Studies, 16(3), 346–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/14781700.2023.2219264
23. Childers, J. (2003). Review of Queer studies: An interdisciplinary reader. Radical Teacher, 67(Bahar), 39–42. https://www.jstor.org/stable/i20710200
24. David, E. (2017). Capital T: Trans visibility, corporate capitalism, and commodity culture. TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, 4(1), 28–44. https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-3711517
25. Dawson, L., & Loist , S. (2018). Queer/ing film festivals: History, theory, impact. Studies in European Cinema, 15(1), 1-24. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17411548.2018.1442901
26. De Lauretis, T. (1991). Queer theory: Lesbian and gay sexualities. Differences: A Journal of Feminist Cultural Studies, 3(2), iii–xviii. https://doi.org/10.1215/10407391-3-2-iii
27. De Marco, M. (2009). Gender portrayal in dubbed and subtitled comedies. J. D. Cintas (Ed.), New trends in audiovisual translation içinde (ss. 176–196). Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781847691552-015
28. Díaz Cintas, J., & Nikolić, K. (2018). Fast-forwarding with audiovisual translation. J. Díaz Cintas & K. Nikolić (Eds.), Fast-forwarding with audiovisual translation içinde (ss. 1–13). Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2019.1594128
29. Edwards, J. (2020). Queer(ing) community: Queer community, spatiality, and temporality in Madison, WI [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Central European University. https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2020/edwards_jennifer.pdf
30. Ekşi Sözlük. (2025, 9 Ocak). Q-Force. https://eksisozluk.com/q-force- -6957515
31. Epstein, B. J. (2017). Eradicalization: eradicating the queer in children’s literature. B. J. Epstein & R. Gillett (Ed.), Queer in translation içinde (ss. 118–128). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315603216
32. Erdem, A. M. (2019). İbne, gey, lubunya: A queer critique of LGBTI+ discourses in the new cinema of Turkey [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. The City University of New York. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi? article=4168&context=gc_etds
33. Foucault, M. (2011). Cinselliğin Tarihi 1: Bilme İstenci (Hülya Uğur Tanrıöver, Çev.). Ayrıntı Yayınları.
34. Freeman, E. (2007). Introduction. GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 13(2–3), 159–176. https://doi.org/10.1215/10642684-2006-029
35. Gedizoğlu, D. (2020). Çeviri sözlüğü. Kaos GL. https://kaosgldernegi.org/images/library/cevirisozlugu2020.pdf
36. Gibson, M. F. (2014). Queer mothering: And the question of normalcy. A. O’Reilly (Ed.), Mothers, mothering and motherhood across cultural differences: A reader içinde (ss. 347–366). Demeter Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1rrd89m.19
37. Goldberg, L. (2019, 4 Nisan). Mike Schur, Sean Hayes to produce animated comedy for Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20200828151707/https://www.hollywoodr eporter.com/live-feed/mike-schur-sean-hayes-produce-animated- comedy-netflix-1199531
38. Gülen, O. (2023). Toplumsal cinsiyet ve dil sınırlarının ötesinde: Sense8 dizisinin Türkçe çevirisinde çoklu kimliklerin aktarımı. İstanbul Üniversitesi Çeviribilim Dergisi - Istanbul University Journal of Translation Studies, 19, 27–40. https://doi.org/10.26650/iujts.2023.1362624
39. Gentzler, E. (2014). Translation studies: Pre-discipline, discipline, interdiscipline, and post-discipline. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 2(2, Special Issue on Translation, Society and Culture), 13–24. https://www.ijscl.com/article_5620_fdde5469d71359e7bb41dcee95329 e13.pdf
40. Hipes, P. (2021, 23 Haziran). Netflix’s ‘Q-Force’ rounds out cast joining Sean Hayes, sets premiere date; Watch teaser trailer. Deadline. https://web.archive.org/web/20210623160949/https://deadline.com/20 21/06/q-force-premiere-date-teaser-trailer-cast-1234780070/
41. ILGA-Europe. (t.y.). Pride events. ILGA-Europe. https://www.ilga- europe.org/about-us/who-we-are/glossary/
42. Iturregui Gallardo, G. (2023). Representation in media accessibility: On the adoption of a queer feminist perspective. Journal of Audiovisual Translation, 6(1), 148–163. https://doi.org/10.47476/jat.v6i1.2023.257
43. Jagose, A. (2015). Queer teori: Bir giriş (A. Toprak, Çev.). Nota Bene Yayınları. (Orijinal eser 1996’da yayımlanmıştır.)
44. Kocabay-Şener, N., Çoban-Keneş, H., Çelik, B., & Fahrioğlu-Akın, F. (2022). Toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğinin şeytanlaştırılması: İstanbul Sözleşmesi karşıtlığı ve medya. Toplumsal Cinsiyet Eşitliği Dayanışma Ağı (AĞ-DA). https://dspace.ceid.org.tr/handle/1/2062
45. Koçak, M. (2020). Who is “queerer” and deserves resettlement?: Queer asylum seekers and their deservingness of refugee status in Turkey. Middle East Critique, 29(1), 29–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/19436149.2020.1704506
46. Lacan, J. (2014). Psikanalizin Dört Temel Kavramı (Çev. Emre Kapkın). Metis Yayınları.
47. LGBTI+ Community Forum. (2025, 5 Şubat). Lubunca sözlük [Forum gönderisi]. LGBTI+ Community. Erişim: 5 Şubat 2025, https://community.lgbti.org/forum/thread/409-lubunca-sözlük/
48. Liedman, G. (Yapımcı). (2021a). Q-Force [Mini dizi]. Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/title/81039557
49. Liedman, G. (2021b, 2 Eylül). ‘Q-Force’ creator on making a sexy, funny animated series about LGBTQ spies (Exclusive) [S. Lambe ile röportaj]. ET. https://www.etonline.com
50. Manning, E. (2009, 4–6 Şubat). Queerly disrupting methodology [Konferans sunumu]. Feminist Research Methods – An International Conference, Stockholm, İsveç.
51. Morantes-Africano, L. (2023). Queering habitus: Interrogating heteronormative dispositions that reproduce inequalities towards sexual minorities. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 28(2), 241– 259. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2206708
52. NPR. (2021, 2 Eylül). ‘Q-Force’ trafficks in queer stereotypes — then drives through them. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/02/1032850162/q- force-trafficks-in-queer-stereotypes-then-drives-through-them
53. Okyayuz, A. Ş. (2016). Altyazı çevirisi. Siyasal Kitabevi.
54. Patel, G. (1998). Transactions: Teaching cross-cultural sexuality. Women’s Studies Quarterly, 26(3/4), 167–180. https://www.jstor.org/stable/i20710200
55. Rooke, A. (2009). Queer in the Field: On Emotions, Temporality, and Performativity in Ethnography. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 13(2), 149– 160. https://doi.org/10.1080/10894160802695338
56. Ryan, J. M. (2020). Queer theory. In N. A. Naples (Ed.), Companion to sexuality studies (5. Bölüm). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119315049.ch5
57. Saldanha, G., & O’Brien, S. (2013). Research methodologies in translation studies. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315760100
58. Santaemilia, J. (2017). Sexuality and translation as intimate partners? Toward a queer turn in rewriting identities and desires. B. J. Baer & K. Kaindl (Ed.), Queering translation, translating the queer içinde (ss. 11- 25). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315505978
59. Savcı, E. (2018). Transing religious studies: Beyond the secular/religious binary. Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, 34(1), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.2979/jfemistudreli.34.1.08
60. Toury, G. (1995). Descriptive translation studies and beyond. John Benjamins.
61. Villanueva-Jordán, I., & Martínez-Carrasco, R. (2021). Agency, paratextuality, and queer pedagogy: analysing Javier Sáez del Álamo’s translator’s notes. Perspectives, 31(2), 235–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2021.1974061
62. von Flotow, L., & Josephy-Hernández, D. E. (2018). Gender in audiovisual translation studies: Advocating for gender awareness. L. Pérez- González (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of audiovisual translation içinde (ss. 295-311). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315717166