Becoming Unknown: Hannibal and Queer Epistemology

In lieu of an abstract, here is the first paragraph of the article: In the fifth episode of Hannibal’s first season, “Coquilles,” Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), an elegant psychiatrist by day, cannibalistic serial killer by night, leans over and smells the neck of his patient, FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). This moment of intimacy follows a lengthy series of shots emphasizing a diagonal tie between the two men, Will Graham placed in the foreground, moving nervously back and forth while discussing the perversions of his latest criminal assignment. Hannibal stays grounded, in the background of the shots, moving in and out of focus. His presence is felt as an enormous weight, a vague binding grasp around Will Graham. The men only appear side by side in one shot when Hannibal finally moves, walking forward to slowly, sensuously inhale Will’s scent. “Did you just smell me?” Will asks, perturbed. “Difficult to avoid” Hannibal quickly answers, redirecting conversation to the gauche stench of Will’s aftershave. A queer moment has been activated, fully demonstrated, and then ‘resolved’ within the text. (Figures 1 - 4)