Media Representations of Sexuality Flashcards
what are heteronormative representations?
the idea that heterosexuality is seen as the norm, and so it is hegemonic
what did Gross say about homosexuality in the media, and what does this mean?
‘there is no plain gay folk in the media’
=this means that gay characters are often portrayed in the same ways (being gay is a ‘personality’)
what did Dyer say about being gay in the media and what does this mean?
‘a major fact about being gay is that it doesn’t show… the person’s person alone does not show that he or she is gay.’
=the media constructs stereotypical ‘signs of gayness’ in order to make the visible the invisible
what do the signs of gayness in the media try and do?
make the invisible visible
what are the 4 signs of gayness according to Dyer?
-vocal tics
-facial expressions
-stances
-clothing
what is the impact of the signs of gayness?
sexuality becomes a defining identity
what did Craig say about representations in the media?
there are 3 common representations of homosexuality.
what are the 3 common representations according to Graig?
1= camp
2= macho
3= deviant
explain the camp stereotype?
-the flamboyant figure of fun
-found mainly in the entertainment media
-a ‘non-threatening’ representation of gayness to heterosexual audiences
explain the macho representation?
-exaggerated masculinity
-openly sexual look, transforming practical ‘male’ clothing into erotic symbols
-viewed as threatening to heterosexual audiences because it subverts traditional masculinity
explain the deviant representation?
–portrayed as evil or devious in tv drama, or as sexual predators
-also represented as characters who feel tremendous guilt about their sexuality, and rarely represented in a sympathetic way
-completely defined by their deviant problem, with homosexuality constructed by media to be morally wrong
what are some common stereotypes of homosexuality in the media?
-effeminate
-camp
-promiscuous
-sexually deviant
-flamboyant
-bitchy
what is the analysis of the common portrayals according to Gill?
homosexual storylines are constructed by heterosexuals, played by heterosexual actors for a heterosexual audience and viewed through a heterosexual gaze
what is the heterosexual gaze?
the plots still focus on homosexuality as a problem, with their family still struggling to come to terms with it, causing anxiety and embarrassment
what did Hollyoaks say about including homosexual relationships?
‘we get told off all the time for being too gay and having too many gay characters
what happened to the Bill with homosexual content?
160 complaints, ‘children could still be watching.’
how many complaints did Eastenders receive after screening a gay kiss before 9pm watershed?
145
what is the impact of the common stereotypes of homosexuality in the media?
leads to symbolic annihilation
=limited diversity, only focus on stereotypical characters
what did Batchelor et alfind to do with common stereotypes?
one-dimensional representations, being gay comes as a defining characteristic and it is not generally integrated into mainstream representations
when it is shown, it is seen as a target for teasing and bullying
what does the idea of ‘bury your gays’ mean?
gay characters often die first, through suicide, murder, ‘gay related’ illness, etc
what is some evidence to support ‘bury your gays’?
only 26 lesbians and bisexual characters got a happy ending
what is lesbian invisibility?
there is limited representation lesbians in the media?
what are the two common representations of lesbians in the media?
1= man hating, radical feminists, butch, hairy-legged
2= mainstream media lesbians for gratification of men, to fulfil heterosexual fantasies
what are moral panics caused by sexuality representations?
Watney= stigma of these ‘unnatural’ practises still exist in the media
