Undergoing my dissertation at the moment into the change of representation of homosexuality on screen. Studying Brokeback, Philidelphia and My Own Private Idaho as a main body for discussion (as well an in-depth study of sexual policits) was just wondering what film(s) you find to have changed the on screen representation of homosexuality for you personally, (if any).
Cheers
Submitted by
Jack (
46 points) (
8 posts)
on Sat, 2007-11-24 09:35.
TV or not To Be
i cannot really think of many films other than the ones you mention that change the way on screen homosexuality is portrayed for me at the movies.
the "gay films" that do come to mind include films like PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, or MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE. either big movies that play on fun stereo-types, or small films seen by few people. and for each of those there's a homophobic send up like I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY.
for me, TV seems to be the road more often travelled in portraying on screen homosexuality to a broader base.
say what you will, but WILL & GRACE did a lot. even though they did it while neutering their lead gay character. i have issues with this series, but i'm also a lover of sitcom. and WILL & GRACE is a great sitcom.
SIX FEET UNDER portrayed a warts and all look at gay relationships like no other series had before. It remains one of my all time favorite series.
QUEER AS FOLK brought gay sex, politics, social agendas and prejudices right out into the open, and has largely helped to spawn a new age for queer cinema and television.
L WORD has carried that torch on.
SOUTH OF NOWHERE has brought some of that same fire to tweenagers and older. That's groundbreaking.
just look around on this website and it's sister url, afterellen for blog after blog regarding TV series that feature, or downright are about people from the GLBT community.
since TV comes right into a viewer's home, i think it's a much greater tool for change than film is. film used to be the arbiter of taste, but TV took that over several decades ago. just look back from lucy ball to jennifer aniston to see how TV celebrities inspire society on everything from interracial marriages to hairstyles that sweep the nation.
an "out" actor can carve a great career niche for themselves on TV, in a way that isn't available to leading men and women in film. granted the wave of queer cinema is changing that, but i believe we're still many years away from reaping the rewards of that battle.
reality tv is also a great place to see a cross section of gay life played out. you can't turn on SURVIVOR, BIG BROTHER, THE REAL WORLD, or nearly any other reality show without seeing lesbian/gay people being (for the most part) just who they are.
and PROJECT RUNWAY has helped launch a thousand gays, most notably the impeccable tim gunn.
and the BIG BANG THEORY! well shoot, every fella on that show is queer. ;-)
TV or not To Be
i cannot really think of many films other than the ones you mention that change the way on screen homosexuality is portrayed for me at the movies.
the "gay films" that do come to mind include films like PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, or MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE. either big movies that play on fun stereo-types, or small films seen by few people. and for each of those there's a homophobic send up like I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY.
for me, TV seems to be the road more often travelled in portraying on screen homosexuality to a broader base.
say what you will, but WILL & GRACE did a lot. even though they did it while neutering their lead gay character. i have issues with this series, but i'm also a lover of sitcom. and WILL & GRACE is a great sitcom.
SIX FEET UNDER portrayed a warts and all look at gay relationships like no other series had before. It remains one of my all time favorite series.
QUEER AS FOLK brought gay sex, politics, social agendas and prejudices right out into the open, and has largely helped to spawn a new age for queer cinema and television.
L WORD has carried that torch on.
SOUTH OF NOWHERE has brought some of that same fire to tweenagers and older. That's groundbreaking.
just look around on this website and it's sister url, afterellen for blog after blog regarding TV series that feature, or downright are about people from the GLBT community.
since TV comes right into a viewer's home, i think it's a much greater tool for change than film is. film used to be the arbiter of taste, but TV took that over several decades ago. just look back from lucy ball to jennifer aniston to see how TV celebrities inspire society on everything from interracial marriages to hairstyles that sweep the nation.
an "out" actor can carve a great career niche for themselves on TV, in a way that isn't available to leading men and women in film. granted the wave of queer cinema is changing that, but i believe we're still many years away from reaping the rewards of that battle.
reality tv is also a great place to see a cross section of gay life played out. you can't turn on SURVIVOR, BIG BROTHER, THE REAL WORLD, or nearly any other reality show without seeing lesbian/gay people being (for the most part) just who they are.
and PROJECT RUNWAY has helped launch a thousand gays, most notably the impeccable tim gunn.
and the BIG BANG THEORY! well shoot, every fella on that show is queer. ;-)