Video Blogs
TV Shows:
Find Articles On:
Navigation |
Gay men who make bad gay movies and TV shows.Think Slutty summer, 4 letter word, Will & Grace, or Queer as folk.What do they all have in common?They've all had some of the worst representations of gay men.What else do they all have in common?They were all made by gay men.What is that makes a gay men, who are in a positions of power, such as heading a TV show, decide to take what's a good opportunity to make good gay characters and storylines and instead make gay men out to be bitchy, predatory, mean, and buffoonish for the entertainment of others?It's always bad enough to see those kind of gay characters to begin with, but the fact that they come from gay men......disappointing. Just today AfterElton posted a new article about how gay playwright David Simpatico and other gay men who work behind the secenes at Disney "gay tinted" the charcter of Ryan of the High school musical franchise.Apparently he was "coded" as gay through the use of.......what else?Flamboyant dress and mannerisms and an obsession with theater.That's bad enough, but they could have atleast made an attempt to off set this by actually letting him be who he is, which Simpatico claims is supposedly what it's really about.If they're going to make him gay then let him be gay, but he's the only major character without a love interest.He's almost more of a prop than a character. I still find that character and the idea of "gay tinting", or "gay coding" insulting and offensive on many levels, yet they still had no issue using it.I also had one of my "are you fucking kidding me?" spasms when Simpatico said "I'm proud of the fact that in this Disney show, there is a strong gay character who actually becomes the hero of the piece".I don't get people who hold this character up as some sort gay achievement because he's not the first person to have said something like that.I've heard a few AfterElton readers say similar things.In fact, I think that says alot about Simpatico, those people, and their mind set that they consider and accept that as some kind "positive" portrayal of a "strong gay characacter". In an interview with AfterElton, Max Mutchnick, co-creator of Will & Grace, had the balls to say that the reason there aren't more gay characters on network TV is because most just are written badly.Again, i'm like "WHAT THE FUCK?!!Meanwhile, the only gay characters i've ever seen come out of him are the same old tired caricatures that have always offended gay people.I've heard Will & Grace referred to many times as a minstrel show.....which would be an accurate description.I see that show as almost like betrayal.Here's this gay man serving up these gay clowns on a silver platter for people to laugh at, and has the nerve to call it progress.It's not progress, it's a throw back and a slap in the face......especially when you de-sexualize the main gay charcacter that's supposedly effecting this change.At the end of the day if people are only comfortable when you take the sexual part out of homosexual, then what have you really accomplished? Queer as folk went from one extreme to another.It showcased some of the most loathsome gay characters i've ever seen.....namely Brian Kenny.I don't even know where to begin with him and he's just one of many unlikeable people from the show.Here's this, in my view, almost predatory guy, with WWWWWAAAAAAYYYYY!!! overrated hotness factor, walking around like he's the shit, is mean, treats his supposed friends he treats like shit on a constant basis, but for some reason they still hang out with him, which made no sense, involves himself in things that adversely effect the gay community as a whole, and fucks this young kid then treats him like garbage, who in turn, throughout the course of the show starts to become an obnoxious, pretentious asshole himself, and does the same thing to some other gay kid.The fact that so many gay men found that hot and sexy just disturbs me.The gay couple that were behind this show knocked down some doors with it.I'll give them that much, but I still didn't like about 90% of the characters and storylines on it. I think part of the problem in those cases is gay men not giving me what I want to watch because of some kind of agenda.Slutty summer and 4 letter word, it's sequal, are just unwatchable.I mean the number of violations by these movies are too many to count, but again, disappointingly they were made by gay men.Although, I shouldn't be too surprised because they were co-written by that douchebag Jesse Archer, who I also can't stand(Side note:Jesse Archer, if you don't know, is a contributing writer for Out magazine, and in one issue told of how he at one point took home a 20-year-old guy, almost half his age, had sex with him, and had the nerve to complain that he found him intellectually boring, and didn't have anything to talk to him about the next morning.He actually acted like he was annoyed and dismissed him as some know-nothing child, and was like "why is this kid still hanging around?I could be doing the dishes, or reading a book.I wish he would just go away".So, that's my issue with him). I don't include in this, by the way, movies like Kiss me, deadly because movies like that, although they turn out badly, don't intentionally set out to make us into fools.They atleast attempt to break that pattern.There's been too many movies and TV shows that mock, or degrade gay people as it is.So, why are there so many gay men ready and willing to perpetuate that? Submitted by homoguy563 (1304 points) (205 posts) on Wed, 2008-06-11 17:40. |
User login Recent comments
Recent blog posts
|
Well to start with, I think
Well to start with, I think that gay writers have every bit as much right as straight writers to write terribly. That said, I disagree with the majority of your view point, and instead have high hopes for where we're going as opposed to where we've been. And you know, flaws are what make entertainment. I mean seriously, how many well-adjusted, functional and mature human beings do you see on TV? Viewers of TV and the people who create TV have determined that dysfunction, melodramatics and, in general, negative personality traits are what make for good ratings. We've only begun adding queer sexual identity to our television "diet" recently, and just like early television shows were crude and unrefined, so is our representation in entertainment mediums.
Honestly, though, this rant feels as if it's dripping with negative energy, and it's not directed in the right place. Lastly, if you're upset with the state of gay reprensation in the media, do something about it. Find something you do like, and support the hell out of it. Write something yourself, anything from a letter to a manuscript. I don't know, but it just seems to me that more anger and raging about what's come before isn't he most helpful thing to do.
I agree with Jacob...
...but I do understand the frustration with representation. It is the same story with all other minority or misunderstood groups. The answer is not beating dead horses but creating new ones. I was told once years ago that if you don't look back on your previous work and cringe in embarrassment, you've made no progress. There is a gazillion untold wonderful stories out there. Filmmaking in this day and age is taking a camera and turning it on. With the digital age came a revolution in story telling. The internet is the future of film. Get on it!
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
The Reason for Poorly-Conceived Gay Characters/Movies
Queer as Folk did address
Queer as Folk did address exactly the kind of experiences you describe. The character of Justin started a Gay/Straight Student Alliance in his high school. He even got press for it by getting a state senator to back up his right to do so. The Gay and Lesbian Center played a central role in Queer as Folk, with fundraisers for day care, AIDS, the teen homeless shelter, and the AIDS hospice. Even Brian, who mocked the center, was an active participant in raising money. The characters of Mel & Lindsay served on the board. Many other characters: Debbie, Ben, and Ted, for example, are shown at the GLC, such as the meeting with Stockwell, the safety meeting after Darren's bashing, and the dating group that Ted attends. These characters are also shown fundraising for the GLC. One entire episode is devoted to a Pride celebration.
The characters in QaF were not shallow, nor were they all sterotypical.
bad gay portrayals
Queer As Folk
I was gonna say the same things myself about Brian Kinney. I would have hated him if he were in my world, and he would have hated me, but he was a fantastic gay character. In fact, though Queer As Folk can be criticised for many shortcomings, especially contrived situations and too much manipulation, it's hard for me to see how the characterizations can be criticised as somehow a betrayal of gay people. The beauty of the characterizations was that all of the characters had good qualities and bad qualities, as does literally every single human being I've ever known. They make bad choices and they make heroic choices, sometimes in the same day. They mistreat each other, and come to each other's rescue. They fight, sometimes about stupid things, and they make up, even if it takes a long time. But they feel eminently real.
I don't match up well with any of them, but I've certainly know people like all of them, to one extent or another. If the original poster's thoughts were carried to their logical extension, you couldn't ever have guys in drag, you couldn't have flamboyance at Pride parades, you couldn't dress in bright colors and enjoy theater, you couldn't utter catty remarks, etc. I don't want to go to the Pride parade filled with people wearing Izod shirts and khaki shorts.
Whether you loved them or
Gay Amos and Andy?
Gay 'tinting' or 'coding' has been done since the beginning of movies. Disney is famous for coded gay villains, as noted on AfterElton. Your question is why do gay writers do it? Like most everyone else, they do it for the money. Should they be self respecting and avoid such stereotypes? Yes. Should they know better? Yes.
The shame that is piled on us by society seems to make a kind of gay who will do anything to get the approval of straights, even humiliate himself. I call it "Throwing a Ball Disease", after Capote's Black and White Ball. Tru spent a fortune on an old fashioned "royalty" type ball to court rich straight people, some say in order to be accepted. They all came to drink his champagne, but afterward he was still a fagot in their eyes. His buddy Warhol had a touch of Throwing a Ball, too.
I want to defend the character, Brian Kelly. I haven't been able to watch the whole series of QAF, but did catch the episodes on Logo the other night where Justin moves in with Brian. Yeah, Brian has a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Yeah, NPD has often been a stereotype for gay men. But in Brian's defense, in those same episodes he told Justin's father about the restrictions he imposed on Justin if he returned back home: "That's not love, that's hate." He drove a "gay" vehicle though a homophobic show room. He offered to bail out his best friend financially, who refused his money offer to help his PFLAG mom. Brian later consoled the same friend who felt guilty for pretending to be straight in order to get a promotion at "K-Mart", Brian tells him not to feel guilty because "they make us lie." For all of his faults, Brian kelly has to be the most well adjusted Narcissist in all of movies and literature, which goes against the stereotype.
I didn't find the way that Brian treated Justin to be okay, but it was within the character of someone who has NPD, typically treating anyone who loves them as being unworthy crap.
Gay rights have been associated with the Sexual Revolution. Because of that, for one thing, it seems to be okay in some sectors of our community to prey on youth. Like you, few in the community are okay with that.
I believe we are coming to the point where being in love is more of a revolutionary act than throwing an orgy. (Have you ever been to a boring orgy? If the bible thumpers only knew how pathetic that can be.)
Most entertainment reflects community standards rather than leads them, as much as we like to believe it's the other way around. So, the question you ask chides the straight community and the gay writers who contribute to their standards. But there are many gay writers who don't abide by or reflect the straight community standards, like "love the sinner and hate the sin." We just don't see those stories reflected in the media as often. That's why I appriciate this site.
.
Well Homoguy563
I must admit I can't disagree with many of your points, especially about Will & Grace and Queer as Folk. QAF was more of a soap opera than a serious drama, and Brian Kinney was not meant to be an attractive character, but a villain that everyone could dislike. I have met guys in the gay community like him, and to be honest I don't find them fascinating just irritating.
TV and its' portrayal of gay men is far behind literature and even behind movies. Too bad because it is the medium most watched by society, and has the greatest influence on attitudes.
Cheers
JBE
Did you even watch QAF?
"...treats his friends like shit on a constant basis." Like when he gave Michael the comic book that enabled him to open his own store? Offered Michael help with his ill mother? Chased after Justin to NYC and brought him home when he could've just called the cops on him? Gave Justin a place to stay after his father told him to deny who he was? Gave Justin a place to stay after the bashing? Basically saved Justin's life in the parking garage--what would have happened if Brian hadn't been there? Helped Justin recover from the bashing and his PTSD and even consulted a doctor for Justin when he refused to go to therapy. Let Justin take his own path and make his own mistakes with the Sap and Cody. Pushed Justin into Ethan's arms because he thought that was what Justin wanted and he ignored his own feelings for Justin so he could be with Ethan. Paid for Justin's college when his father wouldn't. And even continued to pay for Justin's college after Justin broke up with him. Bought Justin a computer for his art when Justin was recovering and even more importantly encouraged Justin not to give up on his art. Encouraged Justin to follow his dreams at PIFA rather than going to Dartmouth. Helped save Lindsay and Mel's wedding day and basically pulled the whole thing together for them. Offered to give Linds and Mel his trip to FL for a wedding gift. Offered to give Michael his blood when he was hurt in S5. Saved the entire city from an evil politician. Solved the murder of a hustler when the police ignored it. Donated money for the Vic Grassi house. Donated money for the Liberty Ride. Kept Ted from going to jail. Found a job for Ted not once, but twice. Was a friend to Emmett when Ted was on drugs. Gave money to his father even though his father abused him as a child. Getting Mel and Linds back together when Linds was with the French guy. Rushed into Babylon after the bomb went off to look for Justin even though he was risking his own life. Bought Justin the manor house of his dreams because he thought it would make him happy. Pushed aside his views on marriage to propose to Justin. Encouraged Justin to go to NYC to follow his dreams even though it meant Justin leaving. The list really goes on and on. You are confusing Brian's sarcastic comments with him treating his friends like shit.
"...involves himself in things that adversely effect the gay community..." I have no idea what you're talking about. The Stockwell fiasco? Brian changed his mind and turned that whole thing around.
"...fucks this young kid then treats him like garbage..." Ummm...ok...Justin was 17 and legally able to have sex with Brian in the state of PA. He pursued Brian and S1 Brian did not want a relationship which he was very upfront about so he tried to do things to make Justin lose interest, but as we saw Justin was more than persistent and Brian fell head over heels in love with Justin and by S5 was proposing marriage. But even in S1 he did things for Justin that showed how much he cared as I mentioned above. And what about prom? Ridiculously romantic.
As for Justin doing the same thing to "some other gay kid"--He was a freshman in college--not exactly a kid and it's called a one night stand. Did Justin owe him a relationship afterwards? Puhleeze.
The bottom line is that QAF was not a documentary. Sorry if it didn't represent your life, but how exciting would that be to watch? It was supossed to be entertainment and it was. Brian was not some one dimensional character and he loved his friends and Justin unconditionally and was truly an unselfish character. Perhaps people who have negative feelings about Brian are just a little bit jealous. It has been said that Brian Kinney represents the guy you can't get and the guy you can't be.
Oh, and as for being "predatory" the writers have said that is what they were going for in S1, but Brian didn't stay that person. And his hotness? Let's see...a beautiful face, hazel eyes you could drown in, amazing lips, unbelievable smile, gorgeous hair...and a perfect, lean, body with long, long legs. Epics could be written about the man's shoulders and back. And chest. And those long, artistic fingers. Not to mention his large......well, you get the picture.
And that's just his looks--he's also smart, charming, witty, ambitious, driven, he has a hot loft and owns his own ad agency. It's obvious that he's a great kisser and amazing in bed.
So. Not. Overrated.
Will & Grace and Queer as