Essay On Queer Representation

575 Words2 Pages

The pervasiveness of media in the recent years has brought about serious discussion regarding media representations of various groups. Media representations deal with constructions of generalizations about a particular reality (“CI5472 Teaching Film, Television, and Media”, para.4). These cover gender, sexuality, social class, and many other categories. Queer representation, among others, has been a sensitive issue. The word queer has evolved in its meaning over time and is considered a fluid term. It was regarded as offensive and “a term of homophobic abuse” (Raymond, 98). Recently, it has became an affirming term for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and other “marginalized sexual identities” (98). Representation in the media, on the …show more content…

It challenges stereotypes and promotes notions of identity as “fragmented and layered” (“Queer Representation in Media”, para.4). One of the most popular shows, Glee, was praised for having diverse characters with different story lines and backgrounds. Among the many characters, there was Kurt, a fashionable and gay teen, whose process of coming out was a major theme in the first season and Santana, a stereotypical cheerleader, who as the show progresses came to terms with her sexuality and identified herself as lesbian. The show tackled relevant issues that came with queerness such as bullying, coming out, and challenging gender norms. It “depicted lives of queer youth and has inspired discussion about queer politics and representation” (Macey, Ryan, and Springer 87). Another show currently airing entitled Orange is the New Black is critically acclaimed for positive queer representation. It not only deals with sexuality of women in prison but individual stories of marginalization as well. It shows diversity of women, not only through sexual preference or gender identity but also of age, socioeconomic statuses, and ethnicity among

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