The Social Constructs of Homosexuality Depicted through Media Media is a means of mass communication that has many shapes and forms. How each individual perceives media directly affects their thoughts and bias of a subject, and it shapes our society due to what is deemed as normal. With the reinforcement of values, bodies, and representations, media has created social norms that shape our lives and opinions. The media is used to help construct our society by creating normality (heterosexuality). Anything outside of the norms placed in our society are deemed as wrong or out of place (homosexuality). Homosexuality is portrayed as an “outside of the box” sexuality that is rendered abnormal because it is different from the regular values and Normalization is the process of bringing or returning something to a normal condition or state. With the recurrence of queer characters in media, society may feel that it has become normalized or more accepting. But there is a difference between being tolerant and accepting, since the media is depicted through heterosexual normative eyes, there is an extent to which homosexuality is displayed. The homosexuality displayed is the reinforcement of heterosexual normalization. By strongly defining homosexuality as being secretive and effeminate then you are defining heterosexuality as masculine and out because they are defined by what the other one is not. The entire show Nashville itself is a limiting sphere that reinforces what it means to be heterosexual by proving that Will is not. Kuhar explains normalization as “Media representations of normal homosexuality are representations tailored to the perception of heterosexuals in such a way that they do not threaten their world” (Kuhar, ). This explains how the creator of the show placed a queer character in the show not to make the world more accepting to homosexuality but to strengthen the already strong ties of what it means to be normal (heterosexual). Making homosexuality “normal” or displaying queer characters as anything other than being different, unnatural, or closeted threatens heterosexuality. Displaying homosexuality as normal would mean that homosexual men could be more than just effeminate males that are attracted to other males. That is why Kuhar claims, “the homosexual became a normal citizen, yet still a member of a clearly distinct social minority, one that indeed should be tolerated but only as long as it does not challenge heterosexual domination”(Kuhar, 90). This means we only tolerate homosexuality in society and in television shows because it does not threaten heterosexuality. Heterosexuality allows homosexuality to be
The media, through its many outlets, has a lasting effect on the values and social structure evident in modern day society. Television, in particular, has the ability to influence the social structure of society with its subjective content. As Dwight E. Brooks and Lisa P. Hébert write in their article, “GENDER, RACE, AND MEDIA REPRESENTATION”, the basis of our accepted social identities is heavily controlled by the media we consume. One of the social identities that is heavily influenced is gender: Brooks and Hébert conclude, “While sex differences are rooted in biology, how we come to understand and perform gender is based on culture” (Brooks, Hébert 297). With gender being shaped so profusely by our culture, it is important to be aware of how social identities, such as gender, are being constructed in the media.
Sexuality as a theme and as character identification has been intrinsically incorporated in American television since the beginning of film. Television programing from 1954 to present day includes references, content referencing and characters portraying gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people and their actions. When referencing homosexuality it is meant as the association of one to the attraction of the same sex.
The acceptance of “abnormal” sexualities has been a prolonged, controversial battle. The segregation is excruciating and the prejudice remarks are so spiteful that some people never truly recover. Homosexuals have been left suffering for ages. Life, for most homosexuals during the first half of the twentieth century, was mostly one of hiding: having to constantly hide their true feelings and tastes. Instead of restaurants and movies, they had to sit quiet in the dark and meet each other in concealed places such as bars. Homosexuals were those with “mental and psychic abnormalities” and were the victim of medical prejudice, police harassment, and church condemnation (Jagose 24). The minuscule mention or assumption of one’s homosexuality could easily lead to the loss of family, livelihood, and sometimes even their lives. It was only after the Stonewall riots and the organization of gay/lesbian groups that times for homosexuals started to look brighter.
The topic of homosexuality elicits many reactions. It is forever played upon in pop culture for it's shock value if nothing else. Some demonize it, holding things like religion as proving, "alternative lifestyles," to be wrong. Some have erotisied homosexuality as in many of Anne Rice's vampire novels. Some laugh at homosexuality or people who are homosexual, calling it, "weird". Some react violently, as in the case of Matthew Shepard. And yet others have gradually turned towards acceptance shown (debatably) in such movies as, " To Wong-Fu Love Julie Newmar" and " In and Out".
Today television shows are widely praised for their portrayal of different characters sexuality. On Modern Family a same-sex couple’s life is shown through their relations with their family and raising a child. There’s also shows aimed at young adults that are receiving attention for their depiction of gay or lesbian characters such as Glee and Pretty Little Liars. Even the Disney Channel has shown a same-sex couple on the show Good Luck Charlie (with some backlash claiming that since Disney is intended for children that they should seek merely to entertain and not to push an agenda). On the contrary to this argument is the idea, that same-sex couples are becoming more and more normal thus they should make it recognizable to children.
The American black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street directed by Martin Scorsese was released December 25, 2013 and stars the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie. While on face value The Wolf of Wall Street looks like a film about excessive cocaine binges, long evenings filled with men with cigarettes, large portions of alcoholic consumption, having many sexual escapades with various women and even dwarf tossing from time to time, the film is deeply rooted in perception gender within the genre of The Wolf of Wall Street. The word ‘genre’ is rooted into a similar category as
The media is the puppeteer to society; it controls the lives of everyone. The media is the only way people know how to communicate and entertain. Through the media there are many messages left out for everyone to see and one of the messages seen the most is that an individual has to be perfect in order to gain any affection. To be perfect would be impossible but everyone is expected to be desirable...
In the 1990's there has been what is called a "normalized movement"(Warner 41). This so-called movement has permeated into all aspects of the Gay and Lesbian movement's agenda. It has become increasingly clear in the realms of the media such as television, movies and magazines. The major objective for the proponents of this movement is to make the homosexual seem "normal." This would be done by not focusing on the sexual nature of the homosexual. Since their sexual behavior is considered deviant by society, any outward expression of it will be looked down upon. So, it has been the goal of some leaders of the movement as well as those who control the media outlets to separate the identity and sexuality of the homosexual as far as possible.
The media’s portrayal of gays was a picture of perversion. Homosexuals were looked upon in disgust, uneasiness and fear. Schools taught children that being homosexual was one of the greatest offenses one could commit. Many books, newspaper articles, and other documents were published to convey homosexuals as disturbed individuals.
The media influences many aspects of American society. Media affects sexuality, gender roles, and family structure. The images of gender projected through the media correlates with gender norms held in society. The media demonstrates a misogynistic view towards women. Women, statistically, interact with media more than men and are exposed to the images the media promotes. Media distorts how women should look, their role in society, and sexuality. Despite the negative images presented in the media, these beliefs can change.
The media, including television programming, cartoons, film, the news, as well as literature and magazines, is a very powerful and pervasive medium for expression. It can reach a large number of people and convey ideas, cultural norms, stereotypic roles, power relationships, ethics, and values. Through these messages, the mass media may have a strong influence on individual behavior, views, and values, as well as in shaping national character and culture. Although there is a great potential for the media to have a positive and affirming effect on the public and society at large, there may be important negative consequences when the messages conveyed are harmful, destructive, or violent.
Along with a change in gender role for women over the past century there has been a change in the idea of gender and sexuality. The acceptance of sexual orientations besides heterosexuality has led to a major change in marriages and family. A factor in this acceptance has been the media. There have been quite a few shows with homosexual and transgender characters. The media has influenced many people to fight for certain legal rights for homosexual people. This has led to same-sex marriages being legalized in some states. Now there are many marriages in the U.S. comprised of homosexual people. Alon...
The media is everywhere and takes up a great deal of people’s everyday lives. People depend on the media to provide them with information that would otherwise be hard to get. The people of society also use the media to communicate with friends, family, and people from all around the world. Also, the media serves as a means for entertainment. Businesses use the media as a way to advertise their products. The media affects society in many different ways; such as, businesses use the media to promote their products, the media effects communication, and the media affects body image and behavior of people in society.
Society is one of the corporeal that plays a major role in a homosexual’s life. If you go into public schools, you will see this behavior is becoming more prevalent. Not to mention, the attraction of same sex even start as early as elementary schools. Therefore, young children experiment with same sex interaction, and if the parents don’t address this interaction this could potentially carry over into adulthood. If fact, society makes it appears this is a chosen lifestyle. Additionally, this lifestyle is heavily influence by the radio, television, and peers. Often, young children grow up with this in the household. Some may say that homosexuality is inherit, in addition, it caused by poor parenting. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge on homosexuality. Consequently, some people may think that homosexuality is a disease that is contagious. In addition, many people frowned upon people that are
Media portrayal of the LGBT community is varying. It may be very positive and a “good” portrayal or negative and instead focuses on the stereotypical aspects of the LGBT community. One definition of a good LGBT television portrayal is one that depicts an LGBT character without over glaringly obviousness of their sexual orientation, or without adding many LGBT stereotypes that are all too often added.