cultural appropriation

Sep 10, 2007 15:51

so as much as the stagegay/bandom debate (*cough*kerfluffle*cough*) raised as much ire and interest in me as a slice of unbuttered toast, I really enjoyed reading this post on appropriation of "the gay lifestyle" in the media. it's good food for thought on a subject that my mind has been circling distantly for some time now. especially since I ( Read more... )

let's talk about sex baby, it's political

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Comments 10

lilithbint September 10 2007, 23:01:29 UTC
well I missed the kerfluffle darn it and I love both FOB and MCM and it never even occurred to me why they acted they way they do on stage. I just enjoyed it and never even wondered about their sexuality (colour me oblivious ( ... )

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thatotherperv September 11 2007, 15:15:53 UTC
god, yeah, I remember the whole Ellen thing. insane. and think how trendy lebianism is now. pfft.

The fact that Will was played by a straight actor and I think there was one same sex kiss in the entire run is what amused me. I also read that John Barrowman auditioned for the role of Will without concealing his sexuality and was turned down for not being camp enough.
yeah see, these are the exact things that make it cultural appropriation.

I think QaF was nakedly honest about a certain segment of the gay community, and the subject matter happened to be titillating. especially since it was a truth that was so shielded from most straight people before.

The thing that amused me most was the outcry everytime there was a same sex kiss as if it was some sort of gay agenda instead of just being a normal expression of affection between two characters.
yes. yes.

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yourlibrarian September 11 2007, 00:27:57 UTC
are such half-measures compromise or victory?

They're a compromise and I wouldn't call them victory so much as visibility. But visibility is important, making it into the lexicon is important, becoming a cultural touchstone is important. Its absence contributes nothing at all.

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thatotherperv September 11 2007, 15:12:11 UTC
very true

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laisserais September 11 2007, 00:51:29 UTC
hey fancy ( ... )

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thatotherperv September 11 2007, 15:11:46 UTC
HAHAHAHAHA your icon. awesome.

I guess that's the conclusion I'd go with too. funny thing is, I'm fairly willing to accept that kind of baby-step for media representation, but the same logic can be applied to civil unions, and I am like...viscerally against that compromise, because I think it's so fucking homophobic. and stupid. it makes my head spin off my body. sanctity of marriage, my asscrack.

there are plenty of arguments like that. another one being, wth do we do in Iraq at this point. though there, the fact that there *is* no good solution is...problematic. heh.

in so far as the 'gay lifestyle'... man. i'll come back to that one some other time. :) there's a lot there.
exactly.

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laisserais September 11 2007, 15:42:02 UTC
Yeah... why is media representation so different i wonder? maybe we feel like it's kind of ... i dunno a luxury? like, the right to marry is more fundamental somehow? Because ITA: a couple of years back when Newsom granted gay marriage here and there was this big thing, i was in the car with my former SO's parents, and they're nice people. good people. they mean well, and they're christian in the 'real' way - you know, like, they literally follow the spirit of christ, and so try to be kind ( ... )

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shapinglight September 11 2007, 11:45:02 UTC
I missed a kerfuffle? Good.

I agree with yourlibrarian that programs like Will & Grace are probably necessary to prepare the ground.

Am now trying to think of the UK equivalent and failing miserably. There were stereotype gay characters in sitcoms here in the 70s, who were of the 'screaming queen' but essentially sexless variety and I can remember a big hoohah about an on screen gay kiss between two men in the 1980s but generally here the audience seems to be reasonably accepting now -to the extent that a soap opera aimed at teens/20s that airs at 6.30 pm has gay characters and actual boy kissing and no one seems to bat an eyelid while an out (very out) gay actor like John Barrowman is thought perfectly acceptable to be a romantic male lead in a TV show (albeit one aimed at adults).

However, since I haven't seen the kerfuffle and don't know what it was about, I've probably grasped the wrong end of the stick and this is all totally irrelevant.

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thatotherperv September 11 2007, 15:08:49 UTC
well, in this case the kerfluffle is totally irrelevant. I only read that one post, recc'd to me. I hadn't looked at all the rest. I just think cultural appropriation of gays is an interesting topic.

man, I hope we can get there eventually. I'm tired of knowing that half of hollywood is in the closet.

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laisserais September 11 2007, 15:45:18 UTC
I'm tired of knowing that half of hollywood is in the closet. Word. What's funny to me is the majority of america's willingness to go along with it.

how do we have these two opposing sterotypes existing at the same time? 1) theater geeks are gay and 2) all the actors in hollywood are straight.

have i ever told you my theory on jennifer aniston? ;>

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