Thoughts 1.3, 3.2 & 4.3: Include, Don't Exclude

[verasteine]

I watched Torchwood series 1 and 2 out of order. I started on Torchwood series 2, and after enjoying that immensely, I went on to buy series 1 on DVD and watched that. And one night, late, I got to episode 12, and I had an epiphany. Please bear with me. Because this was not the sort of epiphany that I pride myself on, nor one that should come as a

Comments

[xtricks]

Ah - you've discovered the concept of 'gay shows for straight people', which is what most 'gay' mainstream storyilnes/movies/shows are - Brokeback Mtn. being a prime example.

You might find the Celluoid Closet by Vito Russo interesting.

[verasteine]

I had a suspicion the rest of the universe knew this already, and I was proven right. Thanks for the rec, I'll be sure to pick it up sometime!

[verasteine]

I was expecting nothing less. I tend to rant at empty rooms, so that'll be it :).

[valancy_joy]

it's amazing how profound "no labels" can be when you really really think about it.

[verasteine]

Oh, yes. Because I never thought, after the age of 21, that I would ever reexamine how I saw my sexuality, and I stood corrected. No labels is a profound concept, indeed.

[caladria]

Eastenders is bad writing. Eastenders gets constant, deserved flak for tokenism (one notable complaint that I remember is the sole Asian family a few years back having no Asian friends and no Asian support network, with Asian viewers pointing out how utterly rare and unrealistic that an Asian family live in complete isolation of the Asian community.) Eastenders basically added a gay characters to their cast a few years back because Sean Tully was a popular character in Coronation Street and they wanted in.

Although, um. Are you trying to equate "white" with "Christian"? Because not really, no (and I'm also assuming that when you say "Christian" you know you're talking about a population that is by and large agnostic/uncaring, despite their moral values being heavily Christian-derived - rather than a churchgoing, practising Christian community, because, well, the UK ain't America).

[verasteine]

Well, dude, yeah, Eastenders has bad writing. Imagine my surprise :). I knew that, it was just the thing that set my mind on the course of its realisations. The Asian family still annoys the hell out of me, for so obviously falling into the same trap: a lot of their storylines are about "being Asian/muslim".

And, no, I'm not equating "white" with "christian". Actually, I typed "white", realised that the black characters on the show behaved the same as the white ones, but the Asian characters did not, and looked for a term that unified them better (because white surely ain't it.) And yes, I did mean the sort of, christians-at-christmas christianity, with the morality stemming from there but the practice not so much. I was being unclear there.

[caladria]

It's just that white Christian does make one look like a replacement for the other. "Western" might be better.

And y'know dude, they have said in press releases that one kiss is all you're getting with this storyline. Is one kiss worth it, for that terrible a programme? It's never going to get better (although I do take heart with your perceptive of the black characters being integrated and no different to the white characters, because some days, you have to take your victory where you can).

[verasteine]

Yeah, I know. But I couldn't find the right term (Western would have been it, maybe) and thought the combo might make it clear. A slash might have been better.

I like the storyline in some places, and it gives me something to watch. I fast forward through the rest, and yell at the tv a lot, but that's a given anyway. It's not good, no, but I'm hooked, now :). It's far better than its American counterpart, anyway, and I'm not just in it for the snogging, you know.

The black integration surprised me, too! It was like, hang on, the black family ain't like that. And then I realised it was about religion, which is tragic, because there's enough anti-muslim rhetoric in the news w/o your friendly neighbourhood soap adding to it.

[amand_r]

Inclusionist writing. That's what I would like to see. Truly inclusionist, that shows real life, real things, normal things. Because normality, as much as it is an artificial construct, is something that applies to all of us. And as long as any writer writes for people who are on the outside looking in, they label something as normality, and by definition exclude something else.

All right then. Let's do it. Everyone. Let's be heroes.

[verasteine]

Lead the way. Be the torch bearer.

[amand_r]

Okay then. Give me a prompt.

[verasteine]

Hehe. You asked. I want Jack to meet Rhiannon, without CoE ever happening. With Ianto there. You know, instead of Ianto telling her in CoE. I think that would be fun and interesting. :)

[thaddeusfavour]

Inclusionist writing... that shows real life, real things, normal things. Because normality, as much as it is an artificial construct, is something that applies to all of us.

This. I too want this. I don't want teh "gay story". I want teh gay not to matter. I want to see a couple of gay superheroes and it not be a big deal; or a lesbian running for president and it NOT being about her sexuality. Acceptance is what we need. Not tolerance, because people tolerate things they don't like/accept/approve of. Acceptance means it's no big deal, you are who you are.

[verasteine]

Yes, yes, yes. All that and more. And it made me realise that I loved that about Torchwood so hard, and I hate that it's gone. Because whatever you may think about CoE, without a relationship like that in the background, the foreground won't highlight its normality.

So, series 4 had better have a lesbian couple in it. It's long overdue :).