Week 8: Sexualized minorities, "sexual otherness" and heterosexism in media

This week, our class on Monday was cancelled. Therefore this blog post is based on readings assigned this week and by conducting individual research. This week we were to read articles by J. Kim, T. Jenkins and J. Dennis, each article discussing heterosexuality as the "norm" in the media. Each author explored how when same-sex desire is shown in the media it is going against social norms. Specifically, this idea is shown on primetime network TV, recent film and cartoons. As a heterosexual being I have experienced the societal norm as a relationship between a man and a woman. I would agree with the authors that my first response to homosexual content is "this is weird or not normal." Oftentimes I feel uncomfortable when viewing homosexual content, other times I never notice the content as having homosexual tendencies.

Below, I will demonstrate how heterosexual content vs. homosexual content is displayed in the media and how I (and possibly our society) responds to them differently.

Heterosexual: (The following responses are from J. Kim's article; "From Sex to Sexuality: Exposing Heterosexual Script on Primetime Network TV").

- Sexual messages are gendered

- Looking at heterosexual content comes from a feminist perspective

- Depictions of "normal" messages are between men and women

- The heterosexual script: actively pursuing sex

- Female characters are willingly objectifying themselves and being judged based off their sexual conduct

Homosexual: (The following responses are from J. Dennis' article; "Signifying Same-Sex Desire in TV Cartoons").

- Examples of homosexual relationships: Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, companions and domestic partners. Also, Ren and Stimpy, both male characters although one portrays female characteristics often. Also, Spongebob and Patrick, sleepovers together as well as tickle fights. Another relationship would be Mickey Mouse and Goofy, when together it's almost as if Minnie is always absent.

- Erotic desire between characters

- 1970s sparked visibility of gay identities within society and on TV

- 1080s relationships shown as aggressively heterosexual

The above relationships between cartoon characters were a shock to me. This is because until this week I hadn't observed these characters and the extent of their relationships. Before analyzing the characters I thought of them as only best friends, not potential partners or lovers. For the remainder of my post I will continue to analyze characters shown within the media, including film, advertisements, music and TV.

David Bowie "Queen Bitch"

(An example of same-sex desire)

I'm up on the eleventh floor

And I'm watching the cruisers below

He's down on the street

And he's trying hard

to pull sister Flo

My heart's in the basement

My weekend's at an all time low

'Cause she's hoping to score

So I can't see her

letting him go

Walk out of her heart

Walk out of her mind

[CHORUS]

She's so swishy in her satin and tat

In her frock coat

and bipperty-bopperty hat

Oh God, I could do better than that

She's an old-time ambassador

Of sweet talking, night walking games

And she's known in the darkest clubs

For pushing ahead of the dames

If she says she can do it

Then she can do it,

she don't make false claims

But she's a Queen,

and such are queens

That your laughter

is sucked in their brains

Now she's leading him on

And she'll lay him right down

But it could have been me

Yes, it could have been me

Why didn't I say,

why didn't I say, no, no, no

[CHORUS]

So I lay down a while

And I gaze at my hotel wall

Oh the cot is so cold

It don't feel like no bed at all

Yeah I lay down a while

And I look at my hotel wall

But he's down on the street

So I throw both his bags down the hall

And I'm phoning a cab

'Cause my stomach feels small

There's a taste in my mouth

And it's no taste at all

It could have been me

Oh yeah, it could have been me

Why didn't I say,

Why didn't I say, no, no, no

Timon and Pumbaa, The Lion King

(An example of homosexual characteristics between two male cartoon characters)

Photo courtesy Glogster

Marissa & Alex on The OC

(An example of teenage homosexual "phases" that are portrayed in popular TV shows)

Click here for a video compilation *please excuse the cheesiness of the clip

Photo courtesy After Ellen

Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly on The Office

(white, employed, good looking, (typical) heterosexual couple shown in popular TV show)

Photo courtesy Tumblr

Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady

(One of the "hottest" couples in the world - heterosexual/the norm/the ideal)

Photo courtesy Life & Style