Morgan Redman Media G322 (Theory): Representation of Sexuality in Media -

Definition-

Sexuality: A persons sexual orientation or preferences.

Stereotypes -
(Strauss Binary Opposites)

Heterosexual Male: Tough, protector, leaders. Higher in Stauss' idea of dominant figures where middle-aged males dominate the wealthy jobs.

Heterosexual Female: Weak, girly, feminine, damsel-in-distress, typically subordinate characters.

Homosexual Male: Camp, girly, promiscuous, feminine looking and likes clothes.

Homosexual Female: Butch, feminist, short hair like men.

List of Homosexual Stereotype Traits -

Homosexual Males:

•Gay men are portrayed as overly effeminate.
•There can be the belief that all gay men desire to be women or are feminine
•Gay characters are condemned to a life alone without children
•Mothers regret being too close to their sons, thinking that is what "made" them gay
•The idea is that its just a phase.
•Drifting from one sexual liaison to another, they end up old and alone;
•Gay men are only concerned with sex
•Gay men are flamboyant , feminine characters, have camp mannerisms
•Represented as often feared, pitied or being the subject of laughter
•Gay men do professions like fashions, material design and hair styling
•Gay men are often depicted as suffering family rejection
•Speak with a lisp

Homosexual Females:

•Gay women are portrayed as overly masculine
•Often represented to be aggressive and mouthy
•There is always the ‘masculine’ and the ‘feminine’ partner in any gay female relationship
•Drifting from one sexual liaison to another, they end up old and alone
•Gay women do jobs such as sports/P.E. teachers and military and are butch lesbians commonly represented as pursuing heterosexual women
•Gay women are often depicted as suffering family rejection

Representation -

Despite changing equality laws and a wider acceptance of different sexualities within much of society, TV has always remained quite conservative as they are scared of offending their viewers.

Heterosexual (straight) characters are represented as the “norm” and homosexual (gay) characters are often represented as being different, strange, or separate from mainstream society.

Some critics say that when TV does feature gay characters, they are never just characters that “happen to be gay.”

Their sexuality always plays a key part in their storylines and they don’t seem to have any issues outside of their sexuality.

Theorists -

•Branston and Stafford (2001) - soaps rely on archetypal characters and stereotypes - ensure ready accessibility because stories have universal appeal about families and communities.

•Stereotypes depend on shared cultural knowledge – some part of the stereotype must ring true.

•Stereotypes are always about power: those with power stereotype those with less power (Dyer, 1979).

The Street Clip -

Editing: Quick cuts (quick paced lifestyle live by young gays), shot duration/ short take (focuses only on body shots, kissing etc links to promiscuity), jump cut to the car (discuss being soft, a stereotype), cut away shot (male with arm around another male)

Mise-en-scene: Gay Bar (power in numbers), pink and blue tshirts (show vibrancy compared to fragile masculine black), shirtless male podium dancers (promiscuity), red lighting (links to passion and promiscuity of gay stereotypes), the dark lit scenery (shows the mysteries surrounding the gay lifestyle)

Camera: Close up/ pan down on podium dancer crotch (promiscuity), high angle shot (shows how homosexual groups are viewed as below the 'norm' of society), eye-line shot at bar (male orders a lager which subverts stereotypes of femininity), pan shot (on the bus the two gay males are seated away from the rest of the group, homosexuals divided from the norm of society)

Sound: Diegetic music (fast paced rave music, fun loving lifestyle), dialogue during the mugging scene such as 'puff' (gay stereotype)