For starters, honkeydoree…
I find that when I read the articles for the upcoming class, I am very angered. When I read the article “Should gay people seek to cultivate representations of a unified gay identity in the media, or is this counterproductive?” I was rather distraught.
I don’t know why people can’t just let people be. If someone wants to be gay, let them be gay… if someone wants to die their hair purple or pierce their tongue… let them. I don’t know why some people feel the need to try and control/ brainwash others with their thoughts and ideas… half the time NO ONE CARES.
The article talks about how sexual acts and roles contribute to what makes homosexual human beings a culture. The article talks about how gay men are coming up with new things for their sexual activities. First off- gay couples I’m sure are not the only people who are finding new and exciting shit to do in the sheets, Second of all- who gives a shit? If someone wants to be kinky and get down and dirty… let them!
The part of the article that I really enjoyed was stated by Larry Gross. Gross says “the media portrays gay people as “weak and silly, or evil and corrupt”… Gross worries about this because of the major role that mass communication has in our society. I completely agree with this because I think that people act the way they do because that is how they see others. No one wants to be the odd one out, or the black sheep if you will- especially when you are younger. Growing up in junior high and high school all anyone wants to do is fit in. If teenagers view on television and movies etc. that being gay is only associated with certain characteristics then children are likely to target others who hold these characteristics. I think the media plays a large part in the stereotyping of an entire culture and it is despicable. The world would not be what it is today if it were not for diversity.
I will give the media props however for starting to show more and more diverse sets of people on their shows etc… Will and Grace for example was a prime-time hit! I loved that show. I think that when people view shows like this it shows that these “weak or evil” stereotypes are just formalized and really contain no substance.
The stereotypes that are surrounding the gay community is astonishing. Clothing, apperance, actions are all things that people attribute differently to a homosexual person. Why can’t people just let people be?
Gross really hits home later on in the article when he says “…the reason minorities are afflicted with negative stereotyping…is because they aren’t represented enough and have too little control over the means of production”. This is sooo true in my opinion. If the majority rules for the majority then there really is no one left to represent the minority because lets face it, the majority is heterosexual. Homosexuals are faced with discrimination all the time, most of the time it is hidden which sometimes makes it even worse (for example- female police officers- my friend has to hide her sexuality). This discrimination prevents gays and lesbians from being able to get a position of power to make positive changes for their culture. It is a never ending vicious cycle.
