Gay intimacy unplugged: The evolution of gay male representation on television
Presenter Title/Affiliation
Missouri Western State University
Start Date
23-5-2021 10:00 AM
Event Name
Panel discussion
Panel Number
19
Panel Chair Name
Eric Louis Russell
Zoom URL to Join
https://ciis.zoom.us/j/92882331032
Zoom Meeting ID
928 8233 1032
Abstract
This research interrogates how contemporary televisual narratives featuring gay male relationships have evolved with a more open cultural landscape. There has been a history of gay men featured in intimate relationships throughout the history of television. It often meant a relegated form of intimacy against a heterosexual backdrop or even the position of being othered in reference to the contraction of HIV/AIDS. This served in a progressive, but also problematic way through the introduction of the potential for two men to be intimate with one another and then also relegating that position to limited stereotypes.
The texts selected for analysis are televisual narratives featuring representations of gay male intimacy on television are the following: How to Get away with Murder (ABC, 2004-present), Looking (HBO, 2014-15), Eastsiders (YouTube, 2012-present), Tales of the City (Netflix, 2019-present), Schitt’s Creek (2015-present) and Queer Eye (Netflix, 2018-present). Each one represents different platform for television in the US market. It should be noted that a couple of these texts are widely popular internationally, but still represent a US centered context. The context will be centered in comparison with popular representation that came before in examination of more diverse forms of gay male intimacy now available to a wide audience today.
Presenter Contact
jcarviou@missouriwestern.edu
Gay intimacy unplugged: The evolution of gay male representation on television
This research interrogates how contemporary televisual narratives featuring gay male relationships have evolved with a more open cultural landscape. There has been a history of gay men featured in intimate relationships throughout the history of television. It often meant a relegated form of intimacy against a heterosexual backdrop or even the position of being othered in reference to the contraction of HIV/AIDS. This served in a progressive, but also problematic way through the introduction of the potential for two men to be intimate with one another and then also relegating that position to limited stereotypes.
The texts selected for analysis are televisual narratives featuring representations of gay male intimacy on television are the following: How to Get away with Murder (ABC, 2004-present), Looking (HBO, 2014-15), Eastsiders (YouTube, 2012-present), Tales of the City (Netflix, 2019-present), Schitt’s Creek (2015-present) and Queer Eye (Netflix, 2018-present). Each one represents different platform for television in the US market. It should be noted that a couple of these texts are widely popular internationally, but still represent a US centered context. The context will be centered in comparison with popular representation that came before in examination of more diverse forms of gay male intimacy now available to a wide audience today.
https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/lavlang/2021/sunday/12
