Sabatini,+Joseph

  Homoeroticism on contemporary television

Gay right’s in the United States are in constant flux, activist push for rights and government press back. Television transmits values from generation to generation in order to maintain society. Society also demands to be entertained and amused (Wright, 1974) Homosexuality on television is a good thing. In order for the media to correlates what we watch they have to account for all viewers. There are six to eight different genres on prime-time television such as situation comedies, dramas, realities, action-adventure, movies, game shows and newsmagazines. They are specific shows that reach out to the mass viewer.

Homoeroticism fits into all these genres. In fact, homoeroticism is not a genre because it is not genre specific. There are famous individuals like Ellen Degeneres in Hollywood who are openly gay, shows like A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila that are reality based and homoerotic characters on drama series. Since the early 90’s television has been open to gays and lesbians. Not all have been treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Some have been labeled and scrutinized in the public eye. However, that has not taken away from their success or generational impact. By the end of this paper you will understand how gay and lesbians have transformed the perception of a generation.

Television is a good citizen because it recycles. It is also an agent of social change. Conventional television recycles typical and expected norms. Television characters are in constant flux because values and norms keep changing. Lets take a look at the Cosby Show from the 80’s. His show was successful because it appropriated 80’s values and norms. Bill Cosby’s gentleness and understanding reflected the political change at the time. Regan’s government ushered in an era of patriarchic that brought a new set of values and beliefs. Bill Cosby’s wife was also a significant change from past female characters. She played a confident and constructive member of the family, who complimented her husband. She did not play a subordinate character (Danesi) Actors are made to fit this mould created by society. Society creates the image and the image is recycled. Here are a few genres that recycle homoeroticism.

Lifestyle television is a commonplace for homosexual hosts it is a branch of television that supports the arts. Homosexuality is a lifestyle. Mainstream television takes notice of that. Their has been shows that directly targeting the gay and lesbian community as well as shows targeting a larger spectrum of viewers. A show like Steve and Chris with gay hosts is directed to women as much as it is directed to gay men. It looks at food and entertainment, fashion and beauty, home décor, health and fitness and relationships. So it is not the subject but the content that matters most. Perhaps Steve and Chris are an attractive combination of vitality and excitement. Perhaps they appeal to a broader audience because of their sexual preference. Perhaps their feminine qualities are inherent mannerisms that the viewer finds intriguing. Andrew Gorman-Murray said this about a similar show: “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy [US] is perhaps the most obvious case, built on the premise that gay men are arbiters of good taste, with Inherent concern and flair for domestic styling.” So Steve and Chris recycle the posh style that the five men from queer eye for the straight guy spawned. They suggest a different view of homosexual men. A different dimension of homosexuality that might change a viewer’s perception. Queer Eye for the straight Guy built a framework that is used again and again. The idea is oversimplified, it appeals to the masses. Steve and Chris are a contemporary version of the successful queer eye for the straight guy. Their success is based off the success of their predecessors. It is a way of recycling good and successful television. It’s a way of understanding what the viewer wants.

Reality television takes homoeroticism in a different direction. It intends on showing the more provocative or racy side of homosexuality. Reality television is mainly for evening viewing. Here are two shows that exemplify this. First there is A Double Shot at Love with the ikki twins. This show is a playoff of A Shot of Love with Tila Tequila. It is about two bisexual sisters who are looking for love. They try and find love through the reality show. Tila Tequila’s had her first show. Her show was a success and she had another show. Then the Ikki twins came along and consequently use the same idea as Tila’s show. The series is based around getting drunk and falling in love. In reality it is not reality. It is an exaggeration of reality or an attempt to sell sex. This show would be way different if it were bisexual men and straight women. There just would not be enough interest. Lesbianism or female bisexuality sells better. Men enjoy it, women enjoy it, lesbians enjoy it and gay men enjoy it to. The Real World Brooklyn is another racy evening show that stars Katelynn a transgender who just recently had surgery performed to remove her genitalia. She is viewed as being a ‘freak’ at times and is very open about her sexuality to her real world friends. She is distinct and different to Tila and the Ikki twins because her character is real and original.

Homosexuals are not portrayed like black people were prior to the Crosby show. They are constructed to be multifarious characters. They can play your household characters and still be provocative. Aside from lifestyle and reality shows they are in dramas, design shows, day time shows and so on. If a show is successful like the Crosby show or a Shot at Love well then the success is continued. Recycling helps motivate change in media. One-day shows like a Shot at Love will get old and viewers will move onto something different. Perhaps it might be something that deals with homoeroticism or perhaps not. Only time can tell where the Television industry is going. However, shows that were mention could be possible precursors for new shows.

 __work cited__ __Wright, C. (1974). Functional analysis and mass communications revisited. In Blumers, J, and Katz, E. (eds.), the use of mass communications. Beverly Hills: Sage.__  __Danesi, Marcel.__ Understanding Media Semiotics__. London: Hodder Arnold, 2002. 150.__

__Gorman-Murray, Andrew. "Queering home or domesticating deviance?: Interrogating gay domesticity through lifestyle television."__ International journal of cultural studies __(2006): 228.__  