Gay men in pop culture?

Question

It seems (to me) that many gays on TV or movies are reduced to the "flaming clown" role, e.g. Jack from "Will and Grace". Does this offend gay men in the real world or does it attest to the demeanor of most gay men?

Answer 1

i once brought that same question up in a psychology class discussion...i think that gays will be faced with the dilemma of being stereotyped...men being flammers....lesbians being butch...but unfortunately, gay culture is just starting to be accepted in the mainstream...so you will probably see a lot more stereotypical portrayals because that's the only way that conservatives can begin to tolerate you....i'm neither a gay man or a lesbian...but i am black and we deal with the same thing as far as how we are portrayed on film and TV...

"will and grace" is actually my favorite show....i think it gave a good balance...i think when it first started...the jack character was flaming...but as the series progressed...they toned it down a little...he's a brilliant character...

Answer 2

It most certainly does not reflect most gay men. This is an archetype that goes back a LOOOONG way in media representation. For awhile, the only circumstances in which it was ok to even mention the concept of gay people was if you made it a joke. this goes back to a charlie chaplin film, at least.

All of the archetypes are inaccurate: the flaming clown equally as much as the abstinent saint. Will and Grace specifically at least tried to have MORE than one archetype; to attempt to show that there is SOME diversity going on (despite the fact that I don't remember any non-white characters on the show; EVER). I don't think it was perfect, but I think for when it came out it was ahead of its time.

Answer 3

Not all gay men are flaming and limp-wristed. I have met MANY MANY gay men who are just guys! They walk, talk, spit, work like any other man. There's lots of gay men who are quite rugged, manly and macho and you'd NEVER EVER guess they happened to love men! Many gay men I've met are NOT offended by someone like "JACK" on Will&Grace, but it IS essential to show the others side of the coin - the straight-looking gay man. It isn't a good idea to stereotype gay people in films and shows - it just adds to the ignorance that's already out there. I'm a lesbian and my wife is a total hottie! Nobody would say she looks butch! No, she has long, beautiful hair, killer body and the face of an angel. Smart, too! Breaks the guys hearts! HA HA! Too bad!

Answer 4

Media stereotypes are inevitable, especially in the advertising, entertainment and news industries, which need as wide an audience as possible to quickly understand information. Stereotypes act like codes that give audiences a quick, common understanding of a person or group of people—usually relating to their class, ethnicity or race, gender, sexual orientation, social role or occupation.

But stereotypes can be problematic. They can:
• reduce a wide range of differences in people to simplistic categorizations

• transform assumptions about particular groups of people into "realities"

• be used to justify the position of those in power

• perpetuate social prejudice and inequality

More often than not, the groups being stereotyped have little to say about how they are represented.

Any discussion of the portrayal of gays and lesbians on television must consider the commercial demands of the medium. In her article "Gay Activists and the Networks", Kathleen Montgomery discusses the process involved in creating a made-for-television movie that featured a gay character in a prominent role. Since the main objective of the movie was to reach as wide an audience as possible, various compromises were necessary:

• the story had to be told within the constraints of a popular television genre: the crime-drama

• the narrative had to focus on the heterosexual lead character and his interactions with gay characters

• the movie could not depict any scenes of affection between characters of the same sex

Montgomery concludes that "these requirements served as a filter through which the issue of homosexuality was processed, resulting in a televised picture of gay life designed to be acceptable to the gay community and still palatable to a mass audience."

If you actually presented it, as it really is it would cause way to many people to question there own relationships and this would be bad for revenue
So is far easier to jump to what is palatable by the wider audience.

If they really showed the diversity of gay people it would shock many that he could be the tow truck driver that took your car away the woman who granted you a loan at the bank ...its easier to see the stereotype but it will change in time as people get better educated.

Answer 5

It attests to nothing. "Jack" is a wonderful study of egomania, flaming, outspoken, selfish, etc....his character is very rich, and is VERY funny! I suspect that Gays are his biggest fans..it is a wonderful character. Will's character is just the opposite, the "straight-acting, uptight anal man who is successful and has a heart of gold, but a very quick wit. Don't be fooled...all characters on TV are just that...created to be extreme, be funny, whatever...to hopefully have a hit. I will agree that all too often, the gay characters are too extreme, but that is ok. There is nothing wrong with having a gay man be a murderer...lord knows there are enough straight men doing the murdering on TV. Characters are NOT real, they are inventions with emphasis on certain facets of personality...in every story, if you were to combine ALL the characters into one person, you would have reality. Characters are splintered for dramatic reasons. NO Character in a story reflects reality of any one person. And NO, Jack does not offend me, and in fact, I love the character...he makes me laugh. Would I be his friend? NO WAY...he is about as obnoxious a person as I can think of, but on the other hand, he is always there for his friends, isn't he? As to demeanor, I don't think you can boil that down to anything .... straight or gay. Do you really know anyone who is as "butch" as John Wayne always portrayed? NO! And in fact, I knew John Wayne, trust me, he was NOTHING like the characters he portrayed. I don't recall him playing a self-centered bigot in any role, but that was what he was like in person. I suspect you actually know MANY gay men and women and have NO clue that they are gay. We are no different than Straights in reality...many colors, many faces. It is NO BIG deal .... we are all just people, some of us are more colorful than others. Good luck. I hope this helps in your understanding of TV/Movie characters.

Answer 6

Im not a gay man, but I do think its a little stereotypical to only "pick" and or "portray" gay men as flamers. Like I have said 100 times before I could put you in a room full of gay men and you couldnt tell half of them are gay. People are who they are and thats that. Sure there are flamers but what about the bears?

Answer 7

No but you are right, they really slammed the homos on the Sapranos. Now I am not a homo but I like some music by them for exampl George Michael but hes becomming a pain with his strange sexual incidents. I also like the Pet Shop Boys.

I think most tv shows show the "woman" of the Gay Men more than the more manily type, does that make sense?

Answer 8

It offends me so much, it's a horrible stereotype that I think needs to end.

But it obviously wont because it's a stereotype for a reason...unfortunatly.

I'm gay and I never liked shopping, ever. I'm not fabulous and I don't have a perfect body.

Although you do see more gay bears in pop culture more and more, haha.

Answer 9

Nobody is reduced to it. You forgot to mention Will. Hello, he was the other gay character. Too bad gay actors are reduced to playing closed minded str8 idiots on TV and movies.

Answer 10

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