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cultural appropriation
Sep. 10th, 2007 03:51 pmso as much as the stagegay/bandom debate (*cough*kerfluffle*cough*) raised as much ire and interest in me as a slice of unbuttered toast, I really enjoyed reading this post on appropriation of "the gay lifestyle" in the media. it's good food for thought on a subject that my mind has been circling distantly for some time now. especially since I started watching QaF and Emmett's conflict over being the sexless clown.
I've been debating with myself the degree to which certain shows, specifically Will & Grace and Queer Eye, help or hinder the mainstreaming of homosexuality. on one hand, they both do follow the pattern of cultural appropriation...reducing an oppressed minority to a comedic stereotype, washed clean of all the "scary" aspects and made more harmless as a result.
on the other hand, anything other than sexless comedy would never have made it to network television when Will & Grace began. it's as old as the argument between Booker T and DuBois...probably older than that: are such half-measures compromise or victory?
my brain isn't up to full-fledged meta thinkiness for my own post, but I'd love to hear your own thoughts on this. no-holds-barred victory, necessary compromise, or more of an insult than a blessing? you decide :)
I've been debating with myself the degree to which certain shows, specifically Will & Grace and Queer Eye, help or hinder the mainstreaming of homosexuality. on one hand, they both do follow the pattern of cultural appropriation...reducing an oppressed minority to a comedic stereotype, washed clean of all the "scary" aspects and made more harmless as a result.
on the other hand, anything other than sexless comedy would never have made it to network television when Will & Grace began. it's as old as the argument between Booker T and DuBois...probably older than that: are such half-measures compromise or victory?
my brain isn't up to full-fledged meta thinkiness for my own post, but I'd love to hear your own thoughts on this. no-holds-barred victory, necessary compromise, or more of an insult than a blessing? you decide :)
