В From ''Perverts'' to ''Fab Five'' tracks the dramatic change in how the American media have depicted gay people over the last half-century. Each chapter illuminates a particular media product that served as a milestone on the media's journey from demonizing homosexuals some fifty years ago to celebrating gay people--or at least some categories of gay people--today.
The media, Streitmatter argues, have not merely reflected the American public's shift to a more enlightened view of gay people, but they have been instrumental in propelling that change. The book spans the breadth of communication venues. Individual chapters focus on major news stories, entertainment television programs, and mainstream motion pictures that captured the public imagination while, at the same time, sending powerful messages about gay men and lesbians. Ideal for any reader interested in the changing depiction of gay men and lesbians in the media over time, or as required reading in media courses.
Author(s): Rodger Streitmatter
Edition: 1
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2008
Language: English
Commentary: 71540
Pages: 231
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Figures......Page 8
Introduction......Page 10
1 “Perverts” on the Potomac: Homosexuals Enter the News Arena......Page 15
2 Stonewall Rebellion: Reporting on an Epic Event......Page 26
3 The Boys in the Band: Homosexuality Comes to the Big Screen......Page 35
4 Soap: A Gay Man Comes to TV Land......Page 46
5 AIDS Enters the News: Reporting on the “Gay Plague”......Page 59
6 AIDS Becomes Major News: “Now No One Is Safe”......Page 66
7 Gays in the Military: The Debate over Lifting the Ban......Page 74
8 Fleeting Images of Lesbians: Killing, Kissing, Being Chic......Page 82
9 Philadelphia: “A Quantum Leap for Gays on Film”......Page 92
10 A New Gay Man in Town: Hollywood Shifts to Positive Stereotypes......Page 102
11 Ellen: Coming Out, On Screen and Off......Page 113
12 Will & Grace: The Biggest Gay Hit in TV History......Page 124
13 Queer as Folk: “An Unvarnished Treatment of Gay Life”......Page 136
14 Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The “Fab Five” as Gay Reality TV......Page 146
15 Notes on Gay Visibility vs. Lesbian Visibility......Page 155
16 The L Word: Lesbians Move into the Spotlight......Page 158
17 Same-Sex Marriage: A Journalistic Love Fest......Page 168
18 Brokeback Mountain: “A Breakthrough Gay Romance”......Page 178
Conclusion: From “Perverts” to “Fab Five”: Progress in Three Stages … and Waiting for a Fourth......Page 188
Notes......Page 198
Index......Page 226
