LGBTQ community

Describe your reaction to their character/persona, and reasons why you believe this depiction is helpful or harmful to the LGBTQ community (or both). 1 The media has increased their coverage of issues that impact the LGBTQ community (clips from Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Janet Mock are only a few examples). Based on this kind of coverage, how are LGBTQ individuals being discussed and depicted in the media? Please describe both positive and negative ways the LGBTQ community is being depicted. 2 Choose one LGBTQ person of color in the media (NOTE: this person might identify as LGBTQ in their personal lives or they may depict an LGBTQ person as a made-up character on a TV show or movie). Describe your reaction to their character/persona, and reasons why you believe this depiction is helpful or harmful to the LGBTQ community (or both). NOTE: you can find some examples of LGBTQ individuals of color in the media on your powerpoint slides, in the article from 2011-2012 LGBT characters on primetime scripted television, etc) Your responses require a detailed response that integrates your opinions AND the course readings/content. Your posts MUST contain at least ONE citation in your answer to each question. This citation will come from either our course readings and/or outside empirical or reputable news sources (NOTE: wikipedia is not considered a reputable source and will therefore not count as a citation you can use to earn credit). You will cite using APA format both within the text (author, year) and must also include the full reference at the bottom of the response (see APA Citations/Reference guidelines for more information). Course reding 15 Ads That Changed The Way We Think About Gays And Lesbians LGBT People of Color: Addressing the Media’s ‘Diversity Issue’ WST3641 THE MEDIA Dr. Victoria Burns MEDIA IN THE UNITED STATES Media sends important messages about gender and sexuality Mainstream TV shows/movies and their character depictions can form stereotypes about what it means to be a part of the LGBTQ community A major message is also sent through the general absence of LGBTQ individuals in mainstream media LGBT MEDIA PRESENCE ¢ At the launch of the 2011-2012 television season, GLAAD estimates that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) scripted characters represent 2.9% of all scripted series regular characters on the five broadcast networks: ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC. This is a decrease from last year, with 19 series regular characters identified as LGBT. ¢ The number of scripted LGBT series regulars found on mainstream cable networks has also fallen slightly to 28 in the upcoming season. GLAAD counted 26 additional recurring characters on cable. ¢ CBS: Out of 134 regular characters, only one was LGBT GLAAD's 2011 Where We Are on TV report MISREPRESENTATION ¢ How might feeling absent/misrepresented from media make someone feel? Isolated/can’t relate to the culture Pressure to change aspects of themselves On the other hand, sometimes there can be buffering effects: ¢ if media is harmful but you feel it does not encompass who you are, you might ignore it/dismiss it easier MEDIA PRESENCE We do see more LGBTQ individuals covering the news, in TV shows, movies, talk shows, music, sports, more than ever before, and more LGBTQ people of color specifically: ¢ Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Caitlyn Jenner, Ellen Degeneres, Frank Ocean, Don Lemon, Robin Roberts, Rachel Maddow, Michael Sam, Lee Daniels, Neil Patrick Harris, Tim Cook, Wanda Sykes, Adam Lambert, Carmen Carrera, Fallon Fox. Isis King, Jenna Talackova But it is important to consider media literacy when thinking about how any group of individuals is depicted in the media, especially sexual and gender minorities…. (next slide) MEDIA LITERACY ¢ As you see LGBTQ characters depicted in the media, remember to ask yourself: How are LGBTQ characters represented in the media? What do they look like? How do they speak? What kind of activities do they engage in?* What specific images and words contribute to our understanding of what it means to be LGBTQ?* What impact do LGBTQ representations have on the opportunities and possibilities for LGBTQ-identified individuals in their personal and professional lives?* *The Critical Media Project: Media Literacy and the Politics of Identity MEDIA LITERACY* ¢ What do the images and narratives being deployed say about queer people? Are the images and narratives you consume describing an entire subgroup of people or are they describing a single individual? Is the individual posited as an exceptional member of their subgroup and if they are, what is being implied about the group of which they are a part? ¢ If the representations in question utilize humor, are queer people in on the joke or are they the joke? This is an important distinction to grasp and can sometimes be quite tricky depending on the media product under scrutiny. Ridiculous and humorous representations serve a wide variety of purposes and humor can often broach topics that would otherwise be too sensitive or difficult to deal with. That said, there is a difference between a humor that “Others” people and one that is inclusive. ¢ *Media Smarts ACTIVISM ¢ GLAAD National People of Color Media Training Institute Created for people of color who are LGBT/LGBT allies Trains people to become thought leaders who will use their voice in the media to speak about issues that affect the lives of LGBT people