Queer Theory

Queer Theory rejects conventional or mainstream behaviour, including sexual identity, but also a range of identities including race, disability and gender. It rejects the essentialist nature of theories of identity based on binary oppositions like male/female, gay/straight and argues there is another space outside which is queer.

 Queer texts either deal with queer themes and have queer characters or are read as queer Characters are often outsiders, on the edge of society There has been some improvement in the representation of gay men and lesbians in the media, but queer theory rejects simple positive representations which it argues are based on queer characters and values fitting it and being acceptable to a heterosexual, mainstream audience. Queer genres of often subvert traditional genre rules

Brokeback Mountain official trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1l7JZA5 LQc

Serbian anti-gay protest footage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znp8kTGy Rx0

Dont Ask Dont Tell, Obama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKOTX0O mlNk

Omar The Wire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2whjwbcS xg8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGNwuO7rJ8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5Pb8M HIy2s

Christian and Syed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTzDzEBnT dA

John Inman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOmS3sb 9oxE

George Osbourne (Chancellor of the Exchequer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_UPGtjA 7iM

The West Wing Jed and the homophobe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zhNiGlogQ

The Old Homosexual Warning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3S24ofE Qj4&feature=related

Will and Grace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt9sPh09j Xw

B&B refuse gay couple, April 2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8602371.stm http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/hom e-news/gay-couple-win-bed-and-breakfastsnub-case-2187347.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/la w-and-order/8266097/Gay-couple-awardeddamages-after-Christian-hotel-ownersrefused-to-let-them-share-double-room.html

Section A
Evaluate how the gay community is represented in both products (8 marks) To what extent has the media given a more positive representation of gay people over the last fifteen years? (8 marks) It is wrong to show lifestyles beyond the mainstream before the watershed. How far do you agree with this statement? (12 marks)

Possible theories to consider

Queer theory Binary opposition Moral panic Marxism