Sunday, October 14, 2007
maginalize the difference
To look at stereotyping versus characterization one should look at the various different groups and also Hollywoodization of groups and definitions of terms and their changing word usage. The changing culture of homosexuality is a perfect example. In the early 1900s homosexuality was a lifestyle not allowed for the motion picture venue. It was treated by the population as a culture that did not exist. As times changed and activism was starting for the gay and lesbian culture, perception of reality started changing. In the 1960s there were riots targeting homosexuals and the people responded in anger against those riots. By the late 1970s homosexuals started appearing on the big screen, however, they were seen as being suicidal or depressed figures. By the early 1980s, homosexuals started being seen as adolescent relationships. This was a huge step in hollywood dramatization of homosexuals. This showed that the lifestyle was starting to become more accepted by mainstream America and not shown as a sick and twisted lifestyle. The gay epidemic of the 1980s set back acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle and it showed in hollywood portrayals as a backlash. However, by the 1990s the homosexual lifestyle showed an accepting lifestyle. DeGeneres became one of the first homosexual out actresses that was portrayed in a good light by the American media and Hollywood. Along with DeGeneres, television shows such as L-word, Queer as folk, and Will and Grace starred gay characters living a normal, or semi-normal lifestyle. With the changing of perception of the homosexual lifestyle in the media the perception changed in the streets. The stereotyping changed from one of hatred and ignorance to that of acceptance and flamboyance. Mainstream America has taken the homosexual lifestyle and made it into one of flamboyance and drama queens. The use of descriptive words has changed from gay to queer to fag. With the homosexual population taking each word in turn and making it their own and no longer a derogatory word. The marginalization of this particular group has made it so that the group itself changes and sticks together. Marginalization has made the group change and grow and show that Hollywood does not portray the label as what it actually is. Taking Jack, from Will and Grace, the homosexual lifestyle has been shown as one that is loud, flamboyant, and sexual. Hollywood has marginalized the culture to that and just as the straight culture, there is more to the homosexual lifestyle then that. Hollywood characterizes a group of people, right or wrong, and then it becomes how society perceives that group. While some in the culture are undoubtedly like that, the big majority of the minority act nothing like Jack and mainstream America does not realize this because of the large influence that Hollywood has on our population.
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2 comments:
Sam,
Your statement about hollywood creating images and stereotypes for the public to accept is absolutely true. Media has the power to tell us what we think about things, people, and ourselves. Our own thought processes can be shifted to what we want and need. Would desire for name brand items exist if marketing campaigns didn't tell us we need them? Interesting post.
Could it be argued that this marginalization has been good for the gay community? I was thinking of the idea of impetuses to change. Marginalization could be seen as an impetus which forces groups to confront stereotypes and break through. In my mind much of the gay rights movement (or women's rights or civil rights) would not have happened without impetuses to change. Having the media or Jerry Falwell unfairly criticize you could be a positive in that it forces a group to define its identity and work to promote a better public perception of that group.
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