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The Resource Gay TV and straight America, Ron Becker

Gay TV and straight America, Ron Becker

Creator
Summary
After decades of silence on the subject of homosexuality, television in the 1990s saw a striking increase in programming that incorporated and, in many cases, centered on gay material. In shows including "Friends", "Seinfeld", "Party of Five", "Homicide", "Suddenly Susan", "The Commish", "Ellen", "Will & Grace", and others, gay characters were introduced, references to homosexuality became commonplace, and issues of gay and lesbian relationships were explored, often in explicit detail. In "Gay TV and Straight America", Ron Becker draws on a wide range of political and cultural indicators to explain this sudden upsurge of gay material on prime-time network television. Bringing together analysis of relevant Supreme Court rulings, media coverage of gay rights battles, debates about multiculturalism, concerns over political correctness, and much more, Becker's assessment helps us understand how and why televised gayness was constructed by a specific culture of tastemakers during the decade.; On one hand the evidence points to network business strategies that embraced gay material as a valuable tool for targeting a quality audience of well-educated, upscale adults looking for something "edgy" to watch. But, Becker also argues that the increase of gay material in the public eye creates growing mainstream anxiety in reaction to the seemingly civil public conversation about equal rights. In today's cultural climate where controversies rage over issues of gay marriage yet millions of viewers tune in weekly to programs like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy", this book offers valuable insight to the complex condition of America's sexual politics
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
1 online resource (x, 283 pages)
Contents
  • Introduction : the importance of gay-themed TV
  • Straight panic and American culture in the 1990s
  • Thinking about gay people : civil rights and the confusion over sexual identity
  • Network narrowcasting and the slumpy demographic
  • The affordable, multicultural politics of gay chic
  • Gay material and prime-time network television in the 1990s
  • "We're not gay!" : heterosexuality and gay-themed programming
  • Straight panic in the 2000s
Isbn
9780813539324
Instance
Label
Gay TV and straight America
Title
Gay TV and straight America
Statement of responsibility
Ron Becker
Title variation
Gay television and straight America
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
After decades of silence on the subject of homosexuality, television in the 1990s saw a striking increase in programming that incorporated and, in many cases, centered on gay material. In shows including "Friends", "Seinfeld", "Party of Five", "Homicide", "Suddenly Susan", "The Commish", "Ellen", "Will & Grace", and others, gay characters were introduced, references to homosexuality became commonplace, and issues of gay and lesbian relationships were explored, often in explicit detail. In "Gay TV and Straight America", Ron Becker draws on a wide range of political and cultural indicators to explain this sudden upsurge of gay material on prime-time network television. Bringing together analysis of relevant Supreme Court rulings, media coverage of gay rights battles, debates about multiculturalism, concerns over political correctness, and much more, Becker's assessment helps us understand how and why televised gayness was constructed by a specific culture of tastemakers during the decade.; On one hand the evidence points to network business strategies that embraced gay material as a valuable tool for targeting a quality audience of well-educated, upscale adults looking for something "edgy" to watch. But, Becker also argues that the increase of gay material in the public eye creates growing mainstream anxiety in reaction to the seemingly civil public conversation about equal rights. In today's cultural climate where controversies rage over issues of gay marriage yet millions of viewers tune in weekly to programs like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy", this book offers valuable insight to the complex condition of America's sexual politics
Cataloging source
COO
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1969-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Becker, Ron
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
  • dictionaries
  • bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Homosexuality on television
  • Homosexuality
  • Public opinion
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • SOCIAL SCIENCE
  • Homosexuality on television
  • Homosexuality
  • Public opinion
  • United States
  • Homoseksualiteit
  • Heteroseksualiteit
  • Televisie
  • Verenigde Staten
Label
Gay TV and straight America, Ron Becker
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-270) and index
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Introduction : the importance of gay-themed TV -- Straight panic and American culture in the 1990s -- Thinking about gay people : civil rights and the confusion over sexual identity -- Network narrowcasting and the slumpy demographic -- The affordable, multicultural politics of gay chic -- Gay material and prime-time network television in the 1990s -- "We're not gay!" : heterosexuality and gay-themed programming -- Straight panic in the 2000s
Control code
ocm76876401
Dimensions
unknown
Extent
1 online resource (x, 283 pages)
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780813539324
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Note
JSTOR
Other physical details
illustrations
http://library.link/vocab/ext/overdrive/overdriveId
22573/ctt4jt8xx
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)76876401
Label
Gay TV and straight America, Ron Becker
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-270) and index
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Introduction : the importance of gay-themed TV -- Straight panic and American culture in the 1990s -- Thinking about gay people : civil rights and the confusion over sexual identity -- Network narrowcasting and the slumpy demographic -- The affordable, multicultural politics of gay chic -- Gay material and prime-time network television in the 1990s -- "We're not gay!" : heterosexuality and gay-themed programming -- Straight panic in the 2000s
Control code
ocm76876401
Dimensions
unknown
Extent
1 online resource (x, 283 pages)
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780813539324
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Note
JSTOR
Other physical details
illustrations
http://library.link/vocab/ext/overdrive/overdriveId
22573/ctt4jt8xx
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)76876401

Subject

Genre

Library Locations

    • Copley LibraryBorrow it
      5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA, 92110-2492, US
      32.771354 -117.193327

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