Queer theory has gained prominence as a lens through which to analyze media texts, including films, television shows, and advertisements. Queer theory challenges traditional binaries such as male/female, straight/gay, white/black, and masculine/feminine, and instead focuses on the fluidity of gender and sexuality. By applying queer theory to mass media, we can uncover insights into how these texts both reflect and distort societal norms related to gender, sexuality, race, and class. This essay will examine three ways in which queer critical theory can be applied to mass media: representation, narrative structure, and symbolic resonance.
Representation refers to how various groups are portrayed within a text. In film and television, representations of queerness have historically been limited and stereotypical.
Gay characters were often portrayed as flamboyant or comedic relief, while lesbian characters were depicted as butch or hypersexualized.
More recently, there has been an increased presence of diverse and nuanced queer characters in mainstream media. Shows like 'Orange is the New Black' and 'Broad City' feature diverse casts with multiple characters who identify as LGBTQ+, demonstrating that not all queer people fit into a single box. Similarly, films like 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Carol' showcase complex relationships between two men and two women respectively, challenging heteronormative assumptions about romantic love.
Narrative structure refers to the storytelling techniques used by a text, including plot, setting, characterization, and themes. A key aspect of queer theory is its focus on power dynamics and how they manifest in everyday life. Mass media texts can help us understand how these power dynamics play out through their use of language, setting, and story arcs.
In the film 'Moonlight,' we see the protagonist struggling against his masculine identity due to societal expectations for black men. His internal struggles reflect the broader oppression faced by black communities in America.
The film uses flashbacks to explore the protagonist's childhood, showing how he was raised by a drug-addicted mother and later abused by other boys in school. This reveals how the cycles of trauma and violence are passed down across generations.
Symbolic resonance refers to the ways in which images and symbols convey meaning beyond their literal interpretation. In mass media, this can be seen in advertisements that present stereotypical gender roles or sexualized bodies.
Many ads for cleaning products depict women as homemakers, while those for cars often feature hypermasculine images. These representations reinforce societal norms around gender and sex, but they also have symbolic implications. By portraying women as the primary caregivers and homemakers, these ads suggest that women should prioritize domestic duties over career aspirations. Similarly, car ads that feature muscular men and scantily clad women imply that femininity is synonymous with sexual availability. Through symbolic resonance, queer critical theory allows us to analyze how these messages are reinforced and resisted within mass media texts.
Applying queer critical theory to mass media offers valuable insights into the way power dynamics operate through various modes of communication. By examining representation, narrative structure, and symbolic resonance, we can see how mass media both reflects and distorts societal norms related to gender, sexuality, race, and class.
It is important to note that not all media texts will reflect these insights equally; some may perpetuate harmful stereotypes or reinforce oppressive structures. Nevertheless, by engaging with queer theory, we can gain a deeper understanding of our world and challenge ourselves to create more inclusive and equitable spaces for all people.
What insights arise when we apply queer critical theory to mass media: how do films, shows, advertisements reflect, distort or resist normative power structures?
Queer Critical Theory (QCT) is an interdisciplinary approach that critically examines the social construction of gender and sexuality within dominant cultural narratives. It focuses on how these concepts are represented and interpreted in various forms of media, including film, television, advertising, and other popular culture.