LGBTQ+ YouTube content creators recently noticed that YouTube's platform has been filtering LGBTQ+ content out with its Restricted Mode. This function is meant for parents who want to filter out inappropriate content on YouTube for their kids. YouTube responded saying that videos had been mislabeled and thus caused the restriction to occur.
I think this event is important in our understanding of how LGBTQ+ topics are intertwined with issues that can be deemed 'inappropriate', and therefore endangering its position in media and its access. Would love to hear any similar stories!
Monday, March 20, 2017
Chimamanda Adichie controversial comments on transwomanhood
This story about Chimamanda Adichie's comments on trans women have been kind of big in the news recently. It raises really interesting question about womanhood and how that relates to various systems of oppression, as well as current issues within feminism. The article I'm attaching does a good job explaining the issue. Would love to hear what you guys think!
http://www.vox.com/identities/2017/3/15/14910900/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-transgender-women-comments-apology
Sunday, March 19, 2017
BBC Article on the invention of 'heterosexuality'
"One hundred years ago, people had a very different idea of what it means to be heterosexual. Understanding that shift in thinking can tell us a lot about fluid sexual identities today, argues Brandon Ambrosino."
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170315-the-invention-of-heterosexuality
I came across this BBC article that, through the exploration of the creation of heterosexuality, indirectly illuminates the construction of homosexuality. The article covers material from around the world and in terms of time, covers 1800s all the way up till the modern-day. Albert Kinsey and David Halperin, authors who we have read for class, are also mentioned.
The writer of this article argues that before heterosexuality was invented and normalized, it was considered abnormal. The writer then discusses the role of language in the 'invention of heterosexuality'. According to the writer, this invention also corresponded with the rise of the middle class in America (incidentally featuring a quick discussion of New York City and the migration of the masses to the city) with the author saying that the middle class saw "sexual misconduct" as a thing of the working class and the poor. The writer ends off the article speculating on the history of heterosexuality and how it seems to be losing its 'high ground'.
Overall, this intellectually provocative article covers many of themes that our class addresses (what defines homosexuality [e.g. gender inversion, acts...], capitalism and LGBT, creation of norms and normality/abnormality,... ) and, in my view, makes for a comprehensive and enlightening read.
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170315-the-invention-of-heterosexuality
I came across this BBC article that, through the exploration of the creation of heterosexuality, indirectly illuminates the construction of homosexuality. The article covers material from around the world and in terms of time, covers 1800s all the way up till the modern-day. Albert Kinsey and David Halperin, authors who we have read for class, are also mentioned.
The writer of this article argues that before heterosexuality was invented and normalized, it was considered abnormal. The writer then discusses the role of language in the 'invention of heterosexuality'. According to the writer, this invention also corresponded with the rise of the middle class in America (incidentally featuring a quick discussion of New York City and the migration of the masses to the city) with the author saying that the middle class saw "sexual misconduct" as a thing of the working class and the poor. The writer ends off the article speculating on the history of heterosexuality and how it seems to be losing its 'high ground'.
Overall, this intellectually provocative article covers many of themes that our class addresses (what defines homosexuality [e.g. gender inversion, acts...], capitalism and LGBT, creation of norms and normality/abnormality,... ) and, in my view, makes for a comprehensive and enlightening read.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
We've been talking a bit about LGBTQ representation in film. Here is the link to the 28th annual NewFest, a celebration of queer film.
I can't find a way to upload the photo directly so go this link I follow a lot of bloggers who post stuff about queer history on Tumblr and came across this image. I can't find a date when I search for this article (it's from 1939 or later based on the text) but had to post it anyway because it is such a gem. I thought it was really relevant to our course because the author addresses the fact that masculine women and women who have sex with women are not as harshly treated legally as feminine men and men who have sex with men. Francis notes that it is incredibly rare for women to be charged and convicted of sodomy. Clearly, gender and sexual transgressions are much more serious when committed by men in this time.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
The representation of the LGBT community in Hollywood movies
When I read Abby's post about Disney's first gay character, I became interested in how the LGBT is portrayed in the movies, did some google research and found the GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index. http://www.glaad.org/sri/2016
Similar to the famous "Bechdel Test," which examines the representation of female characters in films, the organization developed the Vito Russo Test.
To pass the Vito Russo Test, the following must be true:
1. The film contains a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender.
2. That character must not be solely or predominantly defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity (i.e. they are comprised of the same sort of unique character traits commonly used to differentiate straight/non-transgender characters from one another).
3. The LGBT character must be tied into the plot in such a way that their removal would have a significant effect, meaning they are not there to simply provide colorful commentary, paint urban authenticity, or (perhaps most commonly) set up a punchline. The character must matter.
"The GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) maps the quantity, quality and diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in films released by seven major motion picture studios during the 2015 calendar year. GLAAD researched films released by 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Sony Columbia, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Brothers, as well as films released by four major subsidiary studios. The report is intended to serve as a road map toward increasing fair, accurate and inclusive LGBT film representations."
Similar to the famous "Bechdel Test," which examines the representation of female characters in films, the organization developed the Vito Russo Test.
To pass the Vito Russo Test, the following must be true:
1. The film contains a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender.
2. That character must not be solely or predominantly defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity (i.e. they are comprised of the same sort of unique character traits commonly used to differentiate straight/non-transgender characters from one another).
3. The LGBT character must be tied into the plot in such a way that their removal would have a significant effect, meaning they are not there to simply provide colorful commentary, paint urban authenticity, or (perhaps most commonly) set up a punchline. The character must matter.
"The GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) maps the quantity, quality and diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in films released by seven major motion picture studios during the 2015 calendar year. GLAAD researched films released by 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Sony Columbia, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Brothers, as well as films released by four major subsidiary studios. The report is intended to serve as a road map toward increasing fair, accurate and inclusive LGBT film representations."
Forbidden love: The WW2 letters between two men
"While on military training during World War Two, Gilbert Bradley was in love. He exchanged hundreds of letters with his sweetheart - who merely signed with the initial "G". But more than 70 years later, it was discovered that G stood for Gordon, and Gilbert had been in love with a man."
I came across this piece and remembered our class discussion about all these destroyed letters and diaries about lives of homosexuals and how these primary sources help historians better understand the LGBT community in the past.
We read about all those horrible experiences and repressions, but there were also stories about love and great lives. A gay activist commented that "There is a gay history and it isn't always negative and tearful," he says. "So many stories are about arrests - Oscar Wilde, Reading Gaol and all those awful, awful stories.But despite all the awful circumstances, gay men and lesbians managed to rise above it all and have fascinating and good lives despite everything."
By the way, one protagonist of our story moved to California later in his life and became a well-known horse trainer. He hired Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert Kennedy.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-38932955
I came across this piece and remembered our class discussion about all these destroyed letters and diaries about lives of homosexuals and how these primary sources help historians better understand the LGBT community in the past.
We read about all those horrible experiences and repressions, but there were also stories about love and great lives. A gay activist commented that "There is a gay history and it isn't always negative and tearful," he says. "So many stories are about arrests - Oscar Wilde, Reading Gaol and all those awful, awful stories.But despite all the awful circumstances, gay men and lesbians managed to rise above it all and have fascinating and good lives despite everything."
By the way, one protagonist of our story moved to California later in his life and became a well-known horse trainer. He hired Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert Kennedy.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-38932955
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