Blog 3

In reading the discussion boards this week, as well as the readings, I have been thinking more and more about the media representations of gays and lesbians on television. (Sorry, but the fall season is starting up and I am all about my television these days!) However, I think this point is a valid one- I cannot recall a single lesbian couple on television right now. Yes, I know Ellen is a lesbian, but I mean, there are none portrayed in any shows on a network station right now. Despite watching a lot of tv, probably too much, I know that I may very well be missing a relationship portrayed on a show I don't watch, of which there are many; however I have not seen any press surrounding a lesbian relationship in any of the new or returning shows in any of the issues of magazines I have bought recently devoted to giving the run-down on the fall season.

I have, however, heard a ton of talk and speculation about whether or not Cameron and Mitchell are going to kiss on "Modern Family" this season. There was apparently a Facebook page devoted to getting the show creator and writers to up the ante as far as affection between Mitchell and Cam. I, personally, never have had a problem buying into their relationship because there is obvious affection between them without them being all touchy-feely. I am in no way grossed out or offended by the potential physical affection between them (I watched all 4 seasons of Queer as Folk and own the British version on DVD) but I am more than a little annoyed that now there is a certain quota of kisses that they need to rack up in a season for people not to feel slighted.

I have lost my train of thought, but I assure you, I had one. I think I was going somewhere with the fact that now it's not only "OK" to show gays on tv, and to even encourage them to kiss, but lesbians are only ok in pornos or on daytime tv? What happened in society that being a gay man became acceptable, but being a lesbian became scary or taboo? It feels like 5 years ago, if you saw two women kissing, it was appointment tv, and again, now you can't find a lesbian couple to save your life. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong. I just think that society almost can't be accepting of both at the same time, because then what? The gays take over? I don't understand the trending at all.

Blog 2

I just finished reading the "Hunger Games" trilogy and as I was doing the reading for this class, I kept thinking about the books. In them, a female character is the lead, she is the strong one, the fighter and the reason for a revolution. It made me stop and really think, because in addition to being all those things, she is also just a confused, scared, maturing young woman who is going through the same things we all went through at her age, only on a grander scale. She does not ever pretend to know all the answers and is constantly conflicted about the things happening around her. I have more and more respect for the author for creating a character whose gender is almost an after-thought. Yes, she is female, but really, she is so much more. She is "human" and because of that, she is still reverberating in my mind several hours after finishing her story.

It just made me stop and think about how little literature revolves around a strong female character; one who's main goal is not getting the guy. Another one I read recently that has a strong, powerful, meaningful character is "My Name is Mary Sutter". Her gender plays a huge role in who she is and she is "allowed" to be, but in a way where it makes sense that you are seeing such massive inequality.

I love to read and will read just about anything. Reading our chapter and readings this week made me really stop and think about how many of the books I read, and love, are based on male privilege. It's sad to me that even in fictitious worlds, ones where anything can happen, where anything is possible, authors, creative minds, still don't know how to create strong, interesting female characters. Is that because they don't see enough examples of them in real life? That's my question to myself for them week, and my goal for the semester: find the type of women in reality that I want to see in my fiction. I challenge you all to do the same. 

Blog 1

This is the test blog, so I hope that there is no specific assignment attached to it, other than it's creation. I am really looking forward to this class and already find myself reading and reviewing the news with a different mindset than before. Until the next assignment...