CONTEXTUAL: Representation [Sex & Sexuality]

Representations of sexuality in the media
Eroticism, Pornography
Eroticism:
-Usually in writing or photography/art etc
-Aesthetic depiction of sexuality; may not involve nudity
-Pride and Prdjudice, Darcy emerging from lake - Eroticism on tv
Pornography
-Explicit depiction of sexuality usually via nudity and graphic sexual activity
-for arousal

Identity Representation of sexual empression
LGBT
asexualism
pansexualism

Censorship:
Mediated by exterbal censors
-UK: Legislations, watchdogs (ofcom)
-US - FCC

BBFC changed from film censors to classifications
-Unclassified films would not be allowed in cinemas, had to either be sold under-the-counter or in sex shops
-Not just pornography, horror movies too
-Changed in 90s, allowing dissemination of material

OFCOM
External

Broadcast newtworks also have individual editorial guidelines
Moral Majority also act as external watchdogs (Mary whitehouse, national press)
every broadcasting netwrok has own editorial guidelines
All about context

Channel 4 have history of rubbing Daily Mail because of depiction of Sexuality
Representation tightly controlled until 70s liberalisation
First portrayals of nudity and gay characters

Stereotypes
4 key sexual stereotypes (existed since 50s/60s - are the still relevant?)
Libertine
Camp
'Butch'
Asexual (most commonly found in sitcoms)

Sexuality and iconography
Ellen DeGeneres
Feminist, Gay icon
sitcom ran from 1994-98
originally primarily known as stand up comedian
very heteronormative, stereotypical representations
Heterosexual writers and producers

Ellen 'The Puppy Episode (1997)
Persona 'onscreen outing' towards end of 4th season
Right-wing groups threatened boycott, alleged sign of apocalypse having gay character on tv; advertisers pulled out
minimal gay mainstream rep until then
drew 42m viewers. Series dropped after season 5 but paved way for later medias (such as Will and Grace)

gay lib movement in 60/70s opened up gay film avenues

Queer theory
theorists such as judith butler argue gender and sexuality are social constructs informed by media and representation
Alternative to gay and les critical theory which places sexuality in historical, social and political context
theorists until then rarely looked at films from a modenrist pov
thoery allows for re-interprtation of sexuality

Freud and sexual theory
'The unconcscious' repressed or sublimayed sexual desuire expressed through subtext
Usually explored through surrealism
Hitchcock and especially 'Vertigo' are very psychoanalytical film. 'Psycho' has oedipus ties in character Norman Bates.
Polymorphism - existing in different forms (sexual deviancy outside hetero-normative)
Scopophilia/Voyeurism
Oedipul and Electra complex

Girls (2012 - 2017)
COmedy drama written and directed by Lena Dunham
Female-centric depiction of sexuality
HBO series outside of FCC control (because cable channel ran under own guidelines)
Frank language, nudity and sexual depictions

Agency
has become new criterion for analysing representation
To what extent diversity characters (non-hetero white males) creates, drives and changes

Seminar:
Mainstream representation of women can be almost too-powerful, can seem unrealistic
Kathryn Bigelow reflects feeling of women in man's job in 'Zero Dark Thirty'
Star Trek has themes of social justice running throughout,
-Next Gen has episode with agender planet (all female cast made to look genderneutral) (plotline has feeling of groundbreaking potential but not followed)
-Deep Space Nine uses parasitic alien to raise questions towards sexuality