Homosexuality Research

Epigram - University of Bristol-
Independent Student Newspaper
http://epigram.org.uk/film-tv/2015/05/a-homophobic-hollywood-popular-representations-of-homosexuality

• The depiction of homosexual characters and relationships in the mainstream cinema is problematic.
• Homosexual characters in mainstream films are mostly caricatures, stereotypes=  effeminate gay man, the boyish lesbian woman. This is dangerous as it fails to separate sexuality from personality, generalising all gay men as camp and flamboyant: and all lesbian women as butch and manly= to the belief that certain characteristics and traits are common among all gay men and lesbian women and also alienates those who do not conform to the stereotype.

• Although homosexual relationships are rarely portrayed in mainstream cinema, there has been a recent wave of films with scenes of women kissing other women e.g American Hustle. This adds notoriety and gives the film more publicity , a tactical advertisement method.
• This may at first appear to encourage acceptance but however can be seen to have been added in order to gain more heterosexual male viewers, which in ,turn only objectifies women and belittles real lesbian relationships, inherently suggesting that lesbianism is merely a phase.

• Often depicted as repressed and ashamed- their sexuality often being a twist in the film: their relationships often the result of promiscuity rather than real love.