Essay Example on LGBT Community Uses Mainstream Media for Social Acceptance

The three articles demonstrate how the LGBT community are using the mainstream media as well to raise awareness and further social acceptability. Marwick et al. used the television series "Glee" portrays gay characters and the reaction by youth adults to the set (627). The study found that the youth used the film as a way to interpret their life experiences and how they might articulate queer desires and acceptance from them. Marwick et al. further note that the film has been widely raised awareness and acceptability of the LGBT (646). The argument by the Marwick et al. on the impact of the film is valid considering the Glee has 2.48 million followers. The awareness aspect of LGBT by the Glee took a different dimension and had an impact on representation. For example, organizing 200-member all transgender choir, a double wedding between two gay couples and the gay football players beside touching on many other issues related to LGBT.

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The popular rhetoric about porn as violent harmful and degrading is thrown aside by Rydberg who argued that the porn industry represented a solid platform for addressing LGBT-related issues. She argues the festivals and films position performers as new actors in a revolution to a playfully affirm sexuality and reinvent desires and pleasure. Rydberg quotes Marit Ostberg who said that feminist sought to capture horniness and once one had the power they would decide when to be sexual (148). Rydberg concludes that lesbian cultures are a way of forging emotional knowledge and that by recognition, resistance, and repetition the fight for LGBT rights is won. The assertion by the author does not allude to the fact that the film festivals she purports are empowering LGBT and feminists are organized by the same companies that control porn. However, events and cultures may bring together like-minded persons. The future of porn as empowering can be seen through the Feminist Porn Awards, and Feminist Porn Conference. Though the Berlin Film Festival is not feminist, it has in the recent past attracted more female directors with a diverse and inspiring range. Rydberg account fails in that it gives a personal account which might not necessarily be true. Moreover, it does not provide concrete evidence of the impact of film festivals.

The use of mainstream media in raising awareness for the LGBT fails in its representation. Martin explores how the gale males are represented in American comedies from the positioning of the camera (153). The author argues that gay representation in American television retains a conservative approach to same-sex intimacy despite using many gay characters. The author argues that the use of same-sex kisses in the films is political to signal the inclusion of gay under the guise of Hollywood's perceived liberal leaning. Hollywood mishaps support the argument by Martin in portraying gay characters. For example, the movies "Pain and Gain" and "We're the Millers" were accused of gay panic story elements. Moreover, "Anchorman 2" and "Identity Thief" were also accused of using anti-transgender slurs. Such cases show that LGBT is far from achieving full awareness and doing away with stereotypes.

From the case of Hollywood and the argument of the porn film festivals as organized by porn makers, LGBT campaigns are unlikely to achieve targeted awareness. Glee has been successful in reaching out and representing the gay community. Overall the articles are conflicting in their findings.

Works Cited

Martin, Alfred L. "It's (Not) in His Kiss: Gay Kisses and Camera Angles in Contemporary US Network Television Comedy." Popular Communication, vol. 12, no. 3, 2014, pp. 153-165.

Marwick, Alice, et al. "Dolphins Are Just Gay Sharks"." Television & New Media, vol. 15, no. 7, 2013, pp. 627-647.

Rydberg, Ingrid. "Every time we fuck we win": The public sphere of queer, feminist and lesbian porn as a (safe) space for sexual empowerment." The feminist porn book: the politics of producing pleasure, Feminist Press at the City University, 2013, pp. 140-154.