Perception Assignment 2

I decided to examine homosexuality in the media. I thought it would be interesting to objectively approach such an emotionally-charged topic. In the following three examples, I noticed that homosexuality was not dealt with in a sensitive or inclusive manner.

In the film "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," two male friends participate in a fake homosexual marriage strictly for the financial perks. From the trailer alone, I could tell that the awkwardness of their forced relationship became a running joke throughout the film. To tell this kind of a story could be offensive to gay individuals, feeling as though their lifestyle had become the brunt of a feature-length Adam Sandler joke. To position homosexuality as nothing but a smart financial decision — and to then consistently make light of it — is insensitive. View the trailer here.

The 2004 film "Mean Girls" features a gay character named Damien. While I haven't seen the full film, I noticed from a compilation of clips that Damien appears to be on the fringes of the high school social scene. Positioning Damien as an "outcast" confirms and perpetuates the idea of excluding minority groups. While he seemed to be happy on the fringes, there was very little evidence that he was accepted or loved by the student body as a whole. View the Damien compilation here.

Lastly, a Giggo.com commercial unnecessarily — and perhaps unintentionally — implies that homosexuality merits rejection and negativity. View the commercial here.

In all three examples, the subject of homosexuality was not addressed with sensitivity. Rather, it was shown to be a source of humor, a cause of social division, and a reason for rejection. As a result, the media promotes a single, negative story about this lifestyle. The media fails to recognize the emotion, the tension, the struggle, the search for joy, and the people that are fundamental to the plot.