Counter-narratives: Re-evaluating representations of lesbian subject-identities in American popular culture

Elizabeth A Hermans, Purdue University

Abstract

My dissertation, Counter-Narratives: Re-Evaluating Representations of Lesbian Subject-Identities in American Popular Culture, argues that one can witness in contemporary American media the frequent sexualization and commodification of lesbian subject-identities in which lesbianism is sold to heterosexual media consumers as a titillating spectacle. This narrow representation has the effect of not only stereotyping and marginalizing lesbian women, but also misinforming consumers who might assume that the images of lesbianism that they see in the media constitute reality. Ultimately, this matter goes far beyond the realm of academia. What individuals see—or don't see—in the media has a clear and identifiable impact on our society. The purpose of this study is threefold. First, by covering the emergence of the image of lesbians in American media, I will situate the contemporary imaging of lesbianism within a historical context in order to reveal a longstanding objectification that has been predicated on fear, misunderstanding, and more recently, on the ability of the mass media to profit from sexualizing lesbianism. Having a clearer understanding of the way the American mass media has historically dealt with the "lesbian problem" will help us make sense of the representation we currently see. Also important in discussions pertaining to identity politics and social justice is the establishment of a theoretical foundation to facilitate a thoughtful and informed dialogue, and I will review relevant scholarship in order to propose effective approaches to deal with this problem. Adorno and Horkheimer's theory of "culture industry" provides a useful way in which to see the contemporary imaging of lesbian as a stereotype imposed upon media consumers, rather than as a mirror of reality or a representation requested by popular demand. I also look to feminist scholarship for the important theoretical groundwork that it can provide in re-evaluating this imaging. I argue that it is possible to make use of scholarship that speaks to the objectification of women without falling into the trap of essentializing the very individuals that the mass media also marginalizes. My ultimate goal is not only to examine the contemporary representation of lesbianism in the mass media, but also to advocate alternatives to such imaging. While canonical lesbian fiction such as The Well of Loneliness and Rubyfruit Jungle are far more nuanced than the representations of lesbianism seen in the mass media, they often depict only white, middle-class lesbian characters. There is great potential in the nuanced counter-narratives that can be found in contemporary American fiction, and I analyze three exemplary examples that present a much more diverse understanding of lesbianism that is largely invisible or absent elsewhere. I argue that if similar counter-narratives can gain more visibility among mass media consumers, we may begin to challenge and overturn the stereotypes that help maintain the continued marginalization of lesbian women. This is an aspiration that should be pursued by all individuals who value equality and social justice.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Lamb, Purdue University.

Subject Area

American studies|Womens studies|GLBT Studies|American literature|Gender studies

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