Reflection 06-B: I Kissed a Girl—Lesbianism in Pop Culture

Note: Starting with  Reflection 06, you will have now two options (A or B) to write about; choose only one to write about each time. 

In recent years, lesbianism has become increasingly visible in American pop culture. In television, music, and film, lesbianism has seemingly reached a higher level of mainstream acceptance. Of course, lesbianism in the media has not always encountered total acceptance as its portrayal still carries with it an element of taboo. Add to this complaints from the lesbian community that the lesbianism portrayed in popular culture is often faux-lesbianism, defined by heterosexuals and crafted for the pleasure of men. In fact, one need only look the prevalence of "lesbians" in straight male porn to see how lesbian sexuality has been co-opted. Nonetheless, the past two decades has seen an exponential increase in lesbian imagery from The L Word to Ellen DeGeneres to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Why have lesbians, or at least acts of lesbianism, become so much more prominent? And why has popular culture not embraced male/male displays of sexuality in the same way? Finally, has the media made it okay for heterosexual women to be open about their sexual appreciation for other women?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Faking Lesbianism in Pop Culture and Patriarchal Bargains" (Femmedia)
• "Fake Nails and Faux Lesbians" (McSweeney's)
• "Second Lesbian Protest for J.C. Penney" (InvestorPlace)
• "Femme Invisibility" (Huffington Post)
• "Why 'Glee's' Brittany and Santana are My Queer Icons" (AfterEllen)
• "Hollywood's Unholy Love for the Faux-Lesbian Kiss" (AOL News)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Tuesday, Nov. 13th