Monday, January 19, 2009
The first time an on screen kiss was televised was in 1960 on the family favorite British soap opera, Coronation Street (Coward). It was a breakthrough for a society where the issue of homosexuality was rarely talked about, let alone shown on TV. Years later, homosexuality is appearing everywhere-shows like Sex in The City, Queer Eye for The Straight Guy, and Will and Grace have shown that it, quite frankly, sells. All My Children became the first show to include a major homosexual role in Bianca Montgomery played by Eden Riegel.
Homosexuality is also being openly portrayed in other countries, many of which where the issue has been taboo for several years. For example, Bollywood, India's major film making industry, recently released a film called Dostanaa directed by Karan Johar. The film takes place in America, where two individuals pretend to be gay in order to rent space in an apartment, as one of the rules state that any man who rents a room must be married. They get the rooms, albeit renting both instead of one, and end up battling their feelings for their beautiful room mate, a mother's reactions, and several other obstacles put in the way. While the film is politically incorrect and sometimes outright offensive, it shows that homosexuality is becoming an open topic where it was once considered shameful to mention it. Thus homosexuality is becoming better portrayed on television shows and more frequently around the world, and is slowly ditching it's image as dirty and immoral.
However, the news media still tends to distort the lives and experiences of homosexuals. A 1998 study that analyzed 50 years of coverage of gay and lesbian issues found that homosexuals are often linked to criminal behavior without evidence to support such claims. It was also discovered that the media liable to reprint offensive and homophobic messages (Bennett). When HIV/AIDS became a public health issue in the 1980's, coverage of homosexuality became even more intense and negative, portraying gay men as a serious risk to society. The coverage essentially showcased society's dislike and fear for the gay community. But overtime, as homosexuality continues to come into light and people gain a proper understanding for it, it is quite possible that homosexuality might gain the positive depiction it deserves, just as the Who's were accepted as people when they raised their voices loud enough to be heard.
Homosexuality has been attacked in many groups such as the church, the media, and in business much like the Who's in Horton Hears A Who. Maybe if someone speaks up for them like Horton did, they would become an accepted part of society.
Bibliography....so far
Sashca Coward, “Homosexuality in the media: is the press good?” Sunday March 26 2006, the Gay Youth Center
http://www.thegyc.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=825
This article is useful because it gives quick and straight to the point answers to whether homosexuality in the media is a good. It doesn’t drag on, and it mentions well known programs such as: Sex and the City, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Coronation Street. It gives one an insightful view on homosexuality and the media, it’s points are solid and justified.
Adam Shapiro, Megan Schultz, Christina Roush, Cassandra Shofar, Emily Shilling, Tawnia Simpson, and Natalie Sampiller, “Portrayal of Homosexuality in the Media”
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103fall2004/gp16/gp16.pdf
This essay gives one a long and extensive over-view of homosexuality in the media. It includes its references so it allows one to make further research.
“Gays and Lesbians in the News”, Media Awareness Program,
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/gays_and_lesbians/ gay_news.cfm
This article is interesting because it sheds a new light on the news coverage. It gives on an insightful view on how the news covers homosexuality. It gives strong points and reasons. The article is efficient in it's views and allows the reader to understand the topic simply.
Rowan Hooper, “Pope misuses science to attack homosexuality”, Short Sharp Science, December, 23rd 2008
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2008/12/pope-shows-his-ignorance-of-ec.html
A short quirky article from an online science blog by “New Science” is as dull as it is sharp. It gives interesting and satisfying information, but seems to be a little too short overall. Although it does have quite a few interesting quotes from the Pope.
Tony Heryla, “Wal-Mart amends anti-discrimination employment policy for GLBT’s”, The Penn, 7/14/2003
http://media.www.thepenn.org/media/storage/paper930/news/2003/07/14/News/WalMart.Amends.AntiDiscrimination.Employment.Policy.For.Glbts-2228270.shtml
The Penn is a college online newspaper that covers many issues. It has a broad focus, and it was interesting to see that it had covered this topic. The article included a lot of information, and wasn’t a bias perspective. It allowed the reader to just read the article without feeling pressured in choosing side.
Sarah Kershaw, “Wal-Mart Sets a New Policy That Protects Gay Workers”,
This article had basically the same information as the Penn article; however since it was included in the New York Time it seemed to be a good idea to read it and compare the details. The New York Times included a few more in depth details that further progressed research.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_ask,_don't_tell
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Homosexuality and the Workforce Revisited
Paragraph Revisited:
In their suits, uniforms and jeans you can find them in the work place. Doing their jobs, making the money they have to, to live. However, there are some people who are being shunned, and ignored. A minority of many cultures and religions: homosexuals have been targeted by many different perspectives, but when it affects career paths and the income needed to live, there is definitely an undertone of wrongness. The extreme attack on homosexuals in the work force definitely compares with the attack on Who-Ville in Horton Hears a Who.The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the U.S military is an open discrimination to homosexuals. “"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the only law in [the United States] that authorizes the firing of an American simply for coming out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual” (Georgetown). Two bills have been pushed forward to allow homosexuals to be open in the U.S military, but neither made it pass the committee. President-elect Barack Obama hopes to repeal the policy, but doesn’t believe he’ll be able to touch the issue until 2010. Thankfully many militaries have a policy that allows homosexuals to be open about their orientation. Canada for example, although did have a similar policy as the United States was repealed in 1992, allowing homosexuals to be open, without the repercussion of being released from the military. In May 2005 Canada’s first military gay wedding took place. Also ten officers from the Canadian marched in the 2008 Toronto Pride Parade, a month twelve gay and straight officers marched in the Vancouver Pride Parade.
On July 1st 2003 Wal-Mart, a Fortune 500 company, “amended their anti-discrimination policies to include language pertaining to sexual orientation” stores to inform them on the decision. What pushed the decision to be made was the several letters written to Wal-Mart by homosexuals informing them “they would continue to feel excluded” (Times) if the policy wasn’t changed. It was said that “a computer-based training program would include discussion of sexual orientation” (Times). The fact that 9/10 of the largest companies apart of Fortune 500 have improved their policies to include and benefit homosexuals
Horton Hears a Who is a simple story with the moral of standing up for others. As companies of importance change their policies to include and benefit homosexuals, they are indirectly standing up for the minority. Homosexuals, just like Who-vill, have their own hero, even if they don’t notice it.
In their casual monkey suits, you can find them in the work place. Doing their jobs, making the money they have to, to live. However, there are some people who are being shunned, and forgotten. A minority of many cultures and religions: homosexuals have been targeted by many different perspectives, but when it affects career paths and the income needed to live, there is definitely an undertone of wrongness. The extreme attack on homosexuals in the work force, definitely compares with the attack on Who-ville in Horton Hears a Who.
The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the U.S military is an open discrimination to homosexuals. “"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the only law in [the United States] that authorizes the firing of an American simply for coming out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual” (Georgetown). Two bills have been pushed forward to allow homosexuals to be open in the U.S military, but neither made it pass the committee. President-elect Barack Obama hopes to repeal the policy, but doesn’t believe he’ll be able to touch the issue until 2010. Thankfully many militaries have a policy that allows homosexuals to be open about their orientation. Canada for example, although did have a similar policy as the United States was repealed in 1992, allowing homosexuals to be open, without the repercussion of being released from the military. In May 2005
On July 1st 2003 Wal-Mart, a Fortune 500 company, “amended their anti-discrimination policies to include language pertaining to sexual orientation” (Penn). This has allowed many to feel included in the work force. A letter was sent to 3, 500 thousand stores to inform them on the decision. What pushed the decision to made was the several letters written to Wal-Mart by homosexuals informing them “they would continue to feel excluded” (Times) if the policy wasn’t changed. It was said that “a computer-based training program would include discussion of sexual orientation” (Times). Hopefully the fact that 9/10 of the largest companies apart of Fortune 500 have improved their policies to include and benefit homosexuals shows a change in our world today. (ß how can I improve this conclusion?)
This is Alyssa's paragraph, she is praying that it gets edited
Re-done Intro and Part of Media Paragraph
The first time an on screen kiss was televised was in 1960 on the family favorite British soap opera, Coronation Street (Coward). It was a breakthrough for a society where the issue of homosexuality was rarely talked about, let alone shown on TV. Years later, homosexuality is appearing everywhere-shows like Sex in The City, Queer Eye for The Straight Guy, and Will and Grace have shown that it, quite frankly, sells. All My Children became the first show to include a major homosexual role in Bianca Montgomery played by Eden Riegel. Either way, homosexuality in the following shows has been portrayed in a positive light, no longer shown as dirty and immoral.
However, the news media still tends to distort the lives and experiences of homosexuals. A 1998 study that analyzed 50 years of coverage of gay and lesbian issues found that homosexuals are often linked to criminal behavior without evidence to support such claims. It was also discovered that the media liable to reprint offensive and homophobic messages (Bennett). When HIV/AIDS became a public health issue in the 1980's, coverage of homosexuality became even more intense and negative, portraying gay men as a serious risk to society. The coverage essentially showcased society's dislike and fear for the gay community.
This is what Sheri has so far. She is unsure how to finish.
She is also curious to know how Alyssa and Jess are doing.
She is also off to work on her exam. She should check back around six.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Introduction
Sheri has finally written down the introduction, and hopes Jessica and Alyssa are able to edit. She will have her paragraph posted soon as well.
Friday, January 16, 2009
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2008/12/pope-shows-his-ignorance-of-ec.html
Last Day!!! Take a breath, there's no time for slowing down. Stay calm.
Joy.
And poor Sheri has to study for two early exams next week, write a 5-6 business report, a million lines to memorise for a 30% summative in drama, and make two lengthy summary sheets on the weekend as well.
But now that she has vented on the blog meant solely for the assignment, we are able to move on.
Since the introduction, editorial cartoon, and bibliography are being taken care of, we move on too more research.
Again.
These blogs are becoming really cliche. The next one will include us doing more research.
And the one after that.
Alyssa looks at editorial cartoons (again) and Jess looks up ones from Dr.Seuss.
Look at other blog entries to see some!!
Sheri tries to decide whether 'media' covers news media, or movies and/or television.
And while she bickers with herself, Friday comes to a close.
Here's to the weekend!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Step 1: Intro!
But first, more research. The research never ends. Never.
Accoding to http://www.thegyc.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=825, which was written in March 2006, the first onscreen kiss between a same sex couple was televised in the popular British soap opera, coronation street. Interesting.
Now back to the intro! Sheri toys around with an introduction, and Mr.Blauer comes up with the idea of providing a scenario to draw the audience into the essay.
Great! Now we know how to begin.
But what scenario?
Alyssa tells of how her Uncle who was gay was ignored by her Aunt at a family reunion.
Jess comes up with the idea of a little boy being bullied.
Sheri's mind is blank.
We finally come up a situation. We get writing. Alyssa finds cartoons and pictures portraying homosexuality on the internet.
We're well on the way to finishing step one.
Now for step 2, and 3, and 4...and 5.
And even more research!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
No Epiphany Yet
But we have taken a little step, well, it seems like a little step, but it seems like a BIG step. We have assigned the topics to the three different group members. Alyssa has been assigned the harder to find catagory of business, while Jess has undertaken the obvious topic: the church. Sheri, meanwhile, is left to research the media.
Now, time to research!
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103fall2004/gp16/gp16.pdf
Sheri doesn't know if this source is entirely reliable, as it seems a lot like a school essay. Similar to ours?
But it's helpful. Helpfulness is good.
Alyssa has found out that a homosexual woman will get employed before a heterosexual woman, but a heterosexual man will get employed faster than any other orientation.
Nice to know!
Another somewhat good source on media depiction in homosexuality: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/gays_and_lesbians/gay_news.cfm This website argues that while television and movies are improving in portraying homosexuals, the news press is still prejudiced in some form, and says the gay and lesbian press is partly to blame. The website also references a lot of studies conducted.
And the bell swiftly ends this research session.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Jess Had An Idea...
"It's going to be animals," she explains. "Not people."
So she quickly grabs her agenda and begins to make a sketch. Meanwhile, Sheri is faced with the challenge of-oh joy-more research.
On the topic much repeated in the last blog-the Bible resembles the Big Kangaroo-and the homophobics that use the Bible to justify their dislike for GBLTQ, are very similar to the Little Kangaroo in the pouch.
We look at the clock and are startled to find the class has almost ended. Writing practices take up a whole lot of time.
Jess has sketched a cartoon with a bird as the priest marrying two other birds with the priest declaring "I now pronounce you man and umm..." And she hopes it's not too offensive too anybody!
Alrighty. It's 2:01, running out of time. Again.
But a run to Mr.Blauer helps everything.
Yepp, we need an outline.
At this point and time, coming up with something original would be hard to do, so we decide to go by the one Mr.Blauer told us.
P1->Introduction
P2,B1->Church
P3,B2-> Media
P4,B3-> Business
P5-> Conclusion
This is our rough outline, the essay itself might not be in a five paragraph format, or a catagory may change.
Either way, today Jess had an idea....
Maybe tomorrow we'll have an epiphany.
Monday, January 12, 2009
So we google 'attacks on homosexuality'.
So we checked out this website....
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9A0DE7D91638F930A15752C1A960948260
Turns out, it was written on November 23rd 1986. But it did include the subject we're looking for, and it was from a time when homosexuality was just coming out into the open. Similar to Horton discovering the Who's existence. The article was about attacks on homosexuality increasing, because more people knew of its existence. Just like the threats the Who's faced when the animals became aware of their existence.
We stumble on an article about the Pope making a comment against homosexuality quite recent. Seems a lot like the Big Kangaroo!
And on other articles that weren't on the topic. And not very interesting.
But it does seem as if religion does resemble the role of the Kangaroo. Many articles referred to the Pope and his resistence to homosexuality.
(and we repeat)Just like the Big Kangaroo relies on the fact that a civilisation on a speck of dust has never been seen or heard before, homophobics who rely on religion for their reasoning continue to cite the Bible, claiming that it's "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." and other such reasons as shown on this website we happened upon: http://www.humanismbyjoe.com/homosex_christian_humanism.htm
And we were forced to stop research by the bell. The quest shall continue tomorrow, with Alyssa, who was absent today, will hopefully be present.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Horton Hears A Who-Research Session
"The big kangaroo could be religion," she suggested. "Horton could be..."
"I'm pretty sure we could find a homosexual that stood up for the rest!" Sheri quickly chirped up. And so it was.
Alyssa was on a role, while Sheri typed up this very blog, as she found amazing quotes on a site for band-aid solutions (really amazing quotes) and looked up homosexuality on wikipedia to further broaden her search. When she found a subject they could work on, she quickly left to consult Mr.Blauer, and their conversation can be heard from the back of the class.
She walks back and explains: "We can do it!"
She fills me in on the awesome ideas Mr. Blauer has provided for her-saying that we can use a wide arrange of things such as: religion, media, politics, etc. and make the characters either passive or aggressive.
"The kangaroo is definitly religion," Alyssa tells me. "He's in denial of Who-ville." She quickly grabbed the book I had borrowed from the library and promptly began to re-read it.
"Who should the Wickersham Brothers be?" she asked. "No clue," I said helplessly. "Politics!" She decides. A few minutes later, she changes her mind. "The bird can be politics too," she reconsiders. " I nod. "The Wickersham Brothers can be employers, 'cause they only try to shun them out."
Horton easily without question becomes the activist for homosexuality.
Now, at 3:03, they are faced with the challenge of coming up with an actual thesis. They know what they're doing, yes, but an outright statement is hard. Very hard.
Well, they've made progress. A little. Some.
Alright. Thesis statement: Homosexuality is a minority attacked by many groups similar to the attack on the speck of dust on the clover made by the different animals in Horton Hears A Who.
Thesis credited to Alyssa.
Mission complete at exactly 3:10 pm.