Reflection 6-A: I Kissed a Girl—Lesbianism in Pop Culture

Note: With Reflection 6, you will have two options (A or B) to write about; choose one. 

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 Ellen DeGeneres to Katy Perry to Orange is the New Black. 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:

• "Why Straight Men Gaze at Gay Women" (Atlantic)
• "Femme Invisibility" (Huffington Post)
• "Why All these Public Displays of Faux-Lesbianism Need to Stop" (TheDebrief)
• "Shakira and Rihanna Need to Stop with the Faux-Lesbian Posturing" (Jezebel)
• "Eleven Lies Pop Culture Tells You about Lesbians" (Cosmopolitan)
• "The Emptiness of MTV’s Faux-Lesbian Dramedy Faking It" (Flavorwire)

Required:

• MLA Style
• 1 page in length
• Works cited page 

Due: Wed 11.6