The Discussion of Homosexuality in Comic Books - 1980 Words

The discussion of homosexuality in comic books has a long history, reaching back to 1954, when German-American psychiatrist Frederick Wertham published Seduction of the Innocent, a book that warned about the negative effect of popular literature. The book was a minor bestseller and was taken seriously at the time, creating alarm in parents with the claim that reading the crime-, superhero- and horror comics that contain descriptions of violence, sex, drug use and other adult themes, children will be encouraged to similar behavior (Wikipedia). More than five decades later the song remains the same; not much seems to have changed in society’s mentality. Parents fear that violent video games will make their children into raging psychopaths,†¦show more content†¦There are Movies and TV-shows addressing the issue in one way or another, experimenting with LGBTQ characters and watching the reaction of fans, testing the waters. Twelve states have approved same-sex marriage le gislation in the US, celebrities and sportsmen are coming out to the public, with Pope Francis’ statement that gays and lesbians â€Å"must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity†, even the Catholic Church seems to have turned around and â€Å"has pressed the reset button on the Roman Catholic Church’s treatment of LGBT people (Chad Griffin), and in spite of all this, just in the past 3 years, there have been more than forty registered fatal hate crimes targeting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The comic-book industry did not ignore the issue either, and with all the other major media, comics have made a statement; with all the superheroes that are literally coming out of the closet, the fact that just this past year, there have been two same-sex marriages on the covers of the Astonishing X-men and Archie, two big-brand comic books, and that the first transgender comic-book character, the roommate of Batgirl, Alysia Yeoh, was introduced, this supposed â€Å"cult medium† turned into one of the strongest advocates for gay rights and marriage equality (Zachary, Esquire blogs). It might seem like homosexual characters are a new concept in comic books, though in fact they appeared as early as the ‘60s and ‘70s in all sorts of European, Asian,Show MoreRelatedThe s Comic Books Have Recently Become A Way Of Representing And Views On Sexuality1862 Words   |  8 PagesComic books have recently become a way of representing and expressing ideas on human sexuality. Politically InQueerect #2 by Dylan Edwards and Liliane and Muesli in Beyond Shades of Queer by Leanne Franson both tell a story with non-heterosexual characters to portray different views on sexuality. Franson’s comic contains many humorous panels that involve a cat or a dog interacting with a human being. She is concerned with the categorization of human sexuality based on sexual behavior and orientationRead MoreCloud 91343 Words   |  6 PagesDid Caryl Churchill succeed in breaking patriarchal stereotypes of gender and sexuality the way she intended in her play Cloud 9 with the cross-casting method or did it merely create a comic element in the play? If she did succeed how does her examination of sexism apply to the twenty-first century compared to its original production in 1979? Cloud 9 was written in the heart of the women’s liberation movement which is also known as the second wave of feminism. During this period, feminists foughtRead MoreThe Rape Fantasies Of A Fun Home. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic1301 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rape Fantasies of a Fun Home Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic is a 2006 graphic memoir written by American cartoonist and memoirist Alison Bechdel. Alison began her career by illustrating and writing comic strips for Dykes to Watch Out which debuted in 1983. Alison Bechdel was an LGBT activist who tells her unraveling story recalling her early years about struggling with self-identity while coming to understand her father s enclosed identity as well. Contrary, Rape Fantasies was written and publishedRead MoreWorld War II Comic Books Failed2324 Words   |  10 Pagesbehind ‘comics’ or ‘graphic novels’ continued to develop. The subject of these graphics range from early humans attempting to communicate information about animal migration patterns painted on the walls of caves, to mythological stories painted onto the surface of pottery. These images are made to be informative, or entertaining, but in general fail to deliver a message that moves beyond the delivery of information, and betw een good and bad. In both pre and post-World War II comic books failedRead MoreEssay about Pop Art’s Response to Mass Consumerism1133 Words   |  5 Pagesversatile artists whose names are synonymous with the movement. Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney and Andy Warhol all contributed to create what is known today as Pop Art. The main influence of Roy Lichtenstein’s artwork included panels from popular comic books. Lichtenstein would find a panel that was already designed and just reconstruct it himself using thick outlines, bold colours and benday dots. Arguably one of his most famous pieces of art, Whamm! displays this method of painting. Those methodsRead MoreThemes of Filipino Komiks Short Stories: a Content Analysis Themes of Filipino Komiks Short Stories: a Content Analysis Themes of Filipino Komiks Short Stories: a Content Analysis5271 Words   |  22 PagesTHEMES OF FILIPINO KOMIKS SHORT STORIES: A CONTENT ANALYSIS ABSTRACT This study is a content analysis of the various themes, sub-themes and the types of endings contained in the short stories in Filipino comic books, thereafter referred to in its vernacular form, komiks. The study sampled 30 komiks from two of the top komiks publishers in the Philippines. There were 10 samples of EXTRA (Special) komiks by the Atlas Publishing Company, thereafter referred to as Atlas Publishing, and 20 samplesRead More Homosexuality Must be Discussed in American Elementary Schools5112 Words   |  21 Pagesproductively dispel stereotypes, it is necessary that queer issues be implemented into the elementary school curriculum. In considering the addition of queer issues into elementary education this paper includes a definition of queer issues. A discussion of why queer issues must be taught follows its explanation. In addition, arguments against queer education are looked at and refuted. Finally, ways to implement queer education into elementary school curricula are discussed. In reading over theRead MoreVideo Time, And Legend Of Korra Are All Modern Shows2092 Words   |  9 Pagesvalid question. Taking a class that one has failed before does not guarantee that one will do better the second time. In other words, exposure does not always equal change. Yet, by presenting substantial, multi-dimensional characters, the door for discussion is presented while it may never have been before. Studies about LGB identity has shown that having â€Å"a sense of social support has been shown to enhance individual s psychological and physical well being† (Gomillion, Giuliano). This doesn’t meanRead MoreE ssay on American Censorship of Japanese Animation2491 Words   |  10 Pagessociety today.   Of course their customs have influenced their entertainment, especially television and movies.   In a day and age where information is free to all through the internet and reliable postal systems these television shows, movies, toys, and comics have made their way all over the world.   The reception of Japanese media has had mixed reactions, both good and bad.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   America, being an amalgamation of societies and cultures, has naturally had a mixed reaction to Japanese media.   TheRead MoreLgbt19540 Words   |  79 Pagesorientation | * Homosexuality * Demographics * Biology * Environment | History | * LGBT history * Timeline * Social movements | Culture | * LGBT community * Coming out * Pride * Slang * Symbols * Gay village | Rights | * Laws around the world * Marriage * Union * Adoption * Military service * Legal aspects of transsexualism | Social attitudes | * Heteronormativity * LGBT stereotypes * Queer * Religion and homosexuality * Religion and