This is a history of queer representation on American sitcoms, from shows like Bewitched where closeted queer folks worked behind the scenes to include pointed hints and metaphors, to efforts throughout the '70s and '80s to depict actual queer characters (with mixed results), to shows like Will & Grace and Modern Family finding popular success with queer characters in the main cast in the '90s and 2000s.
The book is very well-researched and does a great job of contextualizing what people were seeing on TV with what was happening in the political and legal landscape across this time period. Baume's thesis is that activism and media representation are in conversation with each other and both matter. Even though I lived through a lot of this, the book filled in some important gaps for me, especially with respect to the mini golden age of surprisingly sophisticated queer rep in the '70s (which was before my time, but I saw the reruns) and the national right-turn that set it back hard in the Reagan era.
Baume writes with wit and clarity, able to balance discussion of serious issues with the entertaining and curious details that make history come alive. (Did you know ABC employed a staff psychic in the late '70s?) I also appreciated his conclusion pointing out that the fight for queer rights has seen a lot of ups and downs, and encouraging us to look to the successful strategies of the past when considering how to approach recent setbacks.
Video essays covering a lot of this material (and more) are available on Baume's YouTube channel, which I also highly recommend if this topic interests you. I think the video format makes some of his points clearer, since you can actually see and hear the scenes he's talking about, rather than just read them described. But the book does add more detail and an extensive bibliography, so I think they're complementary resources.
The book is very well-researched and does a great job of contextualizing what people were seeing on TV with what was happening in the political and legal landscape across this time period. Baume's thesis is that activism and media representation are in conversation with each other and both matter. Even though I lived through a lot of this, the book filled in some important gaps for me, especially with respect to the mini golden age of surprisingly sophisticated queer rep in the '70s (which was before my time, but I saw the reruns) and the national right-turn that set it back hard in the Reagan era.
Baume writes with wit and clarity, able to balance discussion of serious issues with the entertaining and curious details that make history come alive. (Did you know ABC employed a staff psychic in the late '70s?) I also appreciated his conclusion pointing out that the fight for queer rights has seen a lot of ups and downs, and encouraging us to look to the successful strategies of the past when considering how to approach recent setbacks.
Video essays covering a lot of this material (and more) are available on Baume's YouTube channel, which I also highly recommend if this topic interests you. I think the video format makes some of his points clearer, since you can actually see and hear the scenes he's talking about, rather than just read them described. But the book does add more detail and an extensive bibliography, so I think they're complementary resources.
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Date: 20 Sep 2023 04:55 pm (UTC)I don't think I'd heard of this! Can you give some examples?
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Date: 22 Sep 2023 02:39 pm (UTC)The 70s golden age is interesting! It's so important to know these things - it shows that our public, thriving history is longer than we think and that things can go backwards.
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Date: 24 Sep 2023 01:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 22 Sep 2023 03:36 pm (UTC)Thanks for the link to the YouTube channel! I'm enjoying the videos.
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Date: 24 Sep 2023 01:07 pm (UTC)Matt Baume
Date: 23 Sep 2023 03:48 am (UTC)I love Matt Baume's videos. He does a great job of providing context for the things he's talking about.
Re: Matt Baume
Date: 24 Sep 2023 01:12 pm (UTC)