This is my second post, I know but I wanted to throw out another idea I had since Im leaning more toward it the more I thought about it.It would follow the rise of GLBT(Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered) literature and awareness because of the expansion of the internet.I would try to answer questions I personally and other I know have about why with the rise of all different genres of literature have skyrocketed but the GLBT literature still remains relatively untouched, especially in America.Is it because the subject is still so taboo in America unlike many other contries? I know its not because there is no calling for the market, on the contrary there is a HUGE demand umong not only the GLBT community but others who are just curious about things, want more information about that "lifestyle" (as much as I hate that term), those who may not be in that community themselves but are supporters and advocates for the causes.So maybe someone could give me some ideas as to why they believe GLBT works and authors are highly ignored in our society despite the new avalibility of it.The paper would likely also include some touch points on how the media, with help of the internet and technology, have helped, for better or worse, bring issues that effect GLBT's lives to the mainstreme.It seems as though I cannot go a day without hearing about these debates, like gay marriage, civil unions, healthcare for children in same sex relationships, etc. Before the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections these issues were pushed to the backburner or simply ignored all together.Has the internet and technology helped push these issues to the forefront? Has it hindered the fight for equality? Any ideas or questions that anyone has or believes would be good for me to address in my paper would be highly appericated.
3 comments:
Ashley,
As to why they haven't made it to mainstream, all I can say is that our country is still predominately WASP. But I've been thinking about ways you may find better answers. Check out "Writers Market." This is a great resource for any writer-hope-to-be. But in your case you'll find an entire chapter dedicated to publications just on this topic. You'll be surprised how widely it actually is spread. There is contact information for each agent and publishing house. Perhaps you can appeal to them to provide some insight for you. You can find various copies at State’s library as well as the public library. Hope this helps.
Lydia
Lydia, I disagree. GLBT literature has become incredibly mainstream in the past decade. Your ideas of WASP is misguided in that Anglo-Saxons have had active gay populations and gay writing for millenia.
Homosexuality was part of the public school culture certainly upto the the 1980's in the UK. There were mutual masturbation groups at my public boarding school and always have been in single sex boarding schools of the English upper orders who were the ruling classes and the very embodiment of protestantism.
The quality of writing when GLBT writers have written for mainstream TV in the last few years has been very good(at least in the UK) but still needs to get awawy from playing up the stereotype of OTT gay characters.
Sadly, some actors, John Barrowman, is one, who is gay does his profession or sexual identity no favors whatsoever with his "performances"
SOme interesting thoughts here Ashley. I have a friend from grad school who is writing lesbian romance novels and they are great, but have a very limited publication because of the subject matter. Now the romance novel industry is a multi billion dollar corporation and yet she has a very small publishing run, mostly as ebooks. I am not sure if I think that the digital culture has helped or hindered GLBT issues. Certainly I think people can now access more true information than before, but people can also post any nonsense that they want where they want. A few years ago it was reported that gay men were like 30% more likely to sexually abuse children. This was no true, there was no study, there was one guy with a computer, but it was reported like it was true. I think this is a really interesting topic.
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