Commentary
Oregon Daily Emerald
Monday, February 28, 2005
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■ In my opinion
Sexy Stunt or Social Revolution?
When I’m considering whether to
flip on a TV show, I’d like to think that
I look for the basics: good plot, good
characters, good writing, good old
fashioned lesbian love sequence...
Once they’ve run out of common
drama (for example, long-lost chil
dren returning home as the illegiti
mate love slaves of their mother’s
bikini-waxer), TV networks some
times add a peculiar dimension to
their usually scheduled programming
— namely, two hot-n-heavy chicks
getting it on. Sounds a bit vulgar
and offensive, but maybe the whole
concept of networks exploiting fe
male sexuality for ratings is itself a bit
vulgar and offensive. Oh wait,
they’ve already done that 10 times
over with “a few words (and many,
many more slithering half-naked bod
ies moaning about air-freshener plug
ins) from our sponsors.”
But my bitterness as a morally un
stable feminist can only last so long. I
applaud the fact that human sexuality
is culturally recognized, even if it is to
show the orgasmic potential of Raisin
Bran Crunch. Still, the sexual power
of the male body is rarely recognized,
while the sexual power of the female
body is exploited beyond recognition.
And the pattern of TV networks using
lesbianism to pull in viewers is one of
the best examples.
A few weeks ago, FOX’s “The OC”
introduced a relationship between
_A__
AILEE SLATER
FURTHER FROM PERFECTION
haughty-depressed-rich-girl Marissa
and wrong-side-of-the-tracks-punk-girl
Alex. Although both had been previ
ously involved in heterosexual relation
ships, love began to blossom between
the two right around February sweeps.
To FOX’s credit, the show handles
lesbianism as an issue or way of life in
a pretty fantastic manner. Marissa’s
best friend is supportive of the relation
ship with Alex; Marissa struggles with
being openly homosexual, but is com
forted by Alex, and the camera is blunt
about their physical attraction for each
other, but not tasteless. With the media
influencing so many people’s
opinions on the world around them,
perhaps any positive representation of
a minority group should be lauded and
left at that.
However, television’s brand of les
bianism usually lacks realistic images
of sexuality. Most TV shows that intro
duce a woman-to-woman romance
portray that relationship as a quick gay
blip in lives that are truly heterosexual.
Shows such as “Friends,” “Ally
McBeal,” “ER” and others have gladly
given airtime to women kissing each
other; however, a sustainable lesbian
relationship is rarely seen, especially
among main characters or in shows in
tended for younger viewers.
In that sense, “The OC” is perhaps
becoming revolutionary by breaking
the trend other network shows have
set up. The romance between “The
OC” women is a developing relation
ship rather than a flashy disappearing
act, and both women are attractive,
popular main characters. I guess hap
py lesbians aren’t allowed to be unfem
inine. Then again, according to the me
dia, no unfeminine woman is truly
granted happiness.
Yes, a public representation of les
bianism probably is and should be lib
erating to women whose sexuality is
largely ignored by the world surround
ing them. But how can media portray
als of lesbianism ever be liberating if
the ultimate purpose of this female sex
uality is to turn on male viewers?
The goal of this generation’s media
is to make money, not a statement.
And until that paradigm changes,
positive yet realistic imagery of
any kind will probably be hard to find
for any gender or sexuality. In
the meantime, we may as well
admire the progress of seeing a posi
tive representation of lesbianism
and continue to strive for something
even better.
aileeslater@dailyemerald.com
INBOX
LTD holds key to changing
negative trend in America
I wonder what would happen if a
group of people united and stood up
for themselves against an employer
and got fully paid medical insurance
and a living wage. The group is ATU
Local 757, the union representing the
workers of Lane Transit District. Do
you think this might help other work
ers in the area? I do.
We are quick to say, “They are get
ting to much.” Maybe we are not get
ting enough. Wouldn't it be better to
lift ourselves up to a living wage and
fully paid health insurance than to
drag them down? If we support the
workers at LTD we can change a
trend in America. If one group can
win, then all workers win. LTD
belongs to the people of Lane Coun
ty, not Ken Hamm or Gerry Gaydos.
They do not have to respond to the
people; they will keep their jobs no
matter what they do to your transit
system. If we all stick together, we
will all win.
Vernon Bell
Springfield
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■ Editorial
Politicking
performers
walk the
ODE carpet
In light of Sunday’s Academy Awards,
the Emerald is proud to announce its
awards for the best political performances
of the week. And the winners are...
President Bush for “Best Double Stan
dard, Health Related”: He said he opposes
allowing cheap prescription drugs to enter
the United States from Canada because
they are unsafe, and yet Bush is seeking to
expand Canadian beef imports despite two
recent mad cow disease incidents,
according to The Associated Press. Maybe
we are crazy, but wouldn’t protecting
Americans from diseases rather than af
fordable medications be a more effective
way to keep the public healthy? A side
note to any entrepreneurial-minded stu
dents interested in starting their own busi
nesses in Canada: Lipitor-fortified steak.
Think about it.
AARP The Magazine for “Best Act of
Cowardice in Publishing”: Editors of the
largest circulation magazine in the coun
try bowed down to pressure from anti
drug groups and pulled an article on med
ical marijuana from its March/April
edition, according to a Drug Policy Al
liance press release, even though a poll of
AARP readers found that more than 70
percent believed marijuana should be le
galized for medical purposes. All together
now: What is the AARP smoking?
USA Next for “Best Summation of
Every Republican Argument”: The conser
vative lobbying organization that brought
us the hilarious comedy team Swift Boat
Veterans for TYuth has been running an In
ternet ad that shows a red X through a pic
ture of a soldier and a green check on a
picture of two guys kissing; it is entitled,
“The real AARP agenda.” For Republican
rhetoricians, two guys kissing is the new
Hitler. Surprisingly, this ad was made
after AARP came out against the Bush
administration’s plan to privatize social
security. Here is a lesson to all you
marketing students out there: It’s best
not to be subtle when targeting “the
American heartland,” a fact that USA Next
clearly grasps.
Cartoon Characters for “Best Stupid
Target for Religious Crusade”: Shrek 2’s
animated cross-dressing bartender is the
latest in a series of cartoon characters and
puppets to receive the wrath of a vengeful
Christian right, including SpongeBob
SquarePants, Barney and Sesame Street’s
Bert and Ernie. Though we would not
shed a tear for Barney, this persecution of
minority cartoons must stop.
Supreme Court for “Best Letdown in
American Jurisprudence”: The High Court
refused to hear a case challenging the
constitutionality of an Alabama law ban
ning the sale of sex toys on T\iesday.
Listening to Justices Scalia and O’Connor
discuss whips and vibrators would
have been the most entertaining moment
for Supreme Court watchers since
Lawrence v. Texas tackled gay sex. Justice
Thomas’ insights would have been
particularly illuminating.