Queer Representation - So Far So Bad
The machismo runs rampant within the men of Pasion de Gavilanes. With so much exaggerated testosterone crammed into each individual scene, it’s easy for an audience member to forget that men like the 3 brothers aren’t the only male archetype in the scope of telenovelas. I was surprised to see that gay men can exist within the excess of grumpy, hulky, passionate men.
A queer character was introduced in my telenovela looking for a “beard” (a partner used to conceal one’s sexual orientation). Leandro entered their storylines with his overweight brother, both seeking to get hitched in order to have access to their inheritance. It took me a minute to work through the language barrier and see that this man was not, in fact, just friendly and fashionable, so hey at least they didn’t completely over do it. However, in no way will I be applauding this representation.
Both Leandro and his brother, Benito, don’t have personalities outside of what makes them undesirable to the sisters. Leandro says things that basically scream I’M GAY and Benito’s only lines are literally about food. Granted, this telenovela was made in the early 2000’s in a country far less accepting than my own. But what does this mean for the LGBTQ community watching this? Is there a cultural impact?
Gay rights were gradually advancing through 2000-2016, however that doesn’t mean that violence against the LGBTQ is not prevalent. Actions against LGBTQ individuals can be reflections of the treatment they receive on popular media. Leandro being constantly called a fairy (and most likely much worse words were lost in translation) could’ve inadvertently shown Colombians the “expected” way to treat a gay man. While I can’t speak for any queer person watching these things that are so sensationalized in the media, I can only imagine the harm this representation could give.
So far so bad... I would have to agree. It sounds to me like the representation of gay men in Pasion de Gavilanes is minimal to begin with and does not portray anything other than stereotypes. Sadly, you are correct in that the way these men are being treated in the novela will translate to how they will be, and are, treated by society. The use of slang words will probably never completely stop, however big networks and famous actors can definitely use their influence to try to improve the situation. And having those words be used in the novela is the opposite of what they need to be doing.
ReplyDeleteYour post intrigued me because I am interested in the representation of queer people, specifically women, in media. I agree that the machismo ideals have helped shape queer representation in telenovelas and it is obvious in the masculine gay stereotypes. I think it's interesting that gay men are represented more in telenovelas and even so, they are not represented well. As a gay woman, I feel this underrepresentation is detrimental to women in countries where telenovelas are most popular because it enforces a standard of heteronormativity and a sense of otherness to people who fall outside of this dynamic. I think the underdevelopment of the characters you describe is very telling of the systemic neglect of queer representation in telenovelas. These characters are, unfortunately, usually meant to be one-dimensional additions to the plot, and not explored in accurate detail.
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