After a semester thinking about feminism I have noticed so many things in society that I had not before... One of those things (that was previously mentioned in another post below) was the MTV show called "Faking It".
At first, I was excited to see a mainstream TV channel (one that contributes to social myths) taking on something of this nature. I hoped that by having a story centered around a lesbian couple, that perhaps it would help dispel some of the problems with media in society and how it portrays these characters, usually being stock characters.
Upon watching the show I was excited and also disappointed. The premise is that two girls in attempts to become popular at their ultra-hip and politically correct high school will pretend to be lesbians in order to gain popularity. Problem number one: this insinuates that lesbianism is other, and not normal. Because the school celebrates unique-ness (lesbianism being one of these celebrated "unique" things), the girls receive immediate popularity. They are only "faking it" to be popular. I appreciate that the school is supportive, but what does it say about the premise of the show that we must label something as "unique" in order for it be okay? Being a lesbian is not "unique" or "other" in this sense, for the show causes this "unique" word to teeter dangerously close towards being deviant. I want a world where there the lead of the show is a lesbian and there is no hidden agenda beyond that.
Maybe I'm just reading too much into that...
It is my belief that the two best friends in the show will eventually realize that although they have been faking being lesbian, they actually love each other, and possibly want to be together (no longer "faking it")... But until the show gets this far does it only purport these issues that go along with the invisibility of lesbians?
In other ways, I thought the show played into stereotypes a little too much. The one best friend has a secret affair with a "hot" "popular" male. She wanted the male's attention prior to her "faking it" but upon coming out with her girlfriend in public she realized that being a lesbian was the perfect way for her to receive his attention. Especially because the male in this case decidedly wants to "be with a lesbian". This only purports the entire myth that lesbianism in society is only for males pleasure.
Maybe this will be resolved within the show later, but I am already worried about how this will be perceived to the younger generation watching this TV show. (I.e. It's cool to be a lesbian because it will get you the hot guy...)
These are just some of my rant-worthy thoughts about this new television show.
-Chloe Montgomery
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