Rachael Eyre's Blog - Posts Tagged "gay"
Top 5 Gay Fiction Cliches
The original plan for this week's blog was an overview of Margaret Atwood, my favourite author. While that's still going ahead, either this week or next, I really must get something off my chest.
Blue is the Warmest Colour.
In case you've been vacationing on Pluto, it's a French debut graphic novel, recently made into a critically acclaimed film. The author's disdain for the project, plus the director's dubious methods, has meant that it has never been far from the headlines. Normally I'd've snapped it straight up - I'm suffering from Strangers in Paradise withdrawal symptoms- but somehow I was wary. My instinct proved right: it contains virtually every coming of age/coming out cliche written.
I shan't spoil it for you in case you want to read it. Instead, let's consider the five most overused gay fiction cliches ...
1) The Unhappy Ending
Even in this comparatively enlightened age, a gay couple rarely rides into the sunset. If they don't commit suicide in the most angst ridden way possible, they're murdered by bigots, die from Ambiguous Soap Opera Disease (AIDS is viewed as offensive and passé) or struck down by a random act of God. In notorious film The Fox a butch is killed by a tree falling between her legs!
Writers may argue that this is a completely arbitrary decision bearing no relation to the character's sexuality. Riddle me this: in Lilian Hellman's play The Children's Hour, the heroine kills herself after realising she's in love with her best friend. The Hays Code decreed this was unacceptable, and in the first film adaptation, renamed These Three, have her love Karen's fiancé. Does she kill herself in this version? No, sir. Whatever Hellman may have intended, Martha's suicide was seen as just deserts for her "unnatural" tendencies.
2) The Unattainable Bestie
Speaking of Martha and Karen, this is another trope beloved of LGBT writers: the astonishingly gorgeous but unfortunately totally straight best friend. They're often aware of their friend's tender feelings, and if they're nice, say something along the lines of "I love you but I can't LOVE you." If they're nasty, they lead them on shamelessly, confident their besotted disciple will do whatever they want. It seems Dumbledore and his erstwhile pal Grindelwald had this sort of relationship.
Sometimes they cave in to pity and sleep with their mate, but insist it's a "one off" or "just experimenting" if they're girls (men will never mention it again). Either way, they're weak, self absorbed wastes of space who need to be buoyed up by constant admiration. In the better stories, the hero/ine will realise this and move on, but they're equally likely to trail around after them forever.
3) Homophobes Inc
There's nothing like learning a friend is gay to turn a previously warm, open minded person into a ranting, bile spewing monster. Expect cries of: "It's not normal!" and "I let you sleep over!" and severing the friendship so nobody thinks they're gay too. Sometimes they're too cowardly to extend even this courtesy - the first our luckless hero knows is when his buddy blanks him.
If you believe the stories, coming out has a ruinous effect on your social life. Bringing us neatly to ...
4) Mummy and Daddy Hate You Now
It's every questioning teen's worst fear - that their parents will be unable to accept their sexuality and reject them. The pressure is ramped up still further if they've married or had children. For some reason many parents are fine with gay people in theory, but when it occurs under their very own roof, they're horrified.
Although judgmental Bible quotes are (thankfully) going out of fashion, you're still likely to have one parent who can't stomach the news (typically the same gender as the hero/ine). Cue "Have you tried not being gay?" and "I love you, but I hate what you are" and other sensitive remarks. In such cases they're only reunited on the parent's death bed, and sometimes not even then. If the son or daughter has a lover, expect them to be blamed for initiating their precious darling into a depraved "lifestyle."
5) Stereotypes Galore
Gay people come in all ages, races, religions and backgrounds. Yet you'd never guess that looking at Fictionland: your typical gay man or woman is depicted as white, middle class, atheist and liberal, with disposable income. Although this makes sense on the surface (why belong to a movement that discriminates against you?), it's an idyll that doesn't reflect real people's lives.
Sadly, fiction is often too lazy to establish well rounded characters who also happen to be gay. If they're not the lead, or created by a gay author, they'll be drawn with the crudest strokes. Men are camp, clothes conscious and wannabe Wildes; women are terrifying Lotharios with mohawks and dog collars. While there's been a backlash with the girls - the twenty first century lesbian has been reimagined as a classy, glamorous vixen - portrayals of gay men are stuck in the Seventies.
More than any other genre, LGBT fiction suffers from the "It happened to me!" principle. Yes, you might have caught your step dad lip syncing to Judy Garland or been in love with your PE teacher, but do we really need to know about it? Unless it's played for laughs, angst belongs in the past. Don't perpetuate all the mindless self loathing and violence - do something all your own!
Blue is the Warmest Colour.
In case you've been vacationing on Pluto, it's a French debut graphic novel, recently made into a critically acclaimed film. The author's disdain for the project, plus the director's dubious methods, has meant that it has never been far from the headlines. Normally I'd've snapped it straight up - I'm suffering from Strangers in Paradise withdrawal symptoms- but somehow I was wary. My instinct proved right: it contains virtually every coming of age/coming out cliche written.
I shan't spoil it for you in case you want to read it. Instead, let's consider the five most overused gay fiction cliches ...
1) The Unhappy Ending
Even in this comparatively enlightened age, a gay couple rarely rides into the sunset. If they don't commit suicide in the most angst ridden way possible, they're murdered by bigots, die from Ambiguous Soap Opera Disease (AIDS is viewed as offensive and passé) or struck down by a random act of God. In notorious film The Fox a butch is killed by a tree falling between her legs!
Writers may argue that this is a completely arbitrary decision bearing no relation to the character's sexuality. Riddle me this: in Lilian Hellman's play The Children's Hour, the heroine kills herself after realising she's in love with her best friend. The Hays Code decreed this was unacceptable, and in the first film adaptation, renamed These Three, have her love Karen's fiancé. Does she kill herself in this version? No, sir. Whatever Hellman may have intended, Martha's suicide was seen as just deserts for her "unnatural" tendencies.
2) The Unattainable Bestie
Speaking of Martha and Karen, this is another trope beloved of LGBT writers: the astonishingly gorgeous but unfortunately totally straight best friend. They're often aware of their friend's tender feelings, and if they're nice, say something along the lines of "I love you but I can't LOVE you." If they're nasty, they lead them on shamelessly, confident their besotted disciple will do whatever they want. It seems Dumbledore and his erstwhile pal Grindelwald had this sort of relationship.
Sometimes they cave in to pity and sleep with their mate, but insist it's a "one off" or "just experimenting" if they're girls (men will never mention it again). Either way, they're weak, self absorbed wastes of space who need to be buoyed up by constant admiration. In the better stories, the hero/ine will realise this and move on, but they're equally likely to trail around after them forever.
3) Homophobes Inc
There's nothing like learning a friend is gay to turn a previously warm, open minded person into a ranting, bile spewing monster. Expect cries of: "It's not normal!" and "I let you sleep over!" and severing the friendship so nobody thinks they're gay too. Sometimes they're too cowardly to extend even this courtesy - the first our luckless hero knows is when his buddy blanks him.
If you believe the stories, coming out has a ruinous effect on your social life. Bringing us neatly to ...
4) Mummy and Daddy Hate You Now
It's every questioning teen's worst fear - that their parents will be unable to accept their sexuality and reject them. The pressure is ramped up still further if they've married or had children. For some reason many parents are fine with gay people in theory, but when it occurs under their very own roof, they're horrified.
Although judgmental Bible quotes are (thankfully) going out of fashion, you're still likely to have one parent who can't stomach the news (typically the same gender as the hero/ine). Cue "Have you tried not being gay?" and "I love you, but I hate what you are" and other sensitive remarks. In such cases they're only reunited on the parent's death bed, and sometimes not even then. If the son or daughter has a lover, expect them to be blamed for initiating their precious darling into a depraved "lifestyle."
5) Stereotypes Galore
Gay people come in all ages, races, religions and backgrounds. Yet you'd never guess that looking at Fictionland: your typical gay man or woman is depicted as white, middle class, atheist and liberal, with disposable income. Although this makes sense on the surface (why belong to a movement that discriminates against you?), it's an idyll that doesn't reflect real people's lives.
Sadly, fiction is often too lazy to establish well rounded characters who also happen to be gay. If they're not the lead, or created by a gay author, they'll be drawn with the crudest strokes. Men are camp, clothes conscious and wannabe Wildes; women are terrifying Lotharios with mohawks and dog collars. While there's been a backlash with the girls - the twenty first century lesbian has been reimagined as a classy, glamorous vixen - portrayals of gay men are stuck in the Seventies.
More than any other genre, LGBT fiction suffers from the "It happened to me!" principle. Yes, you might have caught your step dad lip syncing to Judy Garland or been in love with your PE teacher, but do we really need to know about it? Unless it's played for laughs, angst belongs in the past. Don't perpetuate all the mindless self loathing and violence - do something all your own!
Coming Soon: Book 666
Being a demon is no picnic. Especially when your full time job is trying to Tempt a nine year old who thinks unicorns are the coolest thing ever. Oh, and you’re expected to send your evil uncle regular updates. No pressure.
But when Meg Wormwood falls in love with Selina, the Guardian Angel at her posting, all hell breaks loose. In fact, it may even mean the end of humanity as we know it ...
#Book666 will be released in 2020. Nothing short of an act of God will stop it.
But when Meg Wormwood falls in love with Selina, the Guardian Angel at her posting, all hell breaks loose. In fact, it may even mean the end of humanity as we know it ...
#Book666 will be released in 2020. Nothing short of an act of God will stop it.
