GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Anyone familiar with the late comedian Bill Hicks would know what he thinks about porn, and the obvious links his definition has to modern day television commercials. So, what is pornography? As Bill explains, the Supreme Court in America says that ?pornography is any act that has no artistic merit and causes sexual thoughts? (Bill Hicks Live, 1991). Similarly, the Websters online dictionary (http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/pornography) describes it as: ?Creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire.? As Mr Hicks points out, it sounds like almost every commercial on tv! No matter what the product, from lip stick to cars to soft drink, companies constantly bombard consumers with sex in order to sell. Perhaps this isn't such a new thing, after all Bill was talking about it in 1991! However, tv commercials of late appear to be getting increasingly sexually oriented. Not only that, but they continue to have progressively more of a heterosexist approach. This is the part I have most of the problem with. It means more discomfort for the queer community, whether it be conscious or subconscious. Many of you may not care about what you see on tv, or stop to think about what this means or how it affects you. However, I know that personally, I hate watching tv and having heterosexual behaviour shoved in my face in not only the shows, but the ads as well. Its not because it disgusts me or that I have anything against it. Subliminally, it reiterates the severity of our minority status. There is still uproar when a tv show creates a GLBT character. I think it will be a very long time before we see any queer-related tv ads. Because we learn to live in society the way it is, we continue to consume products as anyone else would. Therefore, the companies don't feel any effects from this behaviour. It is interesting to ponder though, what sort of an effect it would have for them if they advertised to the queer community as well. As was pointed out by Brian in a season 2 episode of Queer As Folk, queers are highly paying consumers and marketing specific products to them can pay off.

And so this whole topic gets me thinking, what would I prefer to see in tv commercials?

Current commercial: Scrawny, sweaty, dorky guys in a holden ute ?pulling? hundreds of scantily clad women along the desert as they drive by. Plenty of skin, cleavage, and sex appeal.

Nat's version #1: A holden ute flashes past the screen, then pan to hundreds of scantily clad women leaving whatever they are doing and walking in the direction of the ute. Pan back to the ute and see two naturally beautiful women in the front seat commenting about the ute's ?power?. ;) Ok, so I get that this may not be entirely practical as I understand Holden would want to be targeting males. But who said that gay males don't like utes? Hence, Nat's version #2: A holden ute flashes past the screen, then pan to hundreds of scantily clad women and topless men in board shorts walking in the direction of the ute. Pan back to the ute and see two middle aged, clean cut men in the front seat. The driver looks in his review mirror and we see his perspective as he centres in on one of the female beauties. ?Gotta love the pulling power of this holden ute? he says. The passenger beside him turns back to take in the view. Cut to his perspective. A particularly well sculpted and clean shaven male. ?You're telling me? he says, smirking.

And one more;

Current version: A scrawny, disgusting little guy standing half naked in the frame, continually spraying lynx along his other arm and down the middle of his stomach toward his crotch. Cut to him sitting in the drivers seat of his car as a blonde, good looking girl smells all along his arm, and continues down his stomach towards his crotch. Voice over: ?Lynx; show them the way?.

Nat's version:

Gorgeous, tanned mid-20s male standing half naked in the frame, applying lynx to his underarms. He gets dressed and heads out the door. Scene at a nightclub, our man is on the dancefloor strutting his stuff as other guys swarm around him. Scene cuts to him sitting in the drivers seat of his car, head tilted back. Up emerges a scruffy, surfer-type young man from ?below?. Voice over: Lynx, cause let's face it, they already know the way, you just need to get them there?.

Lol ok ok, maybe I'm writing this with slight tongue-in-cheek? but you get the gist. I bet you guys could think of a few more changed ads you'd like to see! Maybe when I see another commercial that inspires me, I'll add it to the list. Perhaps one for the girls. For now, have a think about what I've said and how the media affects us all, not just in the consumer sense! TV is an extremely powerful medium, and although it isn't obvious, not seeing any queer people in tv ads (except for comic relief, or to play the bad guy) is discrimination!

Hopefully something to think about until next time,

Thanks for reading and keep enjoying queerplanet!

Love, live, learn,

JustNat xx