Today in TV History: 1997 - The television series "Ellen" made TV history when its lead character "came out" as a lesbian.
This brought about the following question for me. Is TV a catalyst for change? As in, does Ellen coming out as a lesbian as a character on tv spark a change in social acceptability of homosexuality. OR Is TV merely a a commentary on the change already happening within the social climate?
I want to hear your opinions... this isn't a question of whether or not you think homosexuality is acceptable- that is merely one example of a social issue that was brought out into the viewership... the question is TVs role in changing or commentating on social change.
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13 years ago
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2 comments:
I suspect that it's not so much that TV is a catalyst for change, more that programmes are created by culturally-savvy people who see which way the wind is blowing (e.g. because their friends are already at the forefront of social change). Then the programmes that they create help to draw the rest of us in the same direction.
Undoubtedly, TV is an art-form (albeit a populist one), and like all art, it exerts a strong influence over contemporary culture.
Posted by K's TV on behalf of golfmidatlantic since blogspot evidently hates him:
I don't think that TV is a catalyst for social change, merely a reflection of changing mores and values.
There were other homosexual characters prior to Ellen, and other noted homosexuals on TV -- such as the Billy Crystal character in 'Soap,' the character 'Matt' in Melrose Place...
Billy Jean King and Martina Navratilova had already 'come out' long before that, and though they didn't have TV shows designed around them, their homosexuality wasn't exactly hidden.
I didn't watch 'Ellen' much, but I remember before she came out that she 'practiced' as a heterosexual. I don't know how the show 'explained' that away after she came out publicly.
Then there's someone like Ann Heche who was... then wasn't... then was, then now, she's married with children.
I don't see Ellen as a catalyst of change, just a reflection in greater society towards 'acceptance' of issues. Don't forget, this was just a few short years after the 'don't ask/don't tell' debate...
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