I believe that music, used as an extension of identity, can be used as a lens for the keyword “queer.” Queer production can be defined as producing media that includes those of LGBTQ+, whereas the reading said itself, LGBTQ+ media is becoming more mainstream as “queer” is becoming widely accepted and normalized. Being “queer” is an extension of an individual’s identity because it related to their perspective, perceptions, past, present, future, etc. Specifically, music is a means of performing identity, which in this case is “queer.” This type of music is identifiable within the LGBTQ+ community because it is relatable, and creates a larger and more defined community between those who listen to LGBTQ+ artists. However, while this is a performance of identity, it can additionally be a performance of a false identity. Also known as “queer-baiting,” artists act “queer,” in order to seem more inclusive or gain a larger audience (and more reasons.) Now, the question becomes “how can someone act “queer”?” These artists aren’t necessarily acting “queer,” however they are identifying themselves in mainly LGBTQ+ community and related artifacts; such that they do not directly identify as queer, however they use commonly used LGBTQ+ language, resemble to ‘kiss’ (+ other interactions) those of the same (+ other) genders. The problem is that this is rather for publicity (in most cases,) and these artists do not actually identify as queer; they are not sincere. An additional problem is that queer baiting takes away from legitimate queer artists who are unknown and genuinely represent their community. In conclusion, queer is an extension of identity, however this identity can be exploited and can take away from those who truly identify as queer; which can invalidate and suppress those who identify with it.
2 thoughts on “Abby Bangs-Queer”
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You certainly bring up a point that has been garnering more and more attention over the last few years. Many movies are criticized for including progressive themes of lgbtqia+ issues, however portray them through actors that are not actually apart of the community. One example of such was James Corden playing an openly gay character in the movie-musical adaptation of Broadway’s The Prom. Similarly, Corden’s new movie, the 2021 Cinderella adaptation starring Camila Cabello, leaves critics questioning the intentions of including a genderless fairy godmother played by Billy Porter. While Billy Porter is a huge advocate for the lgbtqia+ community, he has received some backlash from the release of the trailer suggesting that his portrayal includes some overly exaggerated representations of the queer community.
I think that the idea of queer-baiting brings up the important depiction between serving as an ally or increasing representation versus making the media more applicable/marketable to a greater audience. Queer media is a form of representation which enriches exposure to the queer lens. One example of queer-baiting that I can think about is from the recent Pixar movie “Luca”. Many viewers began connected concepts in the movie as a romantic portrayal between the two boys, when producers corrected this statement by saying it is merely a friendship. This connects to the idea of queer-baiting, because as the term gains more traction as representation increases, we begin implying queer connections when in fact they are not actualized representations.