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Effeminophobia, misogyny and queer friendship: the cultural themes of Channel 4's 'Playing It Straight'

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 08:33 authored by Niall RichardsonNiall Richardson
This article considers the theme of the Channel 4 show 'Playing It Straight' (2005), a variation on the 'dating show' genre in which a female contestant must select the man of her dreams from 10 suitors. However, the twist in the show's format is that not all of the men are heterosexually identified. The article contends that the show's narrative is not homophobic but effeminophobic. Second, the article analyses how the show positions all the male contestants, both gay and straight, within the matrix of New Lad style homosocial bonding. Finally, the article considers how the show mobilises one of the dominant cultural themes in contemporary popular culture: the 'safe eroticism' or 'queer' friendship that can develop between a straight woman and a gay identified man.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Sexualities

ISSN

1363-4607

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Issue

4

Volume

12

Page range

525-544

Pages

20.0

Department affiliated with

  • Media and Film Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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    University of Sussex (Publications)

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