An Arrogant, Activist Alien: An Analysis of Negative Queer Tropes

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Abstract

This dissertation examines the negative representation of fictional non-binary characters in film and television. In contemporary culture, non-binary people are often victims to angry debates, hate speech, and assaults, which has the consequence of serious mental and physical harm. These negative opinions are a result of a lack of knowledge due to its recency in mainstream discourse, a lack of understanding due to engrained ideology, and the complicated associations with other LGBTQ+ identities. Entertainment media can allow for a safer and more relaxed environment to portray non-binary people in a respectful way and discuss information about the identity. Many examples do prove this is possible. However, others fail to achieve this, either purposefully or accidentally. As a result, film and television can reinforce negative beliefs.

 

Using queer theory, which has noted the causes and impacts of stereotypes for all LGBTQ+ portrayals for decades, this dissertation discusses the most common and problematic stereotypes and issues in non-binary characterisation. Its aim is to impart a greater understanding of what bad representation resembles. Chapter 1 examines the academic basis of the idea of being non-binary. It explores how negative portrayals of homosexuality in the 20th century have evolved into stereotypes about genderqueer people being annoyed activists, self-centred snobs, and angsty teenagers. Chapter 2 will examine stereotypes regarding the links to transgender people, and the associated representations of non-binary people as pathetic failures, deceiving rapists, and inhuman aliens. Finally, Chapter 3 will discuss the positives and negatives of visibility in reference to queerbaiting and cisnormativity, and whether no representation is more beneficial overall.

Contents

Introduction

• Ethnomethodological Clarification

Chapter 1: Stereotyping the Political - The Arrogant, Adolescent Activist

• Stereotypes, Discourse, and Reception Theory

• Giving Enbies an Identity: Activism vs Queer

• The Enby as a Self-Obsessed Snob

• The Enby as an Angsty Teen

Chapter 2: Stereotyping the Queer - Transgender Made Inhuman

• Finding Identity Under the Transgender Umbrella

• The Enby as the Pathetic Trans*

• The Enby as the Deceptive Trans*

• Non-Binary equals Non-Human

Chapter 3: Disregarding Stereotypes by Disregarding Identity - Can Enbies Ever Just Be?

• Cisnormativity and Queerbaiting

• The Positives and Negatives of Connoted Visibility

Conclusion: Not an End All for Enbies

Information

This is the link to my dissertation I wrote for my Media and Communications BA Honours Degree. It recieved First Class Honours, being highly praised by my lecturers. To celebrate International Non-Binary Day (14th July) I have decided to uploading it online.

It is a longer read than my normal blog posts, by that I mean it is around an hour. Fortunately, it is split into three chapters, and thirteen parts, each taking around 5 minutes to read each, if you prefer to break down the reading of it.

To read this dissertation, please download the PDF (at the top of the page). Unfortunately it is too long to be a blog post.

A Video Version is also available on my YouTube Channel "Satin Squares"