Conclusion

Who Is This Work For?

This website functions as a media literacy guide for interacting with queer media. As we have illustrated, some of the most popular shows today exemplify queer tropes making them, to some degree, queer media. That being said, it is important for all of us, queer or not, to have a better understanding of how to critique and consume these forms of media. In other words, this work is made for, frankly, everyone. Whether we are interested in pursuing an understanding of queer media literacy or not, this skill is integral for consuming queer media thoughtfully and intentionally. 

What Now?

We hope this project helps you to engage in queer media in a more thoughtful and critical manner, and understand how to properly communicate with the community on various forms of media. Queer media, in all forms, is still evolving and with that evolution, we grow and adapt with it and thus the research on the subject also evolves. While our work is not the end-all be-all of better interacting with queer media, we hope you can take this information as jumping off point for adapting and growing with an ever-changing industry. 

To summarize, with the growing amount of representation we see of queer communities in TV, film, and online, it is important to remain informed on what may or may not be harmful representations. For example, if a show or film includes a queer character or couple, that plot must be explored thoroughly a and not employ traditional queer tropes. Accounting for intentional representation, meaning that intersections of sexuality, gender, race, class, etc., are explored is integral to a more improved list of examples of queer representation. Another aspect of intentional representations of queer people lies in the people we entrust with to portray these ideas. In a parasocial industry, where people feel entitled to private aspects of their identity, it is important to make space for actors to continue to play queer roles, even if they do not wish to make their sexuality public. A large part of the culture and community for queer people in different forms of media lies in language. This language works as a foundation for sharing ideas and opinions, both positive and negative, about different forms of representation we see. Coming out stories also serve as a powerful form of language that fosters community and support, and establishes a common understanding of experiences. A large part of language serving as a form of representation is being able to hear your own cultural forms of language outside of interpersonal contexts.