Queer as Folk (American TV series): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:39, 14 August 2005

Revision as of 23:03, 14 August 2005

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The American version of ''Queer as Folk'' quickly became the number one show on the Showtime roster. The network's initial marketing of the show was primarily targeted at gay male audiences, yet a sizeable segment of the viewership turned out to be straight women.

Groundbreaking scenes abounded in ''Queer as Folk'', beginning with the first episode, containing the first explicitsimulated (fake)explicit sex scene between two men shown on American television (including [[mutual masturbation]], [[anal sex]], and [[rimming]]), albeit more tame than the scene it was based on in the UK version. Despite the frank portrayals of drug use and casual sex in the gay club scene, the expected conservative uproar never materialized.

Initially, most of the actors kept their real-life sexual orientations ambiguous in the press so as not to detract from their characters, causing much speculation among the viewing audience. Since that time, Randy Harrison, Peter Paige, Robert Gant and Jack Weatherall have stated that they are gay, while the remainder of the cast have stated they are straight or have avoided public discussion of their orientation.

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In many ways, the American series was groundbreaking on many social levels. Because of this, many gay critics and audience members, citing their under-representation in the past have all made public claims that the show had a certain level of social responsibility. This feeling is perhaps the strongest reason for much criticism and controversy within the gay community concerning ''Queer as Folk'''s portrayal of gay and lesbian issues.

Like the original UK series, ''Queer as Folk'' has been strongly criticized by some in the gay community for what they feel is an unrealistic portrayal of actual gay relationships and/or gay life. The producers of the show have stressed from the beginning both in a written statement that appeared at the beginning and end of each show (Seasons 1-3) and in the press, that they were not attempting to make any representations or generalizations. However, many in the gay press have nonetheless, charged that this would be the effect on many viewers--desired or not. A few gay columnists have therefore taken issue with, what they feel, are unrealistic portrayals as well as "hidden agendas" within the shows content. Examples used have been the lack of people of color on the show, the unrealistic (overly-aesthetically pleasing) portrayal of patrons at bars/clubs, the overabundance of [[dark room|public sex at the bars]], (which is illegal in most places in the US;, including Pennsylvania) , and finally, the vilification of certain aspects of some gay men's lives (such as [[bareback]] sex), yet complacent treatment of hard-drug use and infidelity which, as critics have charged, is a taking of sides on controversial issues within the queer community and fails to "non-represent."

Still, others claim that while the depiction of drugs and sex is realistic, its portrayal is a counter-productive airing of "dirty laundry" to the larger community, to whom the gay community is appealing for legal protection of their civil rights.