Queerbaiting
Queerbaiting is a marketing technique for fiction and entertainment[1] in which creators hint at, but then not actually depict, same-sex romance.[2] They do so to attract ("bait") a queer audience with the suggestion of relationships that appeal to them,[3] while at the same time attempting to avoid alienating cisgender, heterosexual consumers.[1][4]
Queerbaiting has been observed in popular fiction such as films and television series, as well as in celebrities who convey an ambiguous sexual identity through their works and statements.[1] The term is used derogatorily.[citation needed] It arose in and has been popularized through discussions in Internet fandom[5] since the early 2010s.[6]
Assessments[edit]
Queer audience concerns[edit]
Queer fans have reacted with concern and anger to an identity they consider defining being used as a mere marketing ploy, a plaything for creatives, a mark of "edginess", or a commodity.[6]
Fans have derided, for instance, queer characters being used as plot devices rather than as characters for their own sake. For instance, Glee, a series with many queer series regulars, was criticized by fans for presenting "superficial stereotypes of queerness for dramatic effect".[7]
Queer fans consider queerbaiting as "a way to throw us a bone when we normally wouldn't have anything, to acknowledge that we're there in the audience when the powers that be would prefer to ignore us".[8] Emmet Scout wrote that "queerbaiting works on its audience because it offers the suggestion that queer people do have a vital place in these stories, that they might even be the defining figures, the heroes. The suggestion—but not the reality."[9] Rose Bridges summarized the practice's effect on queer fans as receiving "just enough [representation] to keep us interested, but not enough to satisfy us and make us truly represented."[8]
Societal shifts[edit]
According to media scholars, the perceived increase in queerbaiting reflects a shift towards a more positive perception of queer relationships in modern societies – and therefore, in a sense, societal progress.[6] But the same societal shift has also increased expectations by queer fans as to the quality and authenticity of queer representation – they demand not just any representation at all, but rather "respectful and meaningful depictions" of their relationships.[6] That is why, according to media researcher Eve Ng, the ambiguous sexuality projected by 20th century entertainers such as David Bowie, Elton John and Madonna was not scrutinized to the same degree as that of their successors.[6]
Examples[edit]
In fiction, the following relationships between characters of the same sex have been interpreted as queerbaiting:
- Rachel Berry and Quinn Fabray in the TV series Glee.[10]
- Arthur Pendragon and Merlin in the TV series Merlin.[11]
- Regina Mills and Emma Swan in the TV series Once Upon a Time.[12]
- Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge,[13][10] and Archie Andrews and Joaquin DeSantos[14] in the TV series Riverdale.
- Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles in the TV series Rizzoli & Isles.[15]
- Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in the TV series Sherlock. Cast and crew of Sherlock have consistently denied that the relationship is intended to be seen as romantic,[16][17] to the dismay of many fans.[18][11][10]
- Castiel and Dean Winchester in the TV series Supernatural.[19][10]
- Kara Danvers and Lena Luthor in the TV series Supergirl.[10]
- Shiro and Adam in the TV series Voltron: Legendary Defender.[20]
In other media, the singers Ariana Grande (in 2019) and Rita Ora (in 2018) were criticized by fans for queerbaiting after their lyrics contained references to bisexual love. In response to these concerns, Ora came out as bisexual to her fans.[6]
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- Brennan, Joseph (March 2018). "Queerbaiting: The 'playful' possibilities of homoeroticism". International Journal of Cultural Studies. 21 (2): 189–206. doi:10.1177/1367877916631050. ISSN 1367-8779.
- Brennan, Joseph (2018-06-01). "Slashbaiting, an alternative to queerbaiting". The Journal of Fandom Studies. 6 (2): 187–204. doi:10.1386/jfs.6.2.187_1. ISSN 2046-6692.
- Bridges, Elizabeth (2018-06-01). "A genealogy of queerbaiting: Legal codes, production codes, 'bury your gays' and ' The 100 mess'". The Journal of Fandom Studies. 6 (2): 115–132. doi:10.1386/jfs.6.2.115_1. ISSN 2046-6692.
- McDermott, Michael (2018-06-01). "The contest of queerbaiting: Negotiating authenticity in fan–creator interactions". The Journal of Fandom Studies. 6 (2): 133–144. doi:10.1386/jfs.6.2.133_1. ISSN 2046-6692.
- Ng, Eve (2017). "Between text, paratext, and context: Queerbaiting and the contemporary media landscape". Transformative Works & Cultures. 24.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ritschel, Chelsea (9 April 2019). "What is queer-baiting and why do celebrities do it?". The Independent. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ↑ Harrad, Kate (2018-10-05). Claiming the B in LGBT: Illuminating the Bisexual Narrative. Thorntree Press LLC. ISBN 9781944934613. Search this book on
- ↑ Fathallah, Judith (2014-07-17). "Moriarty's Ghost". Television & New Media. 16 (5): 490–500. doi:10.1177/1527476414543528.
- ↑ Masad, Ilana (2016-08-16). "Harry Potter and the Possible Queerbaiting: why fans are mad over a lack of gay romance". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- ↑ Nordin, Emma (2015-01-01). "From Queer Reading to Queerbaiting : The battle over the polysemic text and the power of hermeneutics". Master's thesis, Stockholm University. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Honderich, Holly (8 April 2019). "Queerbaiting - exploitation or a sign of progress?". BBC.
- ↑ Panigrahi, Kerishma. "Queerbaiting in Online Communities: Television, Fandom, and the Politics of Representation" (PDF). Wordpress. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Bridges, Rose. "How Do We Solve A Problem Like 'Queerbaiting'?". AutoStraddle. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ↑ Scout, Emmett. "Please Do Not Bait the Queers". The Next. University of Washington. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Biele, Natalie (20 February 2017). "Queerbaiting: The Misrepresentation of the Queer Community". Odyssey. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Scout, Emmett (19 June 2013). "Please Do Not Bait the Queers". The Next. University of Washington. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ↑ Shakeri, Sima (30 June 2017). "Television Has A 'Bury Your Gays,' Queerbaiting, And LGBTQ Representation Problem". Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ↑ McGrath, Mary Kate. "'Riverdale', Queer-Baiting, & How One Tweet Exposed The Fan Conversation We Need To Pay Attention To". Bustle. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- ↑ Reilly, Kaitlin. "Riverdale Accused Of Queerbaiting Over That Joaquin/Archie Kiss". Refinery29. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ↑ "Rizzoli & Isles". 1 February 2016.
- ↑ Romano, Aja (26 April 2013). ""Sherlock" fans lash out over sunken JohnLock ship". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ "Steven Moffat talk about JohnLock and Season 3 & 4". YouTube. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ Bridges, Rose (26 June 2013). "How Do We Solve A Problem Like "Queerbaiting"?: On TV's Not-So-Subtle Gay Subtext". Autostraddle. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ↑ Cruz, Eliel (17 July 2014). "Fans Take Supernatural to Task for 'Queer Baiting'". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ↑ Haasch, Palmer (16 August 2018). "Voltron creator addresses fans over season 7's queerbaiting controversy". Polygon. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
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