Reading 'The L Word': Outing Contemporary Television - Softcover

Akass, Kim; McCabe, Janet

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1845111796 ISBN 13: 9781845111793

Publisher: I.B. Tauris, 2006

Synopsis

"The L Word" captured international attention when it first appeared on American screens in January 2004. The groundbreaking primetime drama from Showtime is about a group of lesbian and bisexual friends living and loving in Los Angeles, and challenges traditional notions of relationships, queer life styles, gender identities, race and ethnicity and sex and sexuality. "Reading the L Word" is the first book about this television phenomenon. With an introduction by Sarah Warn, the founder of premier lesbian entertainment website, AfterEllen.com, and a foreword by Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, the collection brings together leading academics, feminist critics, scholars and award-winning journalists to discuss "The L Word". There is also a complete episode guide, as well as a series of interviews with the actors Erin Daniels, Katherine Moennig, and the writer, Guinevere Turner. Analytical, often humorous and sometimes provocative, "Reading the L Word" uncovers what makes this show both so compelling and groundbreaking.

About this title

About the Author

Sarah Warn is the founder and editor of AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com, the leading entertainment sites for gays and lesbians. She has a B.A. in Women's Studies from Wellesley College and a Master's in Theological Studies from Harvard University.

Reviews

Over 20 contributors share their thoughts on The L Word, widely seen as Showtime's lesbian answer to HBO's Sex and the City, and, as expected, opinions vary. Some, like Sarah Warn, appreciate the mere presence of the show for its representation of attractive lesbians living interesting lives in LA. "Love it or hate it," she writes, "this series represents the first-and so far, only-attempt to make lesbians the center of attention." Others, like Samuel Chambers, bristle at its apparently "heteronormative" narrative. Rather than stacking it against, say, Desperate Housewives, he argues, the program should be examined through the prism of queer politics. Not all contributions are so academic, and complaints that the show appears to appeal to the male fantasy of lesbians are outweighed by the endorsement of those who see the show as part of a "golden age of gay TV." Kathy Belge explains why The L Word is sexy, and her unabashedly erotic praise illuminates the subtleties that will likely go over the heads of straight men watching the show for a thrill. Adding to the book's pop culture appeal is an insightful interview with Guinevere Turner, one of the show's writers, who helps fans understand the evolution of the characters and hints to their future trajectory. Fans of the series will appreciate this companion.
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Edition details

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1845111796
• ISBN 13: 9781845111793
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280