Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Desexualized Will

Will and Grace is a groundbreaking how in that many consider it to be the first successful gay sitcom in network television. A pluralist program such as Will and Grace succeeds in equating the minority group of LGBTQ individuals with the white, heterosexual, middle-class norm. This is evident in the character of Will Turman, a young, successful, attorney living in NYC with his best friend Grace Adler, a heterosexual interiror designer. The show is set in a heteroseuxal world with Will as the male lead character and Jack McFarland, a supporting haracter in the show, going about their daily lives and both of whom are openly gay. But despite Will's status as an openly gay man, his character seems not developed enough in that he could fit into thr white, heterosexual norm.

Will's storyline is less focused on his identity as a homosexual individual and in fact, the gayest character on the show is seen through Karen Walker, an over-the-top rich socialite. The relationship between Will and Grace also seems heterosexual because it satsfies narrative and social conventions. Although their relationship is queer or gay, the writers make it seem like it is heterosexual.

Will and Jack are extreme opposites in terms of how gay men are represented on television. By making the character of Will sexually mbiguous, the producers of Will and Grace are not overusing the gay agenda and succeeds in appeaing to differends kinds of audiences.

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