The Pedagogy of Queer TV, 1st ed. 2019 Palgrave Entertainment Industries Series

This book examines queer characters in popular American television, demonstrating how entertainment can educate audiences about LGBT identities and social issues like homophobia and transphobia. Through case studies of musical soap operas (Glee and Empire), reality shows (RuPaul?s Drag Race, The Prancing Elites Project and I Am Cait) and ?quality? dramas (Looking, Transparent and Sense8), it argues that entertainment elements such as music, humour, storytelling and melodrama function as pedagogical tools, inviting viewers to empathise with and understand queer characters. Each chapter focuses on a particular programme, looking at what it teaches?its representation of queerness?and how it teaches this?its pedagogy. Situating the programmes in their broader historical context, this study also shows how these televisual texts exemplify a specific moment in American television.

1. Introduction: Entertaining to Educate.- Part I: Historical Context.- 2. Looking Back: The Evolution of Queer TV.- Part II: Musical Soap Operas on Broadcast Television.- 3. It Gets Better: The Pedagogy of Glee.- 4. Burning Boxes: The Pedagogy of Empire.- Part III: Reality TV on Basic Cable.- 5. Queering and Policing Gender: The Pedagogy of RuPaul’s Drag Race.- 6. Butch Queens and Femme Queens: The Pedagogy of The Prancing Elites Project.- 7. The Self and the Other: The Pedagogy of I Am Cait.- Part IV: Quality Drama on Premium Cable and Streaming.- 8. It’s not TV: The Pedagogy of Looking.- 9. Realistic Entertainment: The Complex Pedagogy of Transparent.- 10. “I Am Also a We”: The Pedagogy of Sense8.- 11. Conclusion: Engaging With the Other.