Queer Toons

For my last project I'm examining the relationship between the fields of Gender and Queer Studies and mainstream, American Animation.  Recent years have seen a vast increase in the queer dialogue taking place in animated television shows and queer representations are increasingly showing up in the prime time lineups of the major television networks.  For my paper, I would like to research and evaluate the effects of these cartoon representations and I would like to argue that these animated texts can be useful tools to open up discussion about queer issues in the classroom.

As a voice-over actor, I spend a lot of time watching cartoons and I have been impressed by many of the messages producers of these shows are expressing.  As the LGBTQ community achieves greater visibility in media,  cartoon producers are daring to tackle some of the most controversial and complex topics through their satiric characters and situations.  Thus far, my studies in the USC School of Cinematic Arts have been focused on gender representations in media and I can't wait to take this next step in exploring some of my favorite cartoon programs and how they might come to be used to promote sexual tolerance and contest traditional views of gender.

Quagmire's dad has sex reassignment surgery in one of last year's memorable episodes of Family Guy

I think this is going to be a very fun project for me! :) Please feel free to leave your thoughts and suggestions! 

~Ryan