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A Tool Pointed at Both Ends: Queer Representation in Horror TV and Its Impacts on Perception of Identity and Community
Chae Christy
Faculty Advisor: Robert A. Josephs, PhD
Fictional portrayals of queer characters have been shown to influence public perception of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning/queer (LGBQ) community. Accurate (e.g., non-caricatured) representation of LGBQ characters is important, because of the power that the media have in influencing public opinion. Here I hypothesized that the sexual orientation of fictional characters would influence social comparison (how individuals see themselves compared to others) and general perception of the character. To test this hypothesis, I had participants read one of two descriptions of a character (described as either straight or gay) from queer horror television, answer several demographic questions, and then complete a 74-item Social Comparison Survey. Then, they were asked to explain in about five words what constituted positive representation. Results showed that there was no significant difference between the general perception of the queer character and that of the straight character nor any significant difference between the type of social comparison experienced. I speculate that the results of this study indicate potential progress in today’s young population regarding the perception of queer characters.