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Posted: Aug 2 2008, 02:00 AM |
  
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The first EVER real media portrayal of asexuality!
Gerald, a long-running character on Shortland Street (a soap in New Zealand) has realised he's ase. Some brilliant soul's collected the relevent bits here: http://www.youtube.com/user/sootmouthnz
:D
It's a reasonable portrayal, I suppose. It's shame he's so hung up about sex though, I'd rather like it if he was a bit dirty-minded (but heehee, that's just cos I want him to be more like me :P).
People have mentioned that they've made him quite camp... apparently there's little chance of them making him come out gay though, because a few months ago the character tried to go down on a guy and was adorabley clueless til he accidently gave one of them a nosebleed. Making him seem a little gay is interesting... I'd like to think that they've done their research and found that plenty of ase people set off gaydars, but they may well just be pushing rating by wrongfooting the audience, letting them think he's gay when he's not.
It's good that they made him a guy (since it's a myth guys can't be ase) and that they gave an honest description of asexuality in the piece. It's bad that it's been medicalised a bit, and they keep mentioning abuse in his past (although they seem to be discounting it, he insists he was never traumatised).
It's incredibly sad, the first few episodes where he tries desperately to find a 'cure'. Because he's sure there's something wrong with him, and he wants to keep his gf happy. I want to hug him. But also to tell him to start treating his girlfriend better! He seems really blind to her needs.
Let's just hope that it carries on being positive and everyone ends up reasonably happy! (Yes, yes, it's a soap, I know...)
*fingers crossed*
Edited by emmarainbow - Aug 2 2008, 08:50 PM
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 Posts: 11097
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Posted: Aug 2 2008, 09:59 AM |
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OMG! I used to love Shortland Street! It's actually set in a hospital and a bit like Doctors.
I agree with you Emma that the portrayal of Asexuality in Shortland Street is reasonable although it's still only partial and can't be expected to do much else since it is mainly for entertainment purposed.
Many Soap Opera's and TV Dramas (particularly those broadcasted by public/state owned media) are expected to tackle social issues and represent a wide cross section of society so it may well be that here in the UK we are not far from seeing ase related story-lines on our screens too!
I'd like to see a really comprehensive real life, factual programme or documentary that includes a wide selection of Ase people and looks at our issues from different perspectives *winks at Emma*
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Posted: Aug 2 2008, 11:56 PM |
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It's amazing that it's there at all, it's brilliant!
I really hope that soaps shown in the UK start including ase characters... could be interesting. Especially if it's on Coronation St, because then my dad might be ok-er with it. :D
Go cross-section of society! They should have some genderqueer people too. :)
A factual, interesting honest representation of ase people in documentory fashion? I'd love to be involved in that. I couldn't do it alone though, at least two other ase people with me please! But that would be amazing.
It's a shame my tv appearance has been cancelled... they said that they would like to keep in touch though, and would be interested in talking to me about it in future, which would be cool.
Anyone happy to do that with me? :D
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