The sitcom Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–20) shifted the
media landscape and its treatment of queer themes by starring an
openly gay protagonist, Will Truman, on primetime network
television. Will, along with his best friend Grace Adler and their
constant companions Jack McFarland and Karen Walker, engaged in
many stereotypical sitcom shenanigans imbued with decidedly queer
twists. Despite the series' groundbreaking nature, its accuracy and
responsibility in representing gay men—and of queer culture in
general—has been questioned throughout its initial run and
reboot. Author Tison Pugh places the sitcom in its historical
context of the late 1990s and early 2000s, considering how it
contributed to contemporary debates concerning queer life. Will
& Grace returned in the Trump era, offering viewers another
chance to enjoy the companionship of these quirky yet relatable
characters as they grappled with seismic shifts in the nation's
political climate. Pugh demonstrates that while heralding a new age
of queer representation, characters across the series were
homogenized through upper-class whiteness to normalize queerness
for a mainstream US audience. In negotiating protocols of network
television and the desires of audiences both gay and straight, this
trailblazing series remains simultaneously haunted by and liberated
from longstanding queer stereotypes.
General
Imprint: |
Wayne State University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Series: |
TV Milestones Series |
Release date: |
September 2023 |
Authors: |
Tison Pugh
|
Dimensions: |
178 x 127mm (L x W) |
Pages: |
136 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8143-4906-9 |
Categories: |
Books
Promotions
|
LSN: |
0-8143-4906-4 |
Barcode: |
9780814349069 |
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