The views of LGBTQ+ individuals on LGBTQ+ representation in UK and US television media

Trivette, Emily R. M. (2023). The views of LGBTQ+ individuals on LGBTQ+ representation in UK and US television media. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the views of LGBTQ+ individuals on LGBTQ+ television media by combining the fields of media representation, audience reception, and evaluative language. I collected responses from LGBTQ+ participants in the form of questionnaires, focus group interviews, and individual interviews and used a combination of Appraisal Theory and the Tactics of Intersubjectivity to investigate, firstly, how participants use language to discuss representation and, secondly, what this reveals about how representation can be improved.

I suggest that participants’ language use demonstrates the importance of representation in terms of identity construction and argue that, although progress is being made, LGBTQ+ representation still needs improvement. I consider the different types of representation experienced by different groups within the LGBTQ+ community and provide recommendations for better representations based on these considerations.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):