In a world where contemporary television is constantly evolving, Michael N Goddard and Christopher Hogg argue that the rise of digital technologies has caused a  shift in the ways that content is produced, distributed, and consumed,  putting into question traditional concepts within television (Goddard and Hogg, 2018). They propose that these shifts are not isolated but intricately connected, potentially birthing a trans or queer aesthetic. According to them, “Trans TV operates as an intervention into these multiple contemporary transformations of television, arguing that they need to be thought of together.” (Goddard and Hogg, 2018) 

Anamarija Horvat’s insights further illuminate the landscape, bringing attention to the historic invisibility of LGBTQ political work in mainstream television. She comments on how, in recent years, viewers have been able to live through a significant shift, this is because of the sudden focus on Black, Asian, and minority ethnic subjects that now challenge the predominantly white narrative. In her words, “In many ways, this tendency has historically been invisible in the representations of the LGBTQ community seen on American and British television.”  (Hovart, 2020)

Her analysis extends to the underexplored territory of LGBTQ migration on television, emphasizing its relevance amidst contemporary political landscapes dominated by homoantagonism. To add on, Horvat critiques the lack of academic attention to the portrayal of LGBTQ asylum seekers and refugees in television, which led her to look into shows like Orange Is the New Black

By looking into Orange Is the New Black it allows us to watch a never-before-seen portrayal that challenges conventional norms. The show surrounds the stories of LGBTQ characters who are confined in a woman’s prison. Here they delve into the boundaries of sexuality and gender identity. 

By combining these perspectives, we get a vivid image of how television has transformed, showing how television has dealt with diverse representation, giving rise to more inclusivity within the media.  

By Olivia Camille Lynn

References

Goddard, M.N. and Hogg, C. (2018) Introduction: Trans TV as concept and intervention into contemporary television, Shibboleth authentication request. Available at: https://journals-sagepub-com.gold.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1177/1749602018798217 (Accessed: 02 November 2023). 

Horvat, A. (2020) Crossing the Borders of Queer TV: Depictions of migration and (im)mobility in contemporary LGBTQ television, Shibboleth authentication request. Available at: https://journals-sagepub-com.gold.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1177/1749602020934091 (Accessed: 02 November 2023).