Attitudes Gay Representation

Back in a past era, even as recently as the 1990s or early 2000s, homosexuals faced great stigma in society, this was mainly due to traditional values of the past refusing to die out but it definitely wasn't helped by how the media would portray gay indeviduals. Particularly gay men. Had gay issues even at all been touched upon in times like the 1980s, we would have been beaten over the head with negative stereotypes of annoying falmboyance or in the worst cases anti gay aids propaganda fearmongering that only reinforced the prejedus of the general populous. That is why its interesting nowadays to see how this representation has come full circle and just 40 years after the media preached of a gay desise, gay issues and people can find not only positive representation, but now entire publications like attitude that are on their side and reflect the social group the way they ideally want to be portrayed, out, proud and confident with their homosexuality. Prominent media theorist Stewart Hall is also interesting to consider when dealing with representation of a group. His shared conceptual roadmap lays out a set of codes and conventions that are used universally across the media in order to create a sort of short hand when communicating a specific character type to the audience. In a magazine like attitude, it would be unlikely for you to find a negative stereotype of a gay man but it does however utilise some elements to portray homophobic people. A prominent code would be reference to the Conservative Party. These are traditionally a traditional group so the magazine uses Tory as short hand for homophobe to discuss how there are many problems with gay issues within the establishment. Specific evidence for this includes the article surrounding Tory mp Desmond Swayne who has apologised for his previous views on homosexuality or even a page that discusses PM Boris Johnson's LGBT blindspot. Another way in which the shared conceptual framework is utilized is in its positive gay representation, it portrays gays as out and proud in almost a rebellious young punky way.