Why Can't All Professors Write Like This?

I just finished reading "Perverts" and I think the best thing about the book is that it is so readable. I can honestly say that I have never read a book about such a serious topic that is also fun to read. Streitmatter makes TV shows like Will & Grace and Queer Eye totally come to life with all of his quotes and anecdotes, but at the same time he makes a very persuasive case that these kinds of shows have had major impact on how the American public has changed its attitudes toward gay people to the point that so many of us now are not just accepting of gays but really are gay rights advocates.

The other part about the book that I really liked was that it showed what forces played major roles in changing the media's depiction of gays. Probably the most significant of those forces is the media's decision to showcase gays because they think gays have a lot of money to spend on products that advertisers want to sell them. But he also makes a really good case that people in Hollywood who have starred in movies and TV shows, like Robin Williams and Tom Hanks, have been eager to appear in movies with gay content, such as The Birdcage and Philadelphia, because being in those movies helps the public change their thinking about gays. So he's really saying that Hollywood sort of does have a "gay agenda" but he does it in a way that is not accusatory or critical, but praiseworthy. I also liked the attention Streitmatter gave to what he calls the gay mafia. He points out that many of the TV shows and movies with positive messages about gays have come about because of the influence of gay people (mostly men) who are working behind the scenes in Hollywood. Again, he does this in a neutral sort of way that isn't really accusing these men of anything, just pointing out that they are making things happen.

So many professors who write books write in a style that puts me to sleep but Streitmatter manages to make his points while using a style that is fun and enjoyable to read. I wish other professors would write like this.

A great disappointment

I was looking forward to reading this book and perhaps using it in my class on LGBT characters and themes in the media. Alas, I won't be doing that. The book is, unfortunately, a mile wide and about an inch deep. In the chapters on material that I have taught a number of times, including "Queer as Folk," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," and "Brokeback Mountain," there are obvious and baffling mistakes that seem to show that the author really doesn't know that material very well and certainly didn't have anyone check references or scenes for accuracy.

For instance, in the chapter on "Queer as Folk," in the second paragraph he claims that Brian discusses his first time having sex, quoting, "We're all scared the first time," and then proceeds to have sex with Justin. In fact, as anyone who has actually watched the episode would know, this speech and the sex scene happen about a half hour apart in two distinct scenes, with the entire hospital interlude where Brian sees his ba- one of the key quotes in the very first episode, one that was featured in all the ads and also served to delineate Carson's character as the master of the cheeky one-liner, was the line, "You put an apartment where the crack den used to be!" The author puts it into the mouth of Butch, the laconic straight guy, where it makes no sense at all (it's HIS "crack den" after all and he liked it!). And so on. The author also mischaracterizes Ennis' reaction to being parted from Jack in the chapter on "Brokeback Mountain," claiming that Ennis is more concerned with his missing shirt than with leaving Jack. In fact, after Jack leaves, Ennis begins to sob and vomits in the alley, such is his upset at being parted from his lover. And so it goes with that.

I guess I expect better from Routledge, which I've always held to a very high standard of scholarship. I also wonder at the author, who is listed as a professor and dean at American University. Well, I may not be a full professor or dean, or have a contract to write on queer television and film characters, but I'd never make so many sweeping mistakes on the vital material. I've only read the book through once so far, but my red pen has gotten quite a workout. I'd send my students back to the source material for another, closer look.

Illuminating and a Great Read, Too!

This is just what I look for in a non-fiction book: something that illuminates a subject while also making the reading experience really, really enjoyable (and easy).

I learned a great deal about the various media products this book looks at, such as the TV shows Soap and Ellen. I also gained new insights on movies I have seen but never thought that much about, such as Philadelphia and Brokeback Mountain. The book was really good when talking about major news stories, too, such as same-sex marriage.

But in some ways the best part of the book of all was that it was such an easy read. You don't always find that with substantive books like this one, but Perverts to Fab Five was the best read I've had in a long time.