Queer representation matters: TV, tropes and trauma

A new online interactive documentary explores queer female representation in screen media in Australia and overseas, to help people better understand why queer representation matters.

Dr Natalie Krikowa, a media scholar and practice-led researcher at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), developed Queer Representation Matters as part of her research into LGBTIQA+ media representation, and to help answer the question “why does queer representation matter?”

“It’s a question that gets asked a lot in the media and in public discourse,” said Dr Krikowa. “Has queer representation in screen media really changed or improved? Do queer audiences still suffer the trauma of watching their favourite queer characters die on television?”

“My work highlights the importance of screen media representation for the LGBTIQ+ community and the need for media practitioners and policy makers to think more critically about the inclusion of queer people in screen stories.” 

The documentary draws from interviews with queer screen media scholars, screen and TV writers, directors and film festival curators. It explores historical and contemporary issues in queer female representation in screen media. 

Julie Kalceff, an Emmy award-winning Australian screenwriter, director and producer interviewed in the documentary, said representation matters because: “It's incredibly powerful to see yourself on screen. It's incredibly powerful to not see yourself on screen.”

“Not seeing yourself on screen or only seeing negative portrayals of LGBTIQA+ characters, has a detrimental effect on who you are. Representation has the ability to not only have a positive impact on people but also have a negative impact." 

While lesbian, bisexual and queer female characters and storylines have increased significantly in the last decade, one of the issues the documentary addresses is that these characters are still frequently “killed off” or cancelled in movies and TV series.

“Issues such as the “bury your gays” trope – killing off gay characters, usually lesbian or bisexual women, to advance the story of the straight male lead – are known by most LGBTIQA+ people, but not many non-LGBTIQA+ people know of its existence, history, and damaging impact,” said Dr Krikowa. 

Not seeing yourself on screen, or only seeing negative portrayals of LGBTIQA+ characters, has a detrimental effect on who you are.

Julie Kalceff

“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to improve LGBTIQA+ representation in Australian screen media, but queer people working in and researching screen media present key insights to help steer that change, providing possible solutions for screen media agencies and practitioners to follow.”

Users can explore the interactive documentary through different pathways including a historical timeline that illustrates how these issues and themes have evolved over the last 100 years.

On the Issues page, the audience can learn about key issues in queer representation including the “Bury Your Gays” trope, Queerbaiting, the relationship between fans and producers, and the Bait and Switch by watching excerpts from the play All Our Lesbians Are Dead! Or they can watch the play in full.

“This project links scholarly theory and creative practice to bring discussions of media representation from the academy into the public sphere in an accessible way,” Dr Krikowa said. 

“It demonstrates the capacity of participatory digital media to inform and educate a wider audience on important issues of media representation."

Watch: Queer Representation Matters