I agree that the publicity fanfare over his sexuality has never quite matched up to his characterization in the show.
I don't think this is accidental. I think they ... roped us in. I think we were (slightly) conned, in the best possible way. I think John Barrowman is sincere in hoping and suggesting that Captain Jack may in sereis 2 get more in the way of sex scenes. Given the parameters of sexuality we have seen in the show so far, I suspect this might mean sex with a woman, since they are still shy about showing anything more than a kiss between men; we shall see.
I am so tired of the media talking about his sexuality etc.
I'm tired of hearing about Barrowman's sexuality, much as I enjoy the subject - as he said, if an actor is straight, they don't keep referring to them as 'the heterosexual actor' so why should he be so often called 'the gay actor'?
Well, there are reasons for it, though not necessarily good reasons. It's newsworthy because most actors are not gay and out. It's newsworthy because sexual orientation is still a contentious, controversial issue. It's newsworthy because he married Scott - formed a legal partnership, rather - and that's still a controversial issue. And it's newsworthy because he is not playing a straight character on Torchwood, which is amazing in itself.
So the question of Captain Jack's orientation is significant because he is a first. There's always been a default assumption that action heroes are straight. And there's always been a defaul assumption that if a hero isn't straight, he's homosexual - bisexuality is on the radar but only barely, and usually reserved for villains. So this makes it an important issue on a sociological level, including the attitude of the producers and the reactions of the public - and the critics. And the fans, like us.
but to move away from the level of character and toward the level of structure:
I love talking about structure. I worship at your feet for raising the issue.
Jack's sexuality is always, always other.
Hmm. I'll have to think about that.
his sexuality, when it appears, always appears with multiplicity: twin acrobats is a good example, because it's not "I had a boyfriend" but rather "I had a boyfriend...and also had sex with his twin."
See also the plural executioners, whatever their gender, mentioned in "The Empty Child". I've heard Jack's sexuality referred to as ambiguous and I think that's totally the wrong word. It may be elusive, or complex, but I don't see ambiguity....
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timeasmymeasure
part 1
Date: 2007-02-08 07:19 pm (UTC)I don't think this is accidental. I think they ... roped us in. I think we were (slightly) conned, in the best possible way. I think John Barrowman is sincere in hoping and suggesting that Captain Jack may in sereis 2 get more in the way of sex scenes. Given the parameters of sexuality we have seen in the show so far, I suspect this might mean sex with a woman, since they are still shy about showing anything more than a kiss between men; we shall see.
I am so tired of the media talking about his sexuality etc.
I'm tired of hearing about Barrowman's sexuality, much as I enjoy the subject - as he said, if an actor is straight, they don't keep referring to them as 'the heterosexual actor' so why should he be so often called 'the gay actor'?
Well, there are reasons for it, though not necessarily good reasons. It's newsworthy because most actors are not gay and out. It's newsworthy because sexual orientation is still a contentious, controversial issue. It's newsworthy because he married Scott - formed a legal partnership, rather - and that's still a controversial issue. And it's newsworthy because he is not playing a straight character on Torchwood, which is amazing in itself.
So the question of Captain Jack's orientation is significant because he is a first. There's always been a default assumption that action heroes are straight. And there's always been a defaul assumption that if a hero isn't straight, he's homosexual - bisexuality is on the radar but only barely, and usually reserved for villains. So this makes it an important issue on a sociological level, including the attitude of the producers and the reactions of the public - and the critics. And the fans, like us.
but to move away from the level of character and toward the level of structure:
I love talking about structure. I worship at your feet for raising the issue.
Jack's sexuality is always, always other.
Hmm. I'll have to think about that.
his sexuality, when it appears, always appears with multiplicity: twin acrobats is a good example, because it's not "I had a boyfriend" but rather "I had a boyfriend...and also had sex with his twin."
See also the plural executioners, whatever their gender, mentioned in "The Empty Child". I've heard Jack's sexuality referred to as ambiguous and I think that's totally the wrong word. It may be elusive, or complex, but I don't see ambiguity....
More to follow immediately...