Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
Word: Homosexual. Definition: An individual who is sexually attracted to people of the
same sex. As a homosexual male, I have come to realized that in the world of the internet, being
gay is far more than just being attracted to someone of the same sex. It is far more complex. It
comes with so many more aspects and characteristics. It can be argued that in today’s
technological society that the way a set of people are portrayed on the internet, defines who they
are. The assumption that the internet defines us as part of a whole, arises the question whether or
not this is a positive or negative outlook for the LGBT Community. On the internet, sets of
people are generally defined by the stereotypes that are associated with their group, which in the
gay community generally consist of promiscuity, inferiority, feminine males vs. masculine
females, etc. As long as we look at the gay community as a whole through the eyes of the
internet, the complex, stereotypical definition will withhold, but if we were to pay closer
attention to the individuals of the community, would we find the simplistic definition to be more
fitting?
The media has always been the brainwasher of society, shaping and controlling the way
the people think, even before the internet became the prestigious source of knowledge it is today.
Gay people have always been viewed as malignant. J.J. Medina stated that back in the 70’s, gays
were portrayed as (predominantly males) were represented as rapists, murderers, and pedophilic
figures in films, but seeing this injustice the LGBT community came together to end the
inaccurate stereotypical fallacies set by the media by making films that starred gay characters
that voiced the goals of the gay community (2013). It is clear that today the belief that majority
of the gay community are rapists, pedophiles, and murders no longer exists. According to author
David Gudelunas oftentimes an individual’s knowledge of gay life is formed almost exclusively
through lessons from the media (2012). It can be argued that because the LGBT community used
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
the media to change a wide belief once in the past, they can use it once again to change the
misconceptions of today’s generation on a more advanced source of media (the internet).
According to author David Gudelunas oftentimes an individual’s knowledge of gay life is
formed almost exclusively through lessons from the media (2012). Gudelunas also talks about
how the information on gays and lesbians are “inherently interdisciplinary”, coming from too
many different academics fields that the broad array of information is problematic (incorrect)
and with the new opportunities of today’s technological advances, it is way easier to correct
these misconceptions.
`
To begin my research I decided to focus my content analysis on a series of photos on
three different online places- Google Images, Pinterest, and Tumblr. I simply typed gay into each
sites search bar and choose every 5th photo, so there was little bias (didn't choose to strengthen
argument). I decided to use three different online spaces because the representation of
homosexuals vary for each different space. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so as I
looked through the series of photos on each online space, I observed the similarities and
differences in the manner in which the LGBT COMMUNITY is portrayed in all three websites
in order to determine, not only how homosexuals are defined by society through an online
source, but also how they define themselves, and see if the two definitions are parallel or totally
irreconcilable. To answer my question, I had to first come up with a list of ideas that consisted of
stereotypical concepts and things that generally associated with the gay community (not
necessarily stereotypes). The first thing I looked at was the source of picture (the online space).
The pictures collectively on the source, represent how the source, itself defines gays as a whole.
With this notion it is only rational to look for recurring concepts in the pictures. Secondly, I
decided to focus on the subject and its sex. When people hear the word gay they automatically
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
think of two males, but that is not accurate, seeing as homosexual females can be identified as
either gay or lesbian. I also included a section that says graph or quote, just in case there subject
was neither male nor female. As a community, homosexuals have a flag that acts as
representation of who they are as a group of people. The flag is made up of all the colors of a
rainbow (excluding indigo). As one of the most major things associated with the gay community,
I decided this would be a major thing to look for in the series of photo and see how many times it
appears on each website. Gays are generally associated with this bright, flamboyant lifestyle and
their flag is made up of so many bright colors, which led me to my next concept to code for, the
type of colors in majority of the photo. The colors in the photo says a lot about how gays are
perceived to be. There is this wide held belief that homosexuals, especially homosexual males,
are promiscuous, which led to my next concept, whether the photo was provocative. Seeing as a
graph or quote isn't really provocative (more abstract), I decided to say skip this question if the
subject is neither male nor female. Image tonality is important because it contributes to the way
the photo and its message is conveyed. The options for the image tonality varied from sexual
(derived from the promiscuity belief) to equality (something. Gays have been fighting for
decades). It was clear I wouldn't be able to find a tone for each photo, so I decided to use find the
five most useful to my argument and then make a sixth category that listed none of the above,
which is where seemingly irrelevant information was placed. Next I decided to code for
captioning/quoting because they too aided in getting a message across. I then continued with a
follow up question as to whether the caption or quote was positive (pro-gay), negative (anti-gay),
kind of in between, or neither (more casual). The last choice for this question was the most
important for my argument but I'll discuss that in my analysis of the concepts I coded for. My
next concept was derived from pure stereotypical beliefs that majority gay men are "fairies" or
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
inferior and that majority of gay women are "butch" or "tomboys". In the pictures, I found
myself looking for feminine traits in the males, while looking for masculine traits in the females.
Another strong aspect of gay life is the type of feedback from religious entities, whether it be
acceptance or condemnation. My next focus was on people who have great power of influence,
which include celebrities and political figures. The LGBT COMMUNITY has many advocates,
gay and straight, that want to see an end to the discrimination against the homosexual
community. The following concepts I about how members of the gay community see and define
themselves through the Internet. The first concept is how they picture was taken. Was it by a
photographer or is it a self-photograph or a "selfie"? The difference is the answer choices in this
question are very important seeing as when a person takes a picture, they themselves, are
showing the world they are versus someone showing the world for them. This idea led to my
next question, which was if the picture taken is a selfie, is it provocative? The next question
arose from the ignorant assumption that to be gay means for a male to be sexually attracted to a
male. This question is strictly for Tumblr. It required me to look at the hashtags of all the
females on Tumblr and see what they identify themselves as (gay, lesbian, both, neither). The
last concept I coded for was for strictly for Pinterest and Tumblr. It required me find the source
of the picture (who posted the photo originally) and to determine if they were homo or
heterosexual. It is easy for the world to believe something when there is no evidence against it. If
majority of the selfies or photos posted by homosexuals are not like the photographs, then the
complex, stereotypical definition of homosexuality can slowly be stripped away until the
simplistic truth is revealed.
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
RESULTS:
Google (23 Images)
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10
G11
G12
G13
G14
G15
1-23
2-0
1-15
2-3
1-16
2-7
1-17
2-5
1-8
2-13
1-6
2-6
3-2
1-11
2-12
1-6
2-4
1-5
2-11
1-20
2-3
1-1
2-2
1-2
2-21
1-1
2-1
1-2
2-0
1-17
2-0
G16
N/A
G17
N/A
G18
N/A
3-0
3-2
4-3
3-1
Skip-2
4-3
5-0
6-5
3-1
Skip-12
Skip-7
Skip-20
Skip-21
Skip-21
Skip-6
*Coding can be found in Appendix
Pinterest (11
Images)
1-0
3-0
2-11
1-3
3-0
2-0
4-8
1-4
2-7
1-6
3-4
2-1
1-3
Skip-7
2-1
1-3
4-1
2-2
5-2
3-1
6-2
1-11
2-0
1-6
3-4
2-1
1-1
Skip-7
2-3
1-1
Skip-10
2-0
1-1
Skip-10
2-0
1-1
Skip-10
2-0
1-0
Skip-10
2-1
1-1
Skip-10
2-0
1-3
Skip-7
2-1
Tumblr (8 Images)
1-1
2-0
N/A
Skip-10
1-5
2-0
3-6
1-0
2-7
1-0
2-0
3-4
1-8
2-0
1-0
2-0
1-3
2-5
1-0
2-8
1-1
2-4
1-0
2-8
1-0
2-0
3-1
1-7
2-1
1-0
2-0
1-4
2-3
1-0
2-8
N/A
3-8
3-0
4-0
3-3
4-0
5-0
6-7
3-7
Skip-1
Skip-1
1-0
2-8
N/A
N/A
1-1
2-7
Skip-1
4-1
Skip-3
3-0
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
*Photos can be found on http://praythegayawaythings.tumblr.com/
Photos with the hashtag #GoogleImages are from google. There is also a link for the
photos on Pinterest on the page. It’s difficult to find- you can click on Gay Feelings on
the post or simply go to http://www.pinterest.com/chrisjammeh/gay-feelings/
In my results I found that the images from Google have a strong stereotypical
attitude. Majority of the photos consist of this flamboyant lifestyle, that most gays don’t
really live. As individual photos they would stand alone fine but as a whole piece of work
they are just discourteous and ignorant to the gay community. Which brings me back to
my argument. When you look at something in a group you have to pay attention to the
majority of it. Not every photo in the google images archive were flamboyant and
ostentatious, but because majority was, I had to put them all in one group. As long as we
continue to let characteristics that applies to certain people in a group and not all, we will
never truly see each other for who we really are. We should look more at the individual
and let them define themselves to us, rather than we look at a vast group of people and try
to define them by what we see in the majority of them. Same with Pinterest. Majority of
the photos were very provocative. Pinterest is simply a site that allows people to show
their interests, dreams, and aspirations but seeing as majority of the pages that posted
these images couldn’t be identified as homosexual, how do you know if that is what gay
people truly want? Tumblr is a site in which people are free to express themselves. It’s a
place where there is no need for self-censorship. Earlier I mentioned captioning and how
a casual caption was the most important aspect of my argument. Seeing as that all
pictures with captioning were casual, this shows gay people are just people who do
average day things, like lay in bed, taking pictures, while driving (ill-advised), or even
share a kiss with that special someone. As long as we look at the gay community as a
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
whole through the eyes of the internet, the complex, stereotypical definition will
withhold, but if we were to pay closer attention to the individuals of the community,
would we find the simplistic definition to be more fitting? No we wouldn’t find either
definition more fitting because people aren’t defined by their sexual orientation. There is
so much more to a person, than who they prefer to share a bed with at the end of the day.
There should only be one true community in this world that are defined as a whole and
that is people and the definition of people is one simple word, unique. Every person is
different in their own way and have the right to follow the road makes them happy. If
they want to be promiscuous, flamboyant, etc. whether they be gay or straight, then so be
it, they are people no matter what.
As I was writing this analysis, I thought I was going to find the formal definition
of the word homosexual to be more fitting than what it is because of the media, but the
more I wrote the more I realized that neither definition defines an homosexual person.
They will always be a person first. When you see somebody for the first time, you know
what they are without a doubt, they are human just like you, but the same does not apply
with a person who happens to be gay. It is time, we the people, stop giving the media so
much power. We need to stop attempting to define people and just sit back and admire
the beauty of the individual.
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
References:
Gudelunas, D. (2012, April 1). Gays and Lesbians in the Media. Retrieved November 18, 2014,
from http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199756841/obo9780199756841-0068.xml
Medina, J. (2013, November 6). 50 Years of Gays in the Media & in the Streets: 1970's.
Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://pacificcenter.org/50-years-of-gays-in-the-media-inthe-streets-the-1970s
APPENDIX:
CODING PROTOCOL:
G1. What is the photo’s source?
1. Google
2. Pinterest
3. Tumblr
G2. Sex of the subject in the photo?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Male
Female
Both (are in the photo)
Graph or Quote
G3. Does the Gay Flag (or a rainbow) appear?
1. Yes
2. No
G4. Type of Colors in the Photo?
1. Light/Bright
2. Dark
3. Neutral
G5. Is the photo provocative? (Skip if G2=4)
1. Yes
2. No
G6. Image Tonality?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sexual
Equality
Love
Anti-gay
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
5. Informative
6. None of the Above
G7. Is there a quote or caption associated with the image?
1. Yes
2. No
G8. If G7=1, what is the message of the quote/caption?
1. Positive (pro-gay)
2. Negative (anti-gay)
3. Casual/ Neither
G9. Is the subject of the image masculine or feminine? (Skip if G2=4 or multiple people)
1. Masculine
2. Feminine
G10. Religious References?
1. Yes
2. No
G11. If G12=1, is the reference positive or negative
1. Positive
2. Negative
G12. Is there a celebrity or political figure in the photo?
1. Yes
2. No
G13. If G12=1, Is the celebrity or politician openly gay?
1. Yes
2. No
G14. If G13=2, is the photo’s message positive or negative?
1. Positive
2. Negative
G15. How is the photo taken?
1. By a photographer
2. “Selfie”
G16. If G18=2, Does G1=4
Christopher Jammeh
Content Analysis
Focused Inquiry Univ 112
1. Yes
2. No
G17. If G1=3 and G2=2, Does the hashtag define the female as..
1. Gay
2. Lesbian
3. Both
G18. If G1=2 or 3, where does the link lead (who’s profile)?
1. An homosexual’s
2. A heterosexual’s
3. Unidentifiable