"Mainstreaming" is a good word for it, since the "Gay is the new BlackAfrican-American" theme has been debated and discussed in the genre media for a while now, at least since the 80s and the explosion of X-Men/New Mutants/X-Factor popularity. Chris Claremont did a lot to create an explicit thematic link between homophobia and mutants, particularly in the New Mutants and X-Factor books, the latter of which used "anti-mutant" propaganda directed at teen mutants a frequent plot point.
Anyway, digression - what is interesting is to see the "gay subtext" question applied to a character as iconic in American culture as Superman. The idea of Superman as a "gay" character/allegory is pretty subversive - what would mom and apple pie say? At the same time, I think it reflects that there's a growing tension within American culture itself over national identity as concerns about social success in terms of legal equality and acceptance within the larger community supercede the old 'immigrant makes good' paradigm.
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Date: 2006-06-02 04:46 pm (UTC)BlackAfrican-American" theme has been debated and discussed in the genre media for a while now, at least since the 80s and the explosion of X-Men/New Mutants/X-Factor popularity. Chris Claremont did a lot to create an explicit thematic link between homophobia and mutants, particularly in the New Mutants and X-Factor books, the latter of which used "anti-mutant" propaganda directed at teen mutants a frequent plot point.Anyway, digression - what is interesting is to see the "gay subtext" question applied to a character as iconic in American culture as Superman. The idea of Superman as a "gay" character/allegory is pretty subversive - what would mom and apple pie say? At the same time, I think it reflects that there's a growing tension within American culture itself over national identity as concerns about social success in terms of legal equality and acceptance within the larger community supercede the old 'immigrant makes good' paradigm.
Uh... does that make any sense?