On Objects and Affections: Contemporary Representations of the Gay Man/Straight Woman Dyad in Popular Film and Television Page: 54
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close supervision. Sidney (Alan Alda), Nina's stepsister's husband, cannot even
remember his wife Constance's name, presumably because he has been married multiple
times. So none of the key heterosexual men in this film are presented favorably when it
comes to women.
The film is fairly conservative when it comes to the presentation of gay men. For
the first half of the film George is shown to have no sexual desire, until he meets up with
Paul. He is briefly shown getting out of bed with Paul which is a fairly big step for a
such a mainstream film. Still, the stereotypes abound. Joley, George's original
boyfriend, is banished by the narrative for leaving George and taking up with a young
man that has left his girlfriend. The young man returns to his girlfriend, and Joley is left
behind by George in favor of Paul. Also, the world of Object is a very tolerant world,
free of disease, where gay men are welcomed with open arms into schools and into
family life. No one makes an issue of George's sexuality except Vince, and then only out
of anger.
"Will & Grace"
"Will and Grace" works off the same premise of the straight female/gay male
couple. Grace Adler (Debra Messing) and Will Truman (Eric McCormack), best friends,
move in together after each has just come out of substantial relationships. As a character
driven sit-comn, the show focuses on the daily mishaps of the ensemble which in addition
to the title character includes Will's best friend Jack (Sean Hayes), an unemployed
flamboyant gay man, and Karen (Megan Mullally), Grace's narcissistic, bitchy, secretary.
Like Nina and George, Will and Grace are a cozy couple, often lounging around their
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Pillion, Owen L. On Objects and Affections: Contemporary Representations of the Gay Man/Straight Woman Dyad in Popular Film and Television, thesis, December 2000; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2706/m1/57/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .