30 CULTURE

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TV - THE ERASURE OF BISEXUALITY IN FAKING IT Sophie Perry Amy (Rita Volk) and Karma (Katie kiss to prove their legitimacy as a ‘phase’ to Amy. Stevens) who are mistaken as a couple after being accused by Amy’s When bisexuality is presented Following this the character of will openly admit how sceptical couple and outed to the school. The stepsister Lauren of, for use of a better in the show it is often done so with Wade is introduced, an open and self- II was of MTV’s Faking It when I duo decide to continue the ruse to phrase, ‘faking it’. They pull away negative stereotypes and tropes. In identifying bisexual and shouldn’t first heard the premise of the show, keep their new found popularity and and Amy’s face is a picture worth a the third episode of the first season that solve the problem? Not quite. premiering last April I was ready for it celebrity status. thousand words, realising her feelings the following exchange takes place Wade is introduced as a crush of to be terrible. I expected lazy writing, for her best friends might have just between Amy and her confidant both Shane and Karma, neither of out of date tropes, stereotypes and One of the main plots that become a little more complex. Shane (Michael Willett): them realising the other likes him just a generally offensive show. I recurs throughout the show is Amy too. When they confront him to ask watched the first episode out spite, questioning her sexuality. The way For a show that seems to have an Shane: ‘Wait, wait so you knew she’s if he is ‘gay or straight’ he tells them ready to slate it the first chance I Faking It presents Amy’s sexuality is endeavour to represent the LGBT+ also into guys?’ he likes them both and cannot decide got but I found myself pleasantly what makes the show more than the community, Lauren actually making Amy: ‘I had a clue.’ between the two of them who he likes surprised. The writing was good, the trope ridden, fetishizing train wreck it history in the second season as the Shane: ‘Ah, the elusive bisexual. more. While Shane and Karma fight show was funny and the characters appears to be on the surface. Such a first intersex character to appear on They are a tricky beast. […] I’ve been for his attention, they all decide to not entirely unlikable, two seasons topic is often presented in the media television, I find it perplexing and down this yellow brick road before. go to prom as a three-people couple down the line and the show has a in a divided manner, where a character offensive how biphobic the show can Dating someone bi is a lesson in or ‘thruple’, this outing then ending huge fan base. changes from exclusively heterosexual be. For a majority of the show the insecurity.’ the night in a threesome. This only to exclusively homosexual with writers were quite happy showing further perpetuating the stereotype I do enjoy Faking It, however, it nothing in-between apparently Amy engaging in relationships with The language Shane uses paints of promiscuity mentioned earlier. It’s cannot be ignored that the show has existing. For Amy to be shown actively both genders, but to actually present an all too common misrepresenting lazy, tiring and completely offensive. its issues, some of which are extremely engaging in relationships, sexual visible, self-identifying bisexual picture of bisexuality, where problematic. One particular bone of and romantic, with both genders is characters? That was a different story. bisexual people are promiscuous Faking It is a show where a number contention is the blatant biphobic refreshing when representations of and apparently more likely to cheat of the characters fall into the LGBT+ attitude the show has, even with bisexual and questioning people is Often referred to as the ‘silenced because they happen to be attracted spectrum; from professional MMA the recent introduction of Wade; the thin on the ground. sexuality’ because of the erasure exists to more than one gender. Fighter Duke to Lauren and her dance shows first openly bisexual character. in the media, where the attraction partner Pablo. Laverne Cox of Orange GLAAD’s 2014 ‘Where We Are On TV’ to two genders is passed off as a This ideology is only made further Is The New Black even appears as If you have never heard of Faking report documented that of the 105 phrase rather than recognised as a problematic in the second season Drama teacher Margot. For a show It, the romantic comedy series is LGBT+ characters appearing on cable legitimate sexuality. Even in the LGBT+ where Reagan (Yvette Monreal), with so much potential, and with such set at Hester High in Austin, Texas. television in the 2014/15 broadcast community a small minority believe Amy’s first girlfriend and a firm a large fan base, it does worry me that The show flips the typical school year only 31 of those characters were that bisexual people should not fan favourite, breaks up with Amy it is so much a part of the problem. In social structure upside down, where bisexual. attend LGBT+ events, because if they because she finds out she still has terms of problematic writing Faking the ‘outcasts’ are the in-crowd and Amy’s exploration of her sexuality are in an opposite gender relationship an attraction to men. Earlier in the It might just end up like post-second being different makes you popular; is an important recurring plot in the then they are ‘effectively’ heterosexual. season Reagan confessed to Amy season Glee; something any writer a ‘kumbaya, socialist freak show’ series, it also having been present that her ex-girlfriend left her for a with a shred of dignity would like to as Lauren (Bailey De Young) calls from the very first episode. Where, at Which is ridiculous because they man, this being the reason for her avoid. it. Faking It follows best friends the end of the pilot Amy and Karma are not. That is erasure. anxiety that their relationship was a PLEASE RECYCLE PLEASE RECYCLE