Greetings, visitors. If you’ve come across any artifacts that would be relevant to the topic of this study guide, please share them in a comment on this post.
Bi The Way
Citation:
Bi the Way. Dir. Brittany Blockman, Josephine Decker. Perf. David Barasch, Paula Caplan, and Ani DiFranco. Third Room, 2008. Film
Digital Version:
Rhetorical Situation:
Author:
Brittany Blockman and Josephine Decker directed and produced this film. They do not identify as bisexuals which can either influence the film to be biased against bisexuals or to be more open-minded.
Purpose:
The purpose of this documentary is to bring awareness to different issues surrounding bisexuality. This purpose leads the viewers to take either a pro-bisexuality stance or one that is against bisexuality.
Context:
This documentary first appeared at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. It has been aired at film festivals in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries as well. It was released in 2008. This context helps the viewers to understand that it is an informational documentary trying to bring awareness to specific issues.
Audience:
The intended audience is the general population. The documentary involves bisexuals, non-bisexuals, biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists. Since the audience is so broad, it shows how issues in bisexuality relate to everyone.
Publication:
This film first aired at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas in 2008. By appearing at a film festival, the initial audience varied from kids to adults, from students to prestigious film directors.
Genre:
This film can be categorized in the genre documentary.
Content Analysis:
Composition:
The documentary is structured around a road trip. The two directors drive across the country, interviewing many people about their ideas about bisexuality. The film mainly focuses on five different people, Pam, Tahj, Taryn, David, and Josh. Each person is going through a different issue in relation to bisexuality. Examples include t0lerance, rejection, monogamy, and gender roles. This structure gives more meaning to the different issues surrounding bisexuality. By going in depth of how different people are struggling with different issues, it allows the viewer to make a deeper connection to that person. They are getting a glimpse into the life of that person and seeing what they have to go through on a daily basis.
The directors also interview biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists. These interviews focus on the scientific issues surrounding bisexuality. The interviews are scattered throughout the film which I think contributes to the message of this artifact. It shows that the issues surrounding bisexuality are wider than just personal issues that a bisexual person goes through. The issues spread to the community as well. Through all the interviews, the film does a good job of showing how everyone is affected by the issues pertaining to bisexuality and raising awareness to them.
Intended Message:
The intended message of the documentary is to raise awareness about the different issues pertaining to bisexuality.
Underlying Message:
The underlying message of the film is that bisexuality is generational. Teens today are known as the “whatever” generation, thus being bisexual is no big deal. The adults and those with a PHD interviewed in the film mainly talked about how bisexuality was unaccepted back in their day and that it is still wrong to not be straight. The purpose of the documentary was to talk about many issues, including rejection from family and community, but the idea of bisexuality being generational just happened to arise.
Rhetorical Commentary:
The directors of this documentary really appealed to the viewers logos and ethos. To establish credibility, the directors interviewed bisexuals, psychologists, and biologists. This established credibility because even though they are not bisexuals, they were getting information first hand from people who are and also information from people who have done research regarding sexual orientation and bisexuality.
Interviewing psychologists and biologists also contributes to the viewers’ logos. The biologists and psychologists present different pieces of evidence in regards to bisexuality being a “fad” or if bisexuality is related to genes or it is something that is learned. Hearing biologists and psychologists talk about specific research appeals to logic since evidence is being presented to the viewer.
By mainly following the live of five different people, the directors are appealing to the viewer’s emotions. The one interviewee who evoked the most emotion was the 11 year old boy named Josh. Josh lives with his mother while his father lives elsewhere with his boyfriend. Josh spends time with both of his parents so he is not living in broken family. However, what evokes so much empathy from the viewer is that Josh says he will be bisexual because he is afraid if he only likes girls his father will reject him. Rejection from family members is one of the many issues pertaining to bisexuality. However, for a boy of only 11 to be fearful of that is saddening, especially because in his case he would be rejected for being straight.
Another interviewee who particularly appeals to the viewers’ ethos is Tahj. Tahj is a 24 year old black man who dates men that he meets on the internet. Tahj has not told any of his friends that he identifies as being bisexual. Tahj explains that in the black community, being gay or bisexual is not accepted at all. He would be ostracized from his community for being who he is. The viewer can not help but feel bad for Tahj because he has to keep who he is from the people he cares about the most.
This is a Furniture Ad?
Citation:
Yaggvideo. “Gay/bisexual Ikea commercial in Austria.” Youtube.com. Youtube, 13 September, 2010. Web. 21 September, 2011.
Digital Version:
Rhetorical Situation:
Author:
IKEA created this commercial. This is important in understanding the message because IKEA is very popular among those in their 20′s. The commercial is definitely directed at the younger generation, and because bisexuality is prominent in this generation, they use it to sell their product.
Purpose:
The purpose of this commercial is to advertise for their products. Based on this purpose, the response to the artifact should be a desire to go out and buy the product. However, that does not seem to be the actual response.
Context:
This commercial has only been run in Austria and Germany and came out in September of 2010. This is important in understanding the rhetoric of bisexuality. Europe has always been ahead of other countries when it comes to fashion and accepting new ideas. Based on that, it makes sense why the commercial has only been aired in European countries because bisexuality is probably more accepted there than it is in the United States. I think that if this commercial was aired in the United States, it would cause an uproar.
Audience:
The audience of this commercial is young, vibrant homeowners.
Publication:
The commercial aired in September of 2010 in Austria and Germany.
Genre:
Surprisingly, the genre this commercial is categorized as is romance. Since it is categorized as a romance, one would think that the commercial would be advertising a romantic evening for two at a 5 star hotel or some new fragrance. However, it is advertising for furniture. IKEA uses the sexual implications of a romance to influence the viewers into thinking that having their furniture will make for a spicy sex life.
Content Analysis:
Composition:
In this commercial, there is barely any dialogue but there is a lot being said. The lack of dialogue represents the idea that sex does not involve a lot of talking and since bisexuals are stereotyped as promiscuous, it would “make sense” to have bisexuals as the characters in the commercial. Committed and monogamous relationships involve communication between the two partners. This commercial shows that bisexuals just want to have sex and you do not need talking to do so.
The imagery in the commercial and the way it relates to the rhetoric of bisexuality is interesting. When the man and woman are together, they are passionate and sexual and look like they are having a good time together. When the commercial shows the two men at the table, they are talking, eating, and looking lovingly at one another. This shows that being promiscuous is a lot more fun than the committed relationship. Thus, the idea of being bisexual becomes more exciting, and promotes the idea that exciting people buy IKEA furniture.
Intended Message:
The intended message of this commercial is that IKEA products are great and that homeowners should buy their products. IKEA uses bisexuals to get this message across because the idea of promiscuity is exciting, and promiscuity is commonly associated with bisexuals. By showing how hot it is to be promiscuous, it creates a positive image for having their furniture.
Underlying Message:
he underlying message in this commercial is that bisexuals are extremely sexual and cheaters. These are two common stereotypes of bisexuals that IKEA formed their entire commercial around. This just shows how bisexuals are misunderstood by the general population.
Rhetorical Commentary:
This commercial is an excellent example of how people most commonly speak negatively about bisexuals. The commercial focuses on promiscuity and the inability to commit through bisexuals. Bisexuals cheat and go after random sex with as many people as they want just as much as straight or homosexual person does. One group of people does not do that more than another and it should not be the defining characteristic of a bisexual person. Having lovers of both genders may be different from the norm but that does not turn them into nymphomaniacs.
This commercial is very similar to how I usually see bisexuality portrayed in the media. It is overly sexualized, which is what bisexuality is commonly associated with. There are a lot of negative connotatins tht come to mind when bisexuality is being discussed, and it is sad to see the media play off of it, especially when it is not true.
IKEA uses sexuality in the commercial to appeal to the viewers’ pathos. Seeing the two lovers having such a good time all over the IKEA furniture can influence a person to believe that having IKEA furniture will make them seem cool or sexy. IKEA uses promiscuity to get people t buy their products because as the saying goes, “sex sells.” I just do not see why they had to exploit bisexuality in order to sell.
The Buzz About Being Bi
Citation:
Crowder, Courtney. “Paranormal State star talks faith, sexuality.” ChicagoTribune.com. Chicago Tribune, 18 October, 2010. Web. 21 September, 2011.
Digital Version:
Bi Pride
Citation:
The Coffee Club. BiFlag.com. TCC, 2011. Web. 12 October, 2011.
Digital Version:
Rhetorical Situation:
Author:
Members of The Coffee Club have created this website. The authors are activists for the bisexual community.
Purpose:
The purpose of this website is to inform readers of when successful LGBT parades occurred and where and when the bi flag has been unveiled. This purpose encourages readers to become more aware of what is going on in the bisexuality community and to be more accepting.
Context:
This website was created when the first bi flag was unveiled in 1998. It is meant to instill pride and visibility for the bisexual community. It has now added short blurbs about events where the bi flag has been present.
Audience:
The audience for this website is members of the bisexual and LGBT communities along with other activists. Since this is the intended audience, it would make sense that the artifact promotes pride in being bisexual.
Publication:
This website was created in 1997, right before the first bi flag was revealed in 1998. It is sponsored by The Coffee Club, the digital media publisher.
Genre:
BiFlag.com is categorized in the genre website.
Analysis of Content:
Composition:
The website contains more pictures than words. A short blurb about the event will be followed by at least 10 pictures of the event. I think this use of imagery is used to make the reader more emotional. The pictures show the reader what happened and how special of a moment it was. This technique influences the reader to have an accepting and positive view of bisexuals rather than negative view based off of untrue stereotypes. The pictures show how bisexuals proud to be who they are and this makes the reader want to root for them.
Intended Message:
The intended message of this website is raise awareness about the bisexual community’s prevalence in becoming more visible, which is what the flag stands for.
Underlying Message:
The hidden message of this website can be found in the ads that are on the side of the website. The ads on the side promote dating sites that are for other bisexuals. Although the website is promoting advocacy and awareness, the ads on the side do not relate to that at all. The ads promote bisexuals to date bisexuals and always be with other bisexuals. It seems that by the ads wanting bisexuals to stick together, that it is trying to counter what the stereotypes are saying. If bisexuals are always together then those outside the bisexual community would not know what goes on in a relationship between two bisexuals. It is trying to diminish the stereotype about bisexuals being promiscuous and always wanting sex.
Rhetorical Commentary:
Through the purpose of the website, the authors speak in a way that is very promoting of the bisexual community. All the blurbs are about events in where the flag was raised in a city for the first time. The blurbs also used words like “we” and “us.” It shows how inclusive and welcoming the bisexual community is and how proud they are to be a part of it. This way of speaking about bisexuality influences readers to be in that same mindset. If the audience for this website is bisexuals, not all bisexuals are activists. This website makes the reader want to be an advocate, to be part of the moment when the bi flag is raised for the first time.
The authors did a great job of using pathos also in this instance. The pictures reach out to the reader’s emotions by showing how those moments are so special to the ones there. These positive and inspiring photos show how there is a positive way of talking about the rhetoric of bisexuality.
One of the authors, Michael Page, establishes credibility by writing the article on the history of the flag, since he is the one who designed and created the flag. He goes into detail how he thought the Rainbow Flag and pink triangle and other symbols were not symbols that bisexuals related to which inspired him to create the bisexual flag. He also discusses how he came up with the design and colors for the flag. By him personally writing about the history makes the whole website seem credible because if the man who created the flag and was there since the start is an author for the website, then it is easier to believe what the other blurbs say.
Threesomes Legitimate Bisexuality
Citation:
Ray Lavender. “My Girl Got A Girlriend.” X-Ray-Ted. Konlive, 2007. CD.
Digital Version:
My Girl Got a Girlfriend Video- lyrics only
Rhetorical Situation:
Author:
T-Pain wrote this song for Ray Lavender. T-Pain is a popular artist within the rap and hip hop genre.
Purpose:
The purpose of this song is to entertain the listeners. This purpose should influence listeners to buy more Ray Lavender albums.
Context:
This song appears on a Ray Lavender album. It is produced by Akon and T-Pain, two influential artists of the rap and hip hop movement. It came out in 2007, the same year that Pretty Ricky, Lloyd, and Young Buck, among other popular rap and hip hop artists, released albums.
Audience:
The intended audience for this song is fans of rap and hip hop music since that is the genre his song falls into.
Publication:
This song is on the album X-Ray-Ted, which was produced by Konvict Muzik. The album was released in 2007.
Genre:
This artifact is categorized as song lyrics. This influences the listener’s expectations of waht is to come because a lot of popular rap songs tend to be racy.
Analysis of Content:
Composition:
The structure of the song is organized into 2 verses, 3 choruses, and a break. The structure of the song influences the way the listener thinks about the rhetoric of bisexuality. The song is telling a story. The end of the first verse is how Ray Lavender walks in on his girlfriend with another girl. Lavender can either go in the direction of being happy his girlfriend is bisexual or go in the direction of degrading women since his girlfriend just cheated on him with another girl. This encourages the listener to be curious and keep listening.
The chorus, which follows next, is about how as long as he gets to have sexual relations with both women, then he is fine with her being bisexual and cheating. The third verse continues the story more aggressively. He goes into how she should have told him but he’s cool with the situation anyway. The song ends with a chorus, followed by moaning in the song, and finished with a chorus. This story structure influences the listener to think of bisexuals as promiscuous and slutty since bisexuals have sex with both males and females and cheat on their partners. The story structure makes it easy to follow and understand what he is rapping about. The aggression especially influences the listeners to think negatively about bisexuals because the song narrates how the girl cheats with another girl.
Intended Message:
The intended message of this song is to tell the listeners that his girlfriend got a girlfriend and now he gets to be with both of them and that it is cool with him.
Underlying Message:
The underlying message of this song in regards to the rhetoric of bisexuality is that bisexuals are promiscuous, which is a common way of thinking about bisexuality. His girlfriend was not committed to him, and not only did she cheat on him, but she cheated on him with another girl. This also contributes to gender norms. It was okay for his girlfriend to cheat on him with a girl but if this song was about how his girlfriend got another boyfriend, I think the ending would have turned out differently. Overall, the underlying message puts an emphasis on stereotypes of bisexuals, such as they cannot commit to a monogamous relationship and they are promiscuous.
Rhetorical Commentary:
This song focuses on common stereotypes of bisexuals that have many negative connotations. The girlfriend is promiscuous for having more than one sex partner, which also influences the idea that bisexuals like to have sex. She is also promiscuous because cheating is considered wrong and because she cheated with another girl. These stereotypes are almost immediately thought of sometimes when someone is thinking about or talking about bisexuals. There are not a lot of positive connotations that are associated with bisexuals. It is mostly negative ones that come to mind, especially the ones narrated in the song.
Lavender appeals to the listeners’ pathos through the story telling structure of the song. The story telling encourages the listener to picture what is happening and makes it clear that the girlfriend is acting promiscuously. Through descriptions that appeal to the imagination, Lavender is again making the point that bisexuals are not ones to be trusted and like to have sex. Lavender’s role in the hip hop and rap community adds to his logical appeal. Since he is a respected artist, his listeners may take what he says as truth.
The language in the song also influences the negative connotations commonly associated with bisexuals. The tone is care free in the first verse and chorus since he is happy to find out his girlfriend is bisexual and he gets to sleep with both of them. Making the situation a positive one encourages the listener to think that even though bisexuals cheat and are promiscuous, they are still fun to have sex with and be with. The language in the second verse is a little more aggressive because he wished she had told him from the start. This shows how bisexuality is something that a person may want to hide from their friends and family. It is not always accepted and rejection is a common issue that bisexuals face. Adding the aggression to the song only influences the negative opinions about bisexuals.
Elana’s Research Notes
“Paranormal State” star talks faith, sexuality article from the Chicago Tribune. News/mass media and hypertext
Bisexual Ikea Ad that aired in Austria. Advertising (TV commercial) and moving images
The song “My Girl Got a Girlfriend” by T-Pain. Pop culture (music) and audio
BiFlag.com. Activism/Advocacy and hypertext
“On Being a Bisexual Femme” personal narrative. Personal experience and alphabetic text
The documentary Bi The Way. Educational (documentary) and moving images
Romantic scene on TV involving a bisexual character
DIGITAL VERSION:
Professor Goodloe posted this scene on the main blog with a brief description of the context.
Here is a link to that web page for the clip and more info on it. (Opens in a new window)
CITATION:
“E12S1.” Gardner, Julie, Jane Tranter, and Russel Davies.Torchwood. BBC. 19 Nov. 2007. Television.
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
Rhetorical Situation
- Author: This clip comes from the show Torchwood, a sci fi show created by Russel Davies who also wrote Queer as Folk. It has been a running show from 22 October 2006 – present.
- Purpose: The purpose of this clip is to show the attraction from the main character and the person in which he receives his name from. This clip also shows how the 1940′s was less accepting of bisexuality.
- Context: Here is a great write up of the context done by Prof. Goodloe.
- Audience: The target audience for this clip is for a British audience.
- Genre: The genre of the show is scifi.
Content Analysis
Composition/Organization: The clip starts at 1:08 and then shows the slow but undeniable attraction between the two men.
Rhetorical Moves: By showing how the other couples are watching the two men dancing in the 1940′s, it gives the viewer a sense of empathy.
Surface-level Messages: The surface-level message is that men can dance with other men and it can be romantic, just as a woman and a man dancing.
Underlying Messages: The underlying message is that bisexuality can occur in anyone as long as there is an attraction, regardless of being female or male. Certainly most are attracted to one sex over another, but for some there is no such black and white.
Commentary: This clip shows a very romantic scene between two men on television, one like I have never seen before. Romance is not usually depicted with two men in the media and it was nice to see. I also like that the character is from the future where sexuality has no societal imposed limits. It is quite obvious the plea against gay marriage is going to be overcome soon, and in one hundred years I am sure our grandchildren will wonder what all the fuss was about.
ARTIFACT CRITERIA
Discourse: Pop culture
Medium: Moving images
Bisexuality as a distinct sexual orientation (audio)
DIGITAL VERSION:
Here is a link to a podcast talking about new findings in a long term study on bisexuality (opens in new window).
CITATION:
“Bisexuality Is a Distinct Sexual Orientation : Scientific American Podcast.” Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. 17 Jan. 2008. Web. 17 July 2011. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=8902D6F8-F97C-E6FE-74B6D67845F05FEA>.
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
Rhetorical Situation
- Author: This podcast was spoken by Christie Nicholson, an author who primarily writes for Scientific American.
- Purpose: The aim of this podcast is to divulge scientific studies in 60 seconds. The topic of this podcast was a longterm study confirming that bisexuality is distinct sexual orientation in females.
- Context: This podcast refers to a study done by the American Psychological Association done by Dr. Lisa Diamond in which 79 female were tracked for 10 years in order to track bisexuality.
- Audience: The target audience for this podcast is the readers and listeners of the 60 second Scientific American podcast, serving a North American audience.
- Genre: This artifact conveys academic information in an entertaining quick
Content Analysis
Composition/Organization: This podcast summed up the important aspects of the study and organized it in a quick 60 minute segment. It was introduced with a study dealing with mens bisexuality and then finished with conclusions.
Rhetorical Moves: The podcast starts with a study that supposedly debunked males bisexuality and made the assertion that it is still up for debate. The study for women’s bisexuality that is explained and proven through case studies, supports their assertion.
Surface-level Messages: The surface-level message is that bisexuality in females exist, and not only does it exist, but it shows that female who are more fluid with their sexuality settle down faster.
Underlying Messages: Being bisexual and being a woman isn’t just a “phase” through college, as most media portrays it, rather it is a distinct sexual orientation that should be
Commentary: This study supports the existence of bisexuality, unlike the NY Times article I used as an artifact. It also showed bisexuality in a healthy light that says bisexuality with an honest view of sexuality as a sliding fluid scale, helps women in later monogamous relationships.
ARTIFACT CRITERIA
Discourse: Academic
Medium: Audio
Bisexuality portrayed in Hollywood: Only OK for girls
DIGITAL VERSION:
Here is a link to an article explaining that being bisexual may be a wise career move for Hollywood starlets to gain extra exposure.
CITATION:
Marikar, Sheila. “Bisexual in Hollywood: OK for Girls, Not Guys – ABC News.” ABCNews.com. ABC, 05 June 2008. Web. 17 July 2011. <http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=5000714>.
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
Rhetorical Situation
- Author: This article was written by Sheila Mariker, an author who primarily writes about celebrity gossip for ABC’s entertainment section online.
- Purpose: The aim of this article was to demonstrate a trend in bisexuality occurring in Hollywood and the differences between a woman claiming to be bisexual and a man.
- Context: This was written in 2008 during a time in pop culture when homosexuality and bisexuality was really coming through on the silver screen. The author mentions Brokeback Mountain, Wild Things, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, all recent films that portray some type of bisexuality.
- Audience: The target audience for this article was that of the readers of ABC entertainment, people who are heavily interested in pop culture.
- Genre: This artifact falls under popular culture.
Content Analysis
Composition/Organization: The article starts off by introducing the different ways an actor or actress make themselves stand apart from the others in Hollywood. Drug abuse, hair style, or their sexuality is all ways in which actors and actresses attempt to be different from one another. It then leads into the discussion that only female bisexuality sells more tickets, while male bisexuality is not talked about because it does not have the same sex appeal as female on female.
Rhetorical Moves: The author goes on to mention the actresses that have mentioned being bisexual in the past and in the same year had wildly successful roles in films. She then goes on to note that bisexual males are hiding in Hollywood for fear of it not selling as well as women.
Surface-level Messages: The surface-level message is being bisexual and being female is accepted and even commended, while being bisexual and male, there seems to be a tendency to think that males can not be bisexual, rather only homosexual in denial. Bisexual females are popular and successful while male bisexuals are forced into hiding because it does not achieve the same amount of success in the public’s eye.
Underlying Messages: The underlying message is that men must hide being bisexual while women should flaunt it, pop culture breeds this way of thinking which is rather detrimental, over-sexualized, and sexist.
Commentary: This article does explain what seems to be the truth of the matter in Hollywood when it comes to the disparity between female bisexuality and male bisexuality. While the author mentions specific stars and their success she also mentions that others using it for publicity may not get the intended result or rather there will be no result at all. It is a sad state that which popular culture makes acceptable for women to be bisexual but not males, and this article offers no advice on how to change or address the issue.
ARTIFACT CRITERIA
Discourse 
opular culture
Medium: Alphabetic text