At 7:25 PM -0500 3/3/98, Helen Kay wrote: >Yesterday I discussed this topic with a colleague, who drew my attention >to characters like Joey in *Friends*--according to his description, Joey >does not identify as a gay man, but the other characters have been trying >to persuade him to come out. He mentioned a similar situation on another >show--posssibly *Veronica's Closet* (which has only recently started >screening here). This is an interesting phenomenon. I think it's Chandler on "Friends" that you're thinking of (watch me reveal how much time I *really* spend watching television!), and the implication is less that he *is* gay than that everyone thinks he gives off a "gay vibe," which makes him periodically question his masculinity. Though this is a far cry from gayness-as-insanity, it nonetheless keys masculinity to a readable heterosexuality in still-disturbing ways. The joke is carried a bit further on "Veronica's Closet," where everyone is actually convinced that Veronica's assistant is gay, but that he just doesn't know it yet. This is far deeper than a "vibe," apparently, as the joke usually revolves around the character being a gourmet cook, or being somehow "sensitive," or not ogling the lingerie models. Oh -- and the lesbian wedding was on "Friends." Kathleen ********************* Kathleen Fitzpatrick Department of English New York University [log in to unmask] ********************* ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama.