Scriptwriters’ Conceptions of Audience Attitudes Toward LGBTQ+ Characters

Abstract

ABSTRACT Drawing on media production studies, this research observes the understudied figure of the scriptwriters of fictional series to identify their feelings about different audiences and the way they respond to LGBTQ+ characters and narratives. Specifically, it seeks to understand how they use these mental images of their audiences when they create LGBTQ+ content. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online with twenty scriptwriters of different genders and sexual identities. A thematic analysis of their responses shows that they mostly have stereotypical mental images of their audiences’ preferences regarding LGBTQ+ characters and contents, which these scriptwriters actively draw upon in their work. Moreover, those images are based on their personal life experiences. Young LGBTQ+ scriptwriters are the only ones who tend not to conceive audiences as conservative or traditionalist. It is also observed that female and gay scriptwriters employ narrative strategies to protect queer audiences, female writers are inclined toward emotionally supportive portrayals, and gay writers develop characters that defend LGBTQ+ rights. The conclusion is that the creation of LGBTQ+ characters for TV series requires diverse teams of writers and literacy on sexual and gender prejudices, even among queer scriptwriters.