Queer Eye for Disney: Unveiling LGBTQIA2S + Representations Through Visual Literacy

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Notes

1 To Meng-Jung Yang, one of the authors who identifies as a nonbinary queer Taiwanese person, the LGBTQIA2S + characters and their queerness in cartoons have long been a refuge, allowing Meng-Jung to breathe amid a patriarchal heteronormative society. Kevin Hsieh, the other author who identifies as a gay man and a Taiwanese American immigrant, has been dedicated to advocating for LGBTQIA2S + rights in his teaching.

2 LGBTQIA2S + stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit. It is important to note that each of these terms can have a complex and nuanced definition, and people may use or identify with these labels in different ways.

3 The dominant heteronormative ideology is the prevailing societal belief system that assumes heterosexuality as the norm and adheres to traditional gender roles, marginalizing nonheterosexual identities and relationships.

4 Straight cis people refers to individuals who both identify with the gender assigned to them at birth (cisgender) and experience either heterosexual or heteroromantic attractions. In this context, cisgender specifically pertains to gender identity, while straight encompasses sexual or romantic orientation.

5 Cultural capital refers to the nonfinancial social assets that contribute to an individual’s or group’s social mobility and status within a culture or society. This can include education, knowledge, skills, language proficiency, taste, and other forms of cultural familiarity and awareness. Cultural capital plays a role in shaping social interactions and opportunities for advancement within a given community (Bourdieu, 1987).

6 Intersectionality is a concept that recognizes how different aspects of a person’s identity, such as race, class, and gender, can intersect to shape their unique experiences of privilege or disadvantage (Collins & Bilge, 2016; Crenshaw, 1991).

7 According to Bourdieu (1987), habitus is both a structuring and structured element, organizing practices and perceptions of the social world through logical classes. It represents an accumulated cultural and social position shaped by various social trajectories, including family, school, and life experiences.

8 Queer subtext includes queer coding and queerbaiting. Queer coding involves implied meanings associated with, but not explicitly stating, queer themes. Encoded through discourse, these subtle cues impact character relationships intentionally or unintentionally, with both positive and negative implications. Queerbaiting is a marketing strategy that suggests homoerotic elements in heterosexual characters’ relationships, intended deliberately to attract both LGBTQIA2S + and non-LGBTQIA2S + audiences (Yang & Hsieh, 2020).

9 Semiotics is a field that explores the ways in which signs and symbols function as a system of communication, encompassing both verbal and nonverbal elements. In class, students analyzed signs and symbols, and their interpretations and meanings. They discussed how signs, words, images, gestures, and sounds convey meaning within the selected five animations.

10 In philosophy and epistemology, reflexivity refers to the capacity of an agent to recognize forces of socialization and alter their place in the social structure. It involves individuals being aware of the influence of their social context on their thoughts and actions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Meng-Jung Yang

Meng-Jung Yang, Assistant Professor, School of Art, California State University, Long Beach in Long Beach. Email: [email protected]

Kevin Hsieh

Kevin Hsieh, Professor, Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design, Georgia State University in Atlanta. Email: [email protected]