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Sex, Lies and Politics: Gay Politicians in the Press provides a much-needed analysis of the changing representation of gay politicians in UK newspapers. Focusing on the 1950s onwards, a time when the press became more personal and gay politicians/politicians involved in gay scandals came to the forefront of media attention, the text uses case studies and socio-political analysis to develop a frame of representation which shows how a move from intolerance to tolerance to partial recognition of homosexuality has impacted upon the acceptability of homosexuality in ‘heterosexual public space’, with this then affecting the representation of gay politicians in the press. What was private has now become public, pointing to the fact that gay politicians have mediated personas; their private lives, and sexualities, are lived in/presented through the media.
… Sex, Lies and Politics reveals insights about representation and the construction of identity through its focus on sexuality, politicians and the media, with the changing line between the private and public an essential concept. Sensationalism and scandal are key issues in the text, with the press coverage of politicians caught up in gay scandals, as well as gay politicians, explored.
… The representation of gay politicians in the UK press has so far been underrepresented in media and political studies. Lack of discussion is strange, considering that gay politicians have been at the forefront of the media’s attention over the last fifty years. Sex, Lies and Politics provides a much needed contribution to political, media and social history.
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Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART ONE: BUILDING A FRAME OF REPRESENTATION
1. The Press, the Personal and News Values
2. Issues of Public and Private
3. Unifying Key Themes
PART TWO: EXPLORING “TRADITIONAL” REPRESENTATION
4. Histories of Homosexuality: Definition and Discrimination
5. Private Lives, Public Consequences: Representation Pre-1980
6. Immoral Sexuality, Moralistic Press Coverage: Representation
1980–1990
PART THREE: EXPLORING “CONTEMPORARY” REPRESENTATION
7. Histories of Homosexuality: the (Slow) Advancement of Gay
Equality
8. Scurrilous Politicians, Scandalous Stories: Representation
1990–1997
9. Public Life, Public Pressures: Representation Post-1997
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
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“A pioneering in-depth
academic appraisal.” Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive
of Stonewall “Built
on original research and offering clear, thoughtful analysis,
Donna Smith's new book tells a compelling story of sexual
identity, social change, and media representation in the UK
that is both rich and timely.” Mike Saward, Professor
of Politics, Open University
“Donna Smith has written an important and engaging original
contribution to scholarship on the theory and practice of
sexual politics. The concept she develops of a 'frame of representation'
both advances her argument and provides other scholars in
Politics, Social History, and Media Studies with an important
conceptual tool to take forward. Her analysis of the shifting
boundary between public and private in press coverage of gay
politicians in the UK House of Commons in historical perspective,
and the shift in normative judgments which has accompanied
it, redresses the gap in academic study of this area.” Dr
Raia Prokhovnik, Reader in Politics, Open University
“Press attitudes to sexuality and gay politicians have
guided much recent political communications strategy; where
others have flitted past, at last we have a sustained analysis.
Donna Smith’s book is rich with insight and possibility, and
deserves a wide readership.” Dr Michael Higgins, Senior
Lecturer in Journalism, University of Strathclyde
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Publication Details
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Hardback ISBN: |
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978-1-84519-456-7 |
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Page Extent / Format: |
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224 pp. / 229 x 152 mm |
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Release Date: |
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March 2012 |
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Illustrated: |
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Yes |
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Hardback Price: |
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£45.00 / $65.00 |
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