Anna Rossi

Publication Date

2016

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Myers, Kristen A.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Sociology

LCSH

Gay men in mass media--Public opinion; Gay men--Public opinion; LGBTQ studies; Sociology; Multimedia communications

Abstract

This thesis research examines the importance of media in influencing public perceptions. There is little empirical evidence that negative portrayals of gay characters in movies and television shows cause individuals to have negative attitudes towards gay men. I further the research in this field by measuring participants' views on gays, directly showing them a stereotypical or non-stereotypical clip depicting gay men, and then again measuring their attitudes towards gays. I evaluate the claim that the quality of portrayals of gays in movies and television shows influence the viewer's acceptance of gays by conducting an experiment and using a comparison of means analysis.

Comments

Advisors: Kristen Meyers.||Committee members: Kerry Ferris; Shane Sharp.

Extent

78 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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