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KANSAN.COM
OPINION
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Gollwitzer: 'Sense8,' now canceled by Netflix, was a rare show of true diversity in media
LINDSEY GOLLWITZER @KansanNews
Illustration by Roxy Townsend
The only television show to truly break cultural norms will not be renewed by Netflix.
T. V. shows have gotten used to meeting a certain diversity quota in order to appease liberal audiences. Every popular show includes the token gay friend or "cool black friend" to distract from an overwhelmingly straight, white-washed cast.
"Sense8," a television series that debuted in 2015, tackles these narrow portrayals of diversity head-on. The drama follows the lives of eight individuals who are emotionally, mentally and physically connected to each other. The show contains the usual sciifi and drama narratives that are common to see.
on to include a feminist Indian chemist, Icelandic DJ, an African bus driver, a German thief and a Korean martial arts specialist.
While it may seem like a typical plot, each character is unique enough to add a new layer of interest to the show. It is refreshing to see a straight, white, cisgender male cop experiencing the emotions of a transgender, lesbian woman and a gay, Mexican telenovela star. The character list goes
at times. The characters did not quite fit how audiences view character stereotypes.
Unfortunately, this fresh dose of diversity will be canceled on Netflix after the second season. Despite passionate fans, the viewer base was lower than Netflix had hoped.
I am disappointed that this show was not given the credit it deserved for breaking many barriers that usually aren't discussed. The show opened my mind and even brought me to tears
With the legalization of gay marriage, the Black Lives Matter movement and Trans Lives Matter movements all receiving heavy media coverage in recent years, the United States may seem more progressive than we actually are.
Then it was abandoned before we gave it a chance.
There are certain societal expectations of what it means to be gay, trans, black or a part of any specific minority. Media
normalizes certain categories and stereotypes for unique individuals to squeeze themselves into. Putting people in boxes makes individuals easier for media outlets to cover.
For example, homonormativity is what normalizes one way to be gay. Our culture has turned a sexuality into a lifestyle choice. The stereotype of a fashionable, upper-class, gay best friend is completely acceptable to media audiences. In Lisa Duggan's book, "The New Homonormativity," she explains this concept as
"depoliticized gay culture anchored in domesticity and consumption." The cultures of other minorities in the United States are treated in much the same way.
So, goodbye "Sense8." Thank you for attempting to deconstruct cultural norms and media portrayals of marginalized groups. But most media consumers just couldn't handle the true diversity.
Lindsey Gollwitzer is a sophomore from St. Louis studying psychology.
Liston: Gender-inclusive housing will be invaluable
File Photo/KANSAN
Lewis Hall will become home to the Gender Inclusive Housing wing in 2017.
RYAN LISTON
@rliston235
College students arriving at the University can struggle to find their place on campus especially if those students are members of a minority group. Although I do not claim to know the specific struggles of these students, I am certain that they have a more difficult time building a community overall.
To help transgender and gender non-binary students specifically, the University has designated a wing of Lewis Hall to Gender Inclusive Housing. The goal is to create a safe and supportive living community for these students. All available spaces have been
Creating this
gender-inclusive housing will make the University more welcoming and appealing to students who otherwise might worry about receiving judgment for their gender identity."
reserved, and there is a wait list.
Creating this genderinclusive housing will make the University more welcoming and appealing to students who otherwise might worry about receiving judgment for their gender identity. Living around students with similar experiences can ensure that those students do not feel alone on this vast campus.
One of my concerns,
When oppressed individuals convene as a group, targeted harassment becomes easier. We see this at mosques, synagogues and even in gender-neutral bathrooms, just to name a few places.
however, is that students living in the genderinclusive wing may be targeted at their on-campus residence. Although the University will require students living in the genderinclusive wing to sign an agreement that prevents them from revealing the identity of other residents, students aware of the housing setup who do not support transgender rights may see the grouping as an opportunity to target these individuals in a centralized location.
I have personally heard people make fun of transgender individuals and seen students at the University snicker after they walked past a transgender student.
This harassment is not inconsequential. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 41 percent of transgender and gender nonbinary individuals have attempted suicide, and 15 percent have left a school (either K-12 or higher education), at least in part, because of harassment like this.
Tr ans gender and gender nonbinary individuals should not have to fear discrimination and harassment, but unfortunately in our society, they often experience it.
To prevent the potential targeting of the gender-inclusive wing of
Lewis Hall, the University must put protections into place in the form of strict punishment for any student that attempts to harass the residents. It must be made clear to students that harassing other students for their gender identity is unacceptable and intolerable.
College is a place to make lifelong friends and connections and to continue the ongoing process of self-discovery; that is a unifying idea for all students regardless of identity. Ideally, all students could live together comfortably and respect the differences that make us all unique. But we do not live in an ideal society, so for the safety and comfort of transgender and gender non-binary students, designated genderinclusive housing is an invaluable option.
Based on the Gender Inclusive Housing's frequently asked questions page, there are no specific guidelines or rules to advise situations like this at Lewis Hall.
Ryan Liston is a junior from Lawrence studying journalism and political science.
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