[J.D.] Let's face the facts about me and you, a love unspecified. Though I'm proud to call you "Chocolate Bear," the crowd will always talk and stare.
[Turk] I feel exactly those feelings, too, and that's why I keep them inside. 'Cause this bear can't bear the world's disdain, and sometimes it's easier to hide..
[J.D. and Turk] than explain our guy love, that's all it is, guy love, he's mine, I'm his, there's nothing gay about it in our eyes.
This verse both minoritizes and universalizes in several ways. It universalizes by shattering the norm that two men cannot have a tender and loving friendship like two women can without being perceived as gay or overly feminized. The two men are saying that just because they have a loving friendship does not mean that they are gay or that this should be considered abnormal or wrong. However, this verse also minoritizes by relying on the notion that two men who have a close and loving relationship are in fact abnormal, and associate homosexuality with negativity by saying that its easier to keep their feelings inside and hide them rather than be ridiculed by others because they act “gay”.
Another song in the episode entitled “I’m Dominican”, demonstrates the use of both minoritizing and universalizing discourses. Below is a few lines from the song:
[Turk] The thing is guys remember facts, like what Derek Jeter hit last year, which was three-oh-three! And that is why our brains are maxed, and there's no room for things like birthdays or ethnicities!
[Carla] Well, thank you for that glimpse into the workings of the inner man.
Here, we can see how Turk minoritizes by demonstrating a gender stereotype about men and how they are all forgetful of “feminine” things such as birthdays, because their brains are maxed out with manly sports-related information. However, Carla responds sarcastically to her husband, which would not be described as feminine or the norm for the female gender. According to norms, Carla would be considered a marginalized subject, being both female and Latino. In this scene, however, they give Carla a very strong voice. For example, in the beginning of the song, Carla demonstrates her power over her husband:
[Turk] Babe, you know I know the truth
[Carla]Well, I need a little proof, so list all you know about me, or no sex again.
As described above, this episode both minoritizes and universalizes in various ways. However, I believe that the show as a whole acts as a mostly universalizing discourse by successfully demonstrating multiculturalism, which Kellner accurately describes in his article:
“Multiculturalism affirms the worth of different types of culture and cultural groups, claiming, for instance, that black, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay and lesbian, and other oppressed and marginal voices have their own validity and importance,” (Kellner, 11).
J.D. breaks through gender and sexuality norms by being a very feminine, straight man. Turk breaks through racial norms and stereotypes by being considered a highly successful doctor. Eliot contradicts the “dumb blonde” norm by also being considered a intelligent doctor. Carla breaks through Latino stereotypes by being portrayed as a very successful and intelligent nurse. Eliot and Carla also contradict norms of women by demonstrating a “buddy” friendship, like Thelma and Louise, which Mayne describes is a typically male relationship, (Mayne, 164). Overall, the cast is very diverse and contradict social norms of today's society.
Works Cited:
Brown, Adriane. "Transgeneration." University Hall, Ohio State University. 8 July 2010. Lecture.
Kellner, Douglas. “Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture.” In Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Eds. Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. Sage Publications. 2003. 9-20.
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