The B Word: Bisexuality in Contemporary Film and Television

The B Word examines representations of bisexuality in film and television from the 1970s through the 2010s. San Filippo analyzes how bisexual identities and desires have been portrayed across genres including art house cinema, mainstream Hollywood films, and television series. The book explores key themes of bisexual erasure, stereotyping, and authenticity through close readings of specific works and broader media trends. Through case studies of films like Basic Instinct and Brokeback Mountain, San Filippo traces how bisexuality has been alternately stigmatized and ignored in visual media. San Filippo combines film theory, queer studies, and media analysis to investigate how bisexuality intersects with gender, race, and class on screen. The research draws from interviews, reviews, marketing materials, and critical reception to provide context for changing representations over time. This academic work contributes to ongoing discussions about sexual identity, representation, and the power of media to shape cultural attitudes. The analysis reveals how portrayals of bisexuality reflect and influence broader societal views about non-binary sexual orientations.

Readers note this academic text provides detailed analysis of bisexual representation in media, though some found the writing style dense and theoretical. Positives from reviews: - Thorough examination of often-overlooked bisexual themes in mainstream films - Strong analysis of specific scenes and character portrayals - Comprehensive coverage of both obvious and subtle bisexual coding - Clear organization by media type and theme Common criticisms: - Academic language makes it less accessible to general readers - Heavy focus on theory can overshadow the media analysis - Some readers wanted more contemporary examples Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Invaluable resource but requires patience with academic prose" - Goodreads reviewer "Finally addresses bi erasure in film critique but gets bogged down in jargon" - Amazon reviewer "Strong on analysis, weaker on reaching broader audiences" - LibraryThing review

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🎬 Author Maria San Filippo coined the term "bi-textuality" to describe films that offer multiple possible readings of characters' sexual orientations 📺 The book examines how bisexuality is often "hidden in plain sight" in mainstream media, with characters' potential bisexuality rarely explicitly acknowledged 🏆 Published in 2013, this was one of the first academic books to focus exclusively on bisexual representation in visual media 🎥 The book analyzes films like Brokeback Mountain and Chasing Amy, revealing how even LGBTQ+ classics often erase or diminish bisexual possibilities 📚 San Filippo explores how the entertainment industry's reluctance to depict bisexuality reflects broader cultural anxieties about sexual fluidity and non-binary identities