Why Dynasty appeals more to gay men than Dallas

[RandallAdams]

This subject has always interested me. I think gay men have always idolised powerful women who fight for their place in the patriachal system and Dynasty's representation of that with Alexis was a world away from the women of Dallas, who were basically just counterparts to the men. I also think the way Dynasty showcased luxury and style made it more of an aspirational show than Dallas, because the Ewings despite their vast wealth didn't have a trace of refinement or elegance. There was something truly rarefied about the Carringtons, and I think gay men and queer people admired how those characters carried themselves.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Gay guys like purty colors, we get it.

 

[RandallAdams]

Gay guys like purty colors, we get it.

They also like survival stories and to see people persevering over the type of men who beat them up in the schoolyard.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

They also like survival stories and to see people persevering over the type of men who beat them up in the schoolyard.

They usually wind up having sex with the men who beat them up in the schoolyard.

It's sweet, really.

 

[RandallAdams]

They usually wind up having sex with the men who beat them up in the schoolyard.

It's sweet, really.

Steven and Dex and Alexis was the triangle we deserved.

 

[Brian Kinney]

This subject has always interested me. I think gay men have always idolised powerful women who fight for their place in the patriachal system and Dynasty's representation of that with Alexis was a world away from the women of Dallas, who were basically just counterparts to the men.

That's why Alexis is one of the biggest icons of trans culture.

 

[Mustard]

Does it? Blake Carrington is much more homophobic and bigoted than any character on Dallas.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Blake Carrington is much more homophobic and bigoted than any character on Dallas.

But he's the only TV character from that time where we see how he's evolving from homophobic to embracing. As much as I disliked Steven's path after Season 1, Dynasty was the only US TV series in their time which actually included homosexuality. The Dallas episode with Lucy and a gay wasn't as exceptional as Charlene Tilton believes because prior to it police serials or the Spelling produced Family on ABC dealt with gays and lesbians as guest roles for one episode too.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Does it? Blake Carrington is much more homophobic and bigoted than any character on Dallas.

It's hard to know. Except for that kid with the big cock on his wall that Lucy was engaged to, DALLAS rarely referred to homosexuality -- barely even with wispy Peter Richards of the double phallic name. Hell, most people barely noticed when Ray almost mounted his young nephew, Mickey, by the pickup truck shortly after that Trotter boy came to Southfork.

Were Jock, Clayton, Punk or JR really un-homophobic? It's hard to imagine they'd had a progressive view on the topic, no matter whom they were buggering behind the stud barn.

Hell, Jock probably ran Gary off the ranch because he was afeared Gary was a fruit cocktail.

 

[Mustard]

It's hard to know. Except for that kid with the big cock on his wall that Lucy was engaged to, DALLAS rarely referred to homosexuality -- barely even with wispy Peter Richards of the double phallic name. Hell, most people barely noticed when Ray almost mounted his young nephew, Mickey, by the pickup truck shortly after that Trotter boy came to Southfork.

Were Jock, Clayton, Punk or JR really un-homophobic? It's hard to imagine they'd had a progressive view on the topic, no matter whom they were buggering behind the stud barn.

Hell, Jock probably ran Gary off the ranch because he was afeared Gary was a fruit cocktail.

The Ewings all treated Kit Mainwaring better than Blake Carrington treated his own son. Even J.R., who was determined to marry off his niece Lucy to a lad who he knew was homosexual in return for business with Mainwaring Oil, was not bigoted anything like Blake.

Jock didn't run Gary off the ranch. Gary did the running himself, much to Jock's annoyance and disappointment. J.R. helped push Gary away of course, as intended.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

The Ewings all treated Kit Mainwaring better than Blake Carrington treated his own son. Even J.R., who was determined to marry off his niece Lucy to a lad who he knew was homosexual in return for business with Mainwaring Oil, was not bigoted anything like Blake.

Only JR knew Kit was gay -- and he was "nice" about it because he wanted a merger!

 

[Mustard]

Only JR knew Kit was gay -- and he was "nice" about it because he wanted a merger!

Bobby told J.R. that Kit Mainwaring was more of a man than you'll ever be. Bear in mind that same-sex relations in Texas weren't even legalized until 2003, whereas it was legalized in Colorado as early as 1972. Steven Carrington wasn't breaking the law in Colorado, although ironically was in New York before 1980.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Bobby told J.R. that Kit Mainwaring was more of a man than you'll ever be.

But that was just to stick it to JR -- so to speak.

 

[kenneth]

A real man does not propose to the opposite sex first and reveal his sexuality second.

 

[LMLDallas78]

Kit himself told Bobby he was a homosexual and Bobby told JR who either wasn't surprised coz he knew or didn't seem bothered by it.
JR still believed Kit should marry Lucy as it wasn't a big deal!

Ooh I've just realised I'm on a Dysentery thread, how could I?

 

[LMLDallas78]

A real man does not propose to the opposite sex first and reveal his sexuality second.

Well plenty did years ago and went through with marriage to keep their sexuality a secret for fear of prejudice and/or not accepting who they were.

 

[kenneth]

Well plenty did years ago and went through with marriage to keep their sexuality a secret for fear of prejudice and/or not accepting who they were.

Even though it was necessary for the men it was still incredibly unfair to their wives. Especially since infedelity would pretty much be inevitable.

 

[LMLDallas78]

Even though it was necessary for the men it was still incredibly unfair to their wives. Especially since infedelity would pretty much be inevitable.

Oh of course it was unfair to the wife, goes without saying, a desperate situation for both. Some women probably went to their grave being totally oblivious or perhaps always had a nagging doubt.

 

[Mustard]

Even though it was necessary for the men it was still incredibly unfair to their wives. Especially since infedelity would pretty much be inevitable.

Society's morality back then was mostly ridiculous, basically expecting you to confine yourself to one person romantically forever, or give the outward impression of it. Most people inevitably lived a lie as a result. On the other hand, people tended to know back then what was expected of them a lot more, whereas so many people these days seem lost about what society expects of them.

In Dynasty, capitalism has largely devoured the Carrington family dynamic, with the different family members more individualized. In Dallas, the Ewings have a stronger family dynamic, taken from the Southworth tradition.

 

[Willie Oleson]

the women of Dallas, who were basically just counterparts to the men

Very much like Dynasty's first and best season.

and I think gay men and queer people admired how those characters carried themselves.

I enjoyed watching them but I certainly did not admire them.