Ray's Write2 Assignment
It’s difficult to depict someone who is bisexual or pansexual without the time to properly explore multiple relationships and define the differences between each identity and how they are different from the rest of the spectrum of sexuality. Big Mouth is an adult animated comedy/drama tv series following a middle school class as they learn more about themselves, each other, and their changing bodies while interacting with exaggerated physical manifestations of their emotions - most prominently, the hypersexual “hormone monsters.” The show receives much criticism for its extremely crude humor, depictions, and imagery, but is a surprisingly accurate depiction (at least to my experience) of the life of gen z youth and approaches topics of sexuality, mental health, and relationships in an extremely mature way. However season 3 notably failed to properly define pansexuality. One major plot point of the season was to explore the sexuality of the character Jay Bilzerian who is struggling with finding an identity that suits him after discovering an attraction towards men. While learning about the many types of sexuality, pansexuality is very briefly mentioned in a song performed by the ghost of many deceased celebrities and a fictional queer Canadian magician but does not give a clear distinction, especially when, in the song, it is grouped with omnisexuality in its description. Jay ultimately finds that bisexuality best suits him, so it would be understandable to focus only on that identity for the season but later in, a new character joins the cast: Ali, a new student entering late in the school year who right away introduces herself as pansexual; the first major human character to explicitly be so. An article on Indiewire puts the issue in better words that I can here:
“As Ali [explains that], ‘Pansexual means I’m into boys, girls, and everything in between,’ Nick asks an understandable question: ‘I thought that was bisexual?’ [...] Ali’s initial definition of pansexuality immediately drops the ball, as it both implies that trans boys and trans girls aren’t simply boys and girls and it boils things down to two genders. What follows is an extended metaphor that also bungles things up, simultaneously (and inadvertently) overcomplicating and simplifying the concepts of pansexuality. (Ferguson, 2019)
The clip being referred to can be found attached below. Be aware that there is some swearing and poorly stated discussions of sexuality and gender. Also if you have any idea how tricky it is to pirate a Netflix show and also record it on a MACBOOK Then you should appreciate the time I spent to bring you this clip:
Ali’s attitude towards her sexuality is very aggressive, referring to straight people as boring and calling bisexuality binary (which also follows the often-debated sentiment that bisexuality is an erasure of transgender identities, which is false) which fits her personality and character, but still never provides a clear-cut or positive depiction of pansexuality (especially after the fumbled distinction the show provides). As stated in the article mentioned above, the show’s creators publicly apologized for the misrepresentation and assured that they would do better in future seasons, but the mistake leaves quite an ugly mark on what is otherwise a very reliable show to help adolescents understand the world around and inside them. Even Jay’s depiction as a bisexual may stir up some harmful rhetoric about people attracted to more than one sex or gender.
Some of Jay Bilzerian’s only identifying factors were his unsafe living conditions (namely his abusive brothers and absent parents) and hypersexuality (excessive compulsive sexual behavior, possibly as a psychological response to his poor upbringing and dangerous family). When Jay comes out as bisexual, its perceived that the reason for it is because he is so sexually active that he is captured by anything remotely sexual (in his mind at least, as he is known to often copulate with inanimate objects) but even from season he had shown a great affinity for masculinity. I personally believe that Jay is a realistic character and depiction of someone who is bisexual, but I also fear that he perpetuates another false presumption that all queer people, especially those attracted to more than one sex or gender, are “sex maniacs.” I still praise Big Mouth for it’s approach to create both a humorous and educational story that adults can appreciate and young teenagers can use as a resource, but I sincerely worry that this season’s approach to bisexuality and pansexuality will perpetuate harmful misconceptions in an upcoming generation of youths who are still learning.
“As Ali [explains that], ‘Pansexual means I’m into boys, girls, and everything in between,’ Nick asks an understandable question: ‘I thought that was bisexual?’ [...] Ali’s initial definition of pansexuality immediately drops the ball, as it both implies that trans boys and trans girls aren’t simply boys and girls and it boils things down to two genders. What follows is an extended metaphor that also bungles things up, simultaneously (and inadvertently) overcomplicating and simplifying the concepts of pansexuality. (Ferguson, 2019)
The clip being referred to can be found attached below. Be aware that there is some swearing and poorly stated discussions of sexuality and gender. Also if you have any idea how tricky it is to pirate a Netflix show and also record it on a MACBOOK Then you should appreciate the time I spent to bring you this clip:
Ali’s attitude towards her sexuality is very aggressive, referring to straight people as boring and calling bisexuality binary (which also follows the often-debated sentiment that bisexuality is an erasure of transgender identities, which is false) which fits her personality and character, but still never provides a clear-cut or positive depiction of pansexuality (especially after the fumbled distinction the show provides). As stated in the article mentioned above, the show’s creators publicly apologized for the misrepresentation and assured that they would do better in future seasons, but the mistake leaves quite an ugly mark on what is otherwise a very reliable show to help adolescents understand the world around and inside them. Even Jay’s depiction as a bisexual may stir up some harmful rhetoric about people attracted to more than one sex or gender.
Some of Jay Bilzerian’s only identifying factors were his unsafe living conditions (namely his abusive brothers and absent parents) and hypersexuality (excessive compulsive sexual behavior, possibly as a psychological response to his poor upbringing and dangerous family). When Jay comes out as bisexual, its perceived that the reason for it is because he is so sexually active that he is captured by anything remotely sexual (in his mind at least, as he is known to often copulate with inanimate objects) but even from season he had shown a great affinity for masculinity. I personally believe that Jay is a realistic character and depiction of someone who is bisexual, but I also fear that he perpetuates another false presumption that all queer people, especially those attracted to more than one sex or gender, are “sex maniacs.” I still praise Big Mouth for it’s approach to create both a humorous and educational story that adults can appreciate and young teenagers can use as a resource, but I sincerely worry that this season’s approach to bisexuality and pansexuality will perpetuate harmful misconceptions in an upcoming generation of youths who are still learning.
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