LGBTQ + Representation in American Fiction Series: Analysis of Archetypes in Queer Characters on the Streaming Platform Max

Abstract

In today’s television landscape, TV series increasingly respond to social changes and demands such as queer representation. As a result, LGBTQ + representation has become a focal point for audiovisual industry professionals and scholars. This research examines the presence and portrayal of LGBTQ + characters in American fiction series available on Max’s VoD (Video on Demand) catalog in Spain. Employing a quantitative methodology, a content analysis is carried out to determine the characteristics of queer characters and their alignment with archetypes based on the narrative contexts of their scenes. Findings show that 46% of the TV series in the sample feature LGBTQ + characters. The majority of characters are cisgender (81%) with a homosexual orientation (37%). However, trans and non-binary characters are represented at a significant rate relative to their historically limited presence in TV series. The study identifies three prevalent archetypes: the regular guy (21%), the outlaw (18%), and the lover (17%). However, no clear pattern arises linking gender identity and sexual and emotional orientation with a particular archetype. In conclusion, while this research reveals a positive trend in the inclusion of the LGTBIQ + community on the Max streaming platform, there remain some weaknesses regarding some gender identities and sexual orientations, especially in older characters. This research contributes to Queer TV Studies from the Archetypes Theory perspective to examine queer representation in streaming services, providing original and novel findings to this field of study.