La identificación con personajes de lesbianas: Recepción de audiencias heterosexuales y homosexuales desde una aproximación metodológica mixta

María Teresa Soto-Sanfiel; Adriana Ibiti; Rosa María  Palencia Villa

doi:10.4185/RLCS-2014-1012

Authors

María Teresa Soto-Sanfiel Autonomous University of Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1364-8821
Adriana Ibiti Autonomous University of Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1774-1257
Rosa María Palencia Villa Autonomous University of Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9523-7411

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2014-1012

Keywords:

identification with the characters, mixed method approach, representation, lesbian characters, heterosexual and homosexual audiences, reception

Abstract

This research explores the identification of homosexual and heterosexual men and women receivers with lesbian protagonists of audiovisual fictions, in Spain. Methodology: The study uses a mixed method, consisting of two independent investigations whose results are interpreted together: a quantitative investigation determines the magnitudes of the effects, and a qualitative one explains the reasons for them. Results: The results show that the sex of the receivers does not affect the magnitudes of identification, but the reasons for identification. However, results show that the sexual orientation of the receiver does affect identification. Finally, they show that the reactions of heterosexual men are significantly more indifferent to lesbian characters and the stories set in lesbian communities. Furthermore, the investigation finds that the principal weight on identification derives from the affective empathy with characters. Discussion and Conclusions: The application of a mixed methodology provides depth. The use of scales in the identification of quantitative data collection requires the participant to take a position within the range of values available, but interviews of a qualitative method can reveal the extent of meanings attached to these values. As expected (H1), the content of fiction affects lesbian identification characters. The morally virtuous protagonist induces greater identification, and it is produced by similar reasonsamong populations of different sex or sexual orientation. In addition, there are reasons to refute the gender of the receiver’s affected identification with lesbian characters (H2). It also confirms that there are differences in the identification based on the general sexual orientation (H3). These differences, however, do not happen only in the general magnitudes, but in the motivations for identification. The personal resonance evoked by stories and the similarity of the stories with their own experiences, are the two important factors for homosexuals´ identification. In addition, we find that homosexuals and heterosexuals process these narratives in differently ways. The responses of male heterosexuals are always distant and indifferent to those of heterosexual women or gay men and women.

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Author Biographies

María Teresa Soto-Sanfiel, Autonomous University of Barcelona

Doctor in Audiovisual Communication. She is a tenured professor in the Department of Audiovisual Communication and Publicity, of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She is a researcher associated with the Center de Intel.ligéncia Ambiental i Accessibilitat de Catalunya (CAIAC-UAB) and a member of the SGR Transmedia Catalonia. Her main lines of research are interactive communication, the study of the voice in communication fields, the psychology of the media, the reception of entertainment, interactive fictions and the communication of science.

Adriana Ibiti, Autonomous University of Barcelona

Master in Audiovisual Communication. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Audiovisual Communication and Publicity, of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Her main lines of research are the representation of lesbian characters, the study of gender, identification with the characters and the psychology of the media.

Rosa María Palencia Villa, Autonomous University of Barcelona

Doctor in Audiovisual Communication. Teacher specialized in Audiovisual Narrative in the Degree in Audiovisual Communication. She is Associate Professor in the Department of Audiovisual Communication and Publicity, of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She is a member of the Research Group on Image, Sound and Synthesis recognized by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Grup 2009SGR1013). Her main lines of research are audiovisual dubbing, multiculturalism, gender and audiovisual narrative.

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