Freaks talk back: tabloid talk shows and sexual nonconformity

Abstract

People talk so much about the bizarre that it quickly becomes routine. As the talk show circuit becomes increasingly obsessed with sexual nonconformists, many wonder if this form of representation isn't simply exploitation. This book claims that in a sense, talk shows turn everything they touch into freak shows. But what happens when the freaks talk back? The book argues that from talk shows' lies and sensationalism emerge certain truths. The socially deviant may be featured on-air for ridicule in the public eye, but the result is empowerment through exploitation. The book illuminates the dilemmas and practicalities of media visibility.