Abstract
This paper examines the emergence of queer stories and the subsequent normalization of queer media in popular culture through the analysis of four primary characters from the Netflix original drama Orange is The New Black. The show is based on a memoir written by Piper Kerman and focuses on her experiences and the experiences of other female inmates at the fictional Litchfield Penitentiary. The narrative closely follows the inmates as we learn about their histories, their crimes, and their experiences together within the four walls of a correctional facility. Many differences exist between the novelization of Piper Kerman’s story and the events portrayed in the show, but both have been critical representations of queer space and have garnered a great deal of attention from casual viewers and critics alike. Despite being well-written, issues of intersectionality are sometimes ignored in favor of a less complicated plotline. Even so, the show tackles extremely difficult material with sensitivity through the development of dynamic female characters. Orange is The New Black is often hailed as authentic and gritty while continuing to emerge as one of the first truly accessible representations of queer experience in popular culture.
How to Cite
Baylor, R. & Sexton, S., (2015) “Orange is The New Black: Queering New Media”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 28(1).
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