The L-word: Creator talks about lesbians in media

In 2001, after her film "Dirty Pictures" won a Golden Globe, a little birdie told her to try again. The pilot for "The L Word" premiered Jan. 18, 2004.

Four seasons later, more than 180 NYU students packed the Cantor Film Center for an advanced screening of the fifth season premier and a Q-and-A with Chaiken herself. The event was hosted by the office of LGBT student services and CampGrrl, a student club for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women.

Cantor opened the doors at 5:45 p.m. and by 5:55, people were being turned away amidst yells of "but we're die hard fans" and "we'll stand in the back, we don't care!" Such is the dedication this drama inspires.

"I'm going to say the L-word," Tom Bourdon, the program administrator for the LGBT office, announced. "Lesbians," he continued. "Is everyone excited to see some hot girl-on-girl action?" The response was deafening.

"The L Word," which portrays the lives of a group of lesbian and bisexual women, is often credited with challenging traditional lesbian stereotypes. Some contend that Chaiken, who also co-produces the show, has become an icon for lesbian teens everywhere. During the Q-and-A, one member of the audience asked Chaiken for the advice she would give a girl going through her first lesbian breakup. The answer: "Get out there and have a good time."

Steinhardt junior Simone (who declined to give her last name) believes that Chaiken and "The L Word" are helping portray the lesbian community more accurately than other media outlets.

"Lesbians don't get a lot of exposure," she said. "People usually just think 'Oh, they're just curious, experimenting with their sexuality.' But there are the die-hard lesbians, like myself, and she is representing them."

The idea of representation was a recurring theme in the audience's questions. They asked why all the lesbians in the show are unrealistically attractive and why the characters come from such an affluent community. Chaiken's response was honest. She said there are elements of the show that cannot be realistic and urged fans to remember that "The L Word" has to go by the rules of television like any other show.

"Take 'Grey's Anatomy,' for example. How many doctors are really that good looking?" Chaiken asked. "The idea is that TV has got to be aspirational [to keep people watching]. The characters have to be a bit more glamorous than the people you know." She said that her obligations as a writer are to make a good show, write good drama, entertain and keep people watching.

CAS junior Emily Rinaldi agreed.

"There was some controversy here. It is TV; it needs to be hot for me to watch it," Rinaldi said.

Other students who attended the event, like CAS sophomore Sophie (who also declined to give her last name), said that while the show is an enjoyable first step and she's curious about the new season, people expect too much.

"There is a perception that 'The L Word' changed what people thought about lesbians," Chaiken admitted. But her original intention was not to create a show that would take a political stance. She wanted to tell her stories and the stories of the women in her own lesbian community, writing about the lives of individual characters and the connections between them.

"I want to tell stories that offer a look into our world, and stories that establish the connections between us are universal," she said. "I would say that the show doesn't have politics but the characters do."

Bourdon also said that expectations for "The L Word" might be a little too high.

"I think the show does reinforce some positive and negative stereotypes, but it is one show we're relying on to do a lot," Bourdon said. "Because there are so few shows like it out there, it is a lot easier to scrutinize it."

However, Bourdon did agree that it has tapped into mainstream America and created more visibility for the LGBT community, which he says is a good first step. The fact that it has stayed on air and still receives so much support is inspiring, he said.

Showtime has not yet announced what the future of "The L Word" will be, but Chaiken said they are producing the show as if it will go on indefinitely. This season follows a main character, Jenny, writing her own movie. For the show's writers, the plot is meant to be an insight into their experience.

"We're letting Jenny retell our stories and making a comment on our experiences," Chaiken said. And "The L Word" saga might not be limited to the small screen.

"I would be very into making "The L Word" movie when the time comes," she said.

"The L Word" began during a period of cultural change in America - a time when people were moving into a more understanding frame of mind. Chaiken said that while the show can't take all the credit, it has at least had a positive impact on the reappropriation of once-derogatory terms and language used to describe members of the LGBT community. When one of the actresses on the show said she was uncomfortable using the word "dyke," Chaiken summed up her mission:

"Who doesn't like 'dyke' anymore?" she asked. "We've owned that word."

Corina Maritescu is a contributing writer. E-mail her at etcetera@nyunews.com.