Seeing what we want to see : searching for bisexual representation in "threesome" films

K. Yescavage, J. Alexander

Bisexual representations in film can be difficult to find; positive bi images even more scarce. Given our ever increasing hunger for bi-visibility, we searched where the dominant culture would most likely put us_namely, in stereotypical situations. Hence, based on the popular belief that bisexuality is related to non-monogamy, we sought out _threesome_ films for explicit representations of bisexuality, and we identified and analyzed four mainstream films from the 1990s (Threesome, Splendor, Just One Time, and Trois, all of which have a White cast, except Trois, which has a Black cast). While each film demonstrated a willingness to investigate issues on non-monogamy and even sexual experimentation, we found no _reel_ evidence of this illusive relationship between bisexuality and non-monogamy. More importantly, we did not find a willingness to call any sexual or intimate acts in these films _bisexual._ What we did find was an overwhelming tendency to privilege women as more sexually fluid, more capable of breaking out of an identity as _straight_ to explore bi-intimacy, bi-potential, and the possibility of having multiple intimate and sexual partners. At the same, though, bisexuality was rarely figured as an identity (and never as a positive one). The most stable relationships established by the end of each film revolved around the creation of largely monosexual relationships.KEYWORDS. Bisexual representation, threesomes, bisexuality[Copies are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Center. The Haworth Press, Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA]