I’ve been feeling bad physically after getting hurt and was thinking of a low-stress way to write a fun article for everyone this week. I came up with the idea of letting an AI chat write an article!
So I pulled up OpenAPI’s ChatGPT and so far, it’s I think our phoney baloney jobs are safe.
What’s ChatGPT?
You’ve probably heard about it in the news. ChatGPT is a large language model that has been trained on a massive amount of text data, allowing it to generate human-like text in response to a given prompt. People call it an AI, meaning it is an artificial intelligence.
I don’t believe in actual AI as, so far, no service like this has been able to think beyond the boundaries of the set limits. In fact, I feel that what we call “AI” is nothing more than a cleverly crafted switch. It’s not thinking, it’s finding an existing answer in the database.
Basically, the chatbot doesn’t understand nuance. It cannot go beyond what it knows, it cannot ‘learn’ on it’s own, but it can be ‘taught.’
How it Started
Badly.
Me: What is your favourite LGBT show?
ChatGPT: As an AI assistant, I do not have personal preferences or the ability to watch shows. My purpose is to provide information and answer questions to the best of my ability.
Now that’s fair, it can’t have an opinion, but at the same time, you’d think it would be able to say “Some popular shows…” and I asked what were some popular shows. Well it can’t do that.
ChatGPT: As a large language model trained by OpenAI, I have a vast amount of information at my disposal, but I am not able to browse the internet or access current information. My training data comes from a wide variety of sources, including books, news articles, and other publicly available texts. As a result, I may be able to provide information about TV shows that were popular at the time my training data was collected, but I cannot provide information about current popular TV shows. I apologize if this limitation is not what you were looking for. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to help.
At this point, I realized it wasn’t going to be able to write an article the way I’d envisioned. So I stepped back and tried some thing like “Do you know what TV shows are?” and “Do you know who Sara Lance is?”
Turns out it does know what TV shows are, and both Gilligan’s Island and Killing Eve, but not who Sara Lance is.
Give Me Ideas
Next I tried asking for ideas.
Me: I’m trying to come up with a topic to write about queer representation on US scripted television.
ChatGPT: Writing about queer representation on US scripted television could be an interesting and timely topic to explore. There has been a growing trend in recent years of television shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes, and this has led to increased visibility and representation of queer individuals on screen. In your writing, you could explore the history of queer representation on US scripted television, examining how the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters has evolved over time. You could also discuss the impact of these representations on popular culture and the broader society. Additionally, you could consider the challenges and opportunities that come with representing queer identities on television, and how this representation can be improved. There are many different angles you could take with this topic, and I’m sure your writing will be insightful and engaging.
That’s starting to get better! Also thanks for the encouragement bot.
I decided to push a little and ask what the best show to watch would be:
ChatGPT: As an AI assistant, I do not have personal preferences or the ability to watch TV shows. My purpose is to provide information and answer questions to the best of my ability. The best TV show for an individual to watch will depend on their personal interests and preferences. Some popular LGBT TV shows that have been well-received by critics and audiences include “Queer as Folk,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Pose,” “The L Word,” and “Will & Grace.” These shows feature diverse and well-developed LGBTQ+ characters and storylines, and they offer a variety of genres and styles to appeal to different viewers. Ultimately, the best LGBT TV show for you to watch will be one that resonates with you and offers an enjoyable viewing experience.
That last line is why we made the site. We wanted people to be able to find shows that resonate.
But sadly all the shows they picked were the ‘popular’ ones (which is odd since the Bot said it couldn’t tell me what was popular…).
Write an Article
After some more experimenting, I figured out how to phrase it and told it to write me an article about queer representation on US television.
Queer representation on US television has come a long way in recent years, with an increasing number of shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes. While there was a time when queer characters were either invisible or marginalized on television, today there is a growing recognition of the importance of representing diverse identities and experiences on screen.
One of the earliest examples of queer representation on US television was the show “Will & Grace,” which premiered on NBC in 1998. The show followed the lives of two gay men, Will and Grace, and their friends, and it was one of the first mainstream sitcoms to feature openly gay main characters. The show was a critical and commercial success, and it paved the way for other shows to explore LGBTQ+ themes and characters.
Another landmark show in the history of queer representation on US television was “Orange is the New Black,” which premiered on Netflix in 2013. The show, which is set in a women’s prison, features a diverse cast of characters, including several LGBTQ+ individuals. The show was praised for its realistic and nuanced portrayal of queer relationships and experiences, and it won several awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Today, there are many other shows that feature LGBTQ+ characters and themes, including “Pose,” “Queer Eye,” “The L Word,” and “Transparent.” These shows offer a wide range of genres and styles, from comedy and drama to reality and documentary. They also showcase the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, with characters of different races, genders, and sexual orientations.
Despite this progress, there is still room for improvement in the representation of queer individuals on US television. Many LGBTQ+ characters are still underrepresented or stereotyped, and there is a need for more nuanced and authentic portrayals of queer experiences. Additionally, there is a lack of diversity among the creators and producers of these shows, with many shows being helmed by straight, cisgender individuals.
Overall, the representation of queer individuals on US television has come a long way, but there is still work to be done to ensure that all LGBTQ+ voices are heard and respected. As audiences and creators continue to demand more diverse and inclusive storytelling, we can expect to see even more progress in the representation of queer individuals on US television in the years to come.
Now, my first thought was “This is familiar.” It’s not a bad article, but this sounds like every single mainstream, thoughtless, article about queer representation on TV, doesn’t it? It hits the main points, but has no understanding of depth.
Basically I had the same feeling as Ed Conway: the results are impressive but dry – a suspiciously sterile impersonation of a genuine newspaper column, rather than a convincing replacement.
Gonzo Style
Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism that is written without claims of objectivity, often including the reporter as part of the story using a first-person narrative.
Queer representation on US television has come a long way, baby! No more invisible or marginalized queer characters on the small screen. These days, it’s all about diverse identities and experiences, and we’re seeing more and more shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
One of the OG shows that paved the way for queer representation on US television was “Will & Grace,” which premiered on NBC in 1998. The show followed the lives of two gay men, Will and Grace, and their friends, and it was one of the first mainstream sitcoms to feature openly gay main characters. The show was a huge success, and it opened the door for other shows to explore LGBTQ+ themes and characters.
Another game-changing show was “Orange is the New Black,” which premiered on Netflix in 2013. The show, set in a women’s prison, featured a diverse cast of characters, including several LGBTQ+ individuals. The show was praised for its realistic and nuanced portrayal of queer relationships and experiences, and it won several awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Today, there are many other shows that showcase LGBTQ+ characters and themes, such as “Pose,” “Queer Eye,” “The L Word,” and “Transparent.” These shows offer a wide range of genres and styles, from comedy and drama to reality and documentary. They also showcase the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, with characters of different races, genders, and sexual orientations.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There is still work to be done to improve the representation of queer individuals on US television. Many LGBTQ+ characters are still underrepresented or stereotyped, and there is a need for more nuanced and authentic portrayals of queer experiences. Additionally, there is a lack of diversity among the creators and producers of these shows, with many shows being helmed by straight, cisgender individuals.
In conclusion, queer representation on US television has come a long way, but there is still room for improvement. As audiences and creators continue to demand more diverse and inclusive storytelling, we can expect to see even more progress in the representation of queer individuals on US television in the years to come. Let’s keep the revolution going, folks!
If you compare the two versions, the second one rings a little more true, but again they cannot get to where they talk about modern shows. I mean, all the ones they call showcase are canceled (except The L Word, but they don’t mention Gen Q).
Results?
For traditional, play it safe, mid-style/average media? This may become a problem. But right now, for the kind of engaging writing out there, don’t worry. There will be room for LezWatch.TV, Autostraddle, and other original, unique, sources who actually have an in-depth understanding of what it means.
Bonus: Why Netflix should Renew Warrior Nun
Just as I was wrapping this up, I joked to a friend how bad it was, and she said I should ask it to write a post about renewing Warrior Nun.
Here’s what it came up with:
Netflix should renew Warrior Nun, and here’s why! The show, which premiered on Netflix in 2020, is a thrilling and action-packed fantasy series that follows a young woman named Ava who discovers that she has been chosen to become a warrior nun. The show has a diverse and engaging cast of characters, a compelling and complex storyline, and amazing special effects. In short, it’s the kind of show that Netflix should be proud to have in its lineup.
But don’t take our word for it. The show has been well-received by critics and audiences alike, and it has gained a dedicated and passionate fan base. People are clamoring for more Warrior Nun, and Netflix should listen to their fans and give them what they want.
But it’s not just about the fans. Warrior Nun is a show that tackles important and timely themes, such as religion, identity, and female empowerment. It also showcases diverse and complex female characters, something that is often lacking in mainstream media. In short, it’s a show that has something to say, and that’s something that Netflix should support and promote.
But what about the money? Won’t renewing Warrior Nun be a financial risk for Netflix? Well, maybe, but isn’t that what great art is all about? Taking risks and pushing boundaries? And besides, if Netflix greenlights more Warrior Nun, they will likely see a return on their investment in the form of increased subscriptions, higher ratings, and more buzz.
So come on, Netflix. Renew Warrior Nun! Give the fans what they want, support great art, and take a risk. It’s a win-win-win situation, and you know it. Do the right thing, Netflix, and renew Warrior Nun!
Okay Netflix, even the robots think it should get another season.
