The L Word - Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFMG

ABSTRACT
This thesis is geared towards portraying the lesbian universe through the analysis of five
characters from the TV series The L Word. We aim to provide our readers with reasons as
to why this series was such a worldwide success, obtaining fans from all four corners of
the earth, including those from countries that didn’t air the series. Our study will focus
more specifically on the observation of the different ways its narrative is presented and
speaks to its audience.
To achieve this, we addresses the issue of lesbian identity in addition to discussing the
status of television in an era in which new technologies enable the audience closer contact.
Moreover, this research also briefly addresses the history and some of the possible
TV series formats. With basis on The L Word series reviews and critics and by putting into
practice the proposed thesis’ title – elas por elas – (them by them1 ), we are able to notice
with precision how intensely all crew members became involved in the making of this series
not only duri ng its shooting but also behind its scenes. After focusing on theories applied
to each individual character, this thesis aims to identify traces of the lesbian universe
depicted by the series characters thereby consequently offering its spectators, especially
those who are lesbian, a wide range of identification options.
Key words: Lesbians, television, TV series, The L Word.
1 NT: the emphasis on the title in Portuguese is on the feminine gender.