ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the poly gaze turns to narratives about polyamorous relationships that portray polyamory as possible and desirable. Two films are analyzed: Savages and Splendor. In each case, the narratives normalize polyamory by implicitly or explicitly endorsing moral standards for how to live “the good life” and by doing so, establish boundaries around who is deserving of happiness and the rights of citizenship and who is not. It is shown how poly-positive content is embedded within a broader, implicit message about American sexual exceptionalism. The concept of American poly exceptionalism is introduced to refer to normalizing narratives about polyamory.
