Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Brokeback as an Anti-Gay Polemic : essay by W.C. Harris
Artiste:
Thanks all of you!!
Gaycottle, you say: No film or story is perfect, or perfectly suited for an individual's tastes or needs.
......
So may I say that the BM movie is therefore, as I see it for now, one which is a bit too much hetero!!
Some viewers even do call the two main charaters (Ennis and Jack) hetero men !!
At least the film is a start to help gay men and others?? !!
Much can be said. The BM movie is possibly our first somewhat sacred cow for many gay men, including myself!! Maybe that is just wishfull thinking on my part??
There are more and more anti-gay issues or ways (or something like that) that I see in it, however. Is that hetero-norming the film writers or director did??
Many questions remain to be asked and to be answered. One must keep an open mind... like you all say. The movie rings some freedom, but for whom mostly: for straights, for ladies, for bi-s, for gays, for children, for society in general??????
I hope and pray that is it not mainly for violence or for homophobia to become worst in our so-called civilisations!! ??
Awaiting your news,
hugs!! May we allon Earth be helped by the Brokeback Mountain movie in wondrous ways!!
Luvlylittlewing:
--- Quote from: garycottle on January 04, 2008, 02:22:56 pm ---I think Jeff hit the nail on the head. You can analyze the story and the film all you want -- even if you do have a Ph.D. after your name ;) -- but all this talk about heteronorming, and using tired cliches to appeal to straight audiences, and trying to make the story more profitable, etc. seems less of a critique of the story and film and more of a personal attack on the writer and those who adapted it for the screen. I think that's wrong, and I don't see any reason to impugn the character of Proulx, McMurtry, Osana, or Lee. I think they gave us something from their heart, and it seems like a true and honest gift. If you don't like the gift then fine, but there's no need to slap the person who gave it to you.
Artisti said, "The BM film is not a sacred cow." That's true. And no one is saying you have to like it in whole, or in every part or aspect. No film or story is perfect, or perfectly suited for an individual's tastes or needs. All of life is ambiguous. You are free to talk about your reactions and thoughts concerning the story and film, and you're entitled to your opinion. But so am I. And I loved BBM and I don't think it's anti gay.
--- End quote ---
Very well said, Gary. I have been following this thread for 2 days now, and I agree with everything you and Jeff have said. I am straight and I think its wrong to say that straight people couldn't identify with BBM without showing both men with their wives and kids. I think this is just wrong.
Oregondoggie:
--- Quote from: garycottle on January 04, 2008, 02:22:56 pm ---I think Jeff hit the nail on the head. You can analyze the story and the film all you want -- even if you do have a Ph.D. after your name ;) -- but all this talk about heteronorming, and using tired cliches to appeal to straight audiences, and trying to make the story more profitable, etc. seems less of a critique of the story and film and more of a personal attack on the writer and those who adapted it for the screen. I think that's wrong, and I don't see any reason to impugn the character of Proulx, McMurtry, Osana, or Lee. I think they gave us something from their heart, and it seems like a true and honest gift. If you don't like the gift then fine, but there's no need to slap the person who gave it to you.
--- End quote ---
Right on! The structure of the story, the power of the tragedy, would be destroyed, ruined, without the death of Jack. No trip to Lightning Flat by Ennis and no discovering the shirts. The whole story is enfolded in those shirts, imprinted in blood. They are Veronica's veil, as it were.
Secondly, if Jack had simply left Ennis and were living, with or without Randall, I doubt if the panel of the dream would slide forward that opens the short story. Nor would Jack begin to appear in the dreams at the end of the story, after he finds the shirts.
Sorry W.C. Harris, Brokeback Mountain is not an anti-gay polemic. You've just got to stand it, Boy.
ifyoucantfixit:
I think this story is a gay story true enough...But it has so much more than that. It takes all parts of it
to make the impact so strong. When you claim it is just that, it does a disservice to every one of the people
that are not gay that fell in love with it as well. I am one of those people. I can say there are so many layers
to that story, that you can after two years, still find new depths to the meanings in it.
I am sorry that those that want to claim it for a gay only entity. They demean all that they may recieve, in
its other ways as well. It is a very powerful statement of human condition. It has love and pain and the whole
damn thing in there. Its not a story to try and say gays are better or worse than anyone else. I think it is
just telling a story about two beautiful young men, that fell in love. The pain and sorrow it shows them going
through, is making us see how things should be and could be better for all. If people could just leave love
to work itself out. Without, all the negative outside issues other people bring to bear on that love. Let be, let be.
I get frustrated at folks that are unhappy with it not being gay enough. Or it being too shocking, or not
sympathetic enough to Jack, or Ennis. Or not paying off the mean people, like Aguirre...It can not in the time frame of a short story or movie, tell every little issue that they wish to cover completely...It opens the
little windows, and moves on, leaving you the ability to look further, if you have the inclination to do so.
It is never going to answer all the questions, or be militant enough for some...And for others it is too militant, and shoving something in their face.
It is a beautiful piece of fiction and a wonderful film. Amazingly rendered by the writers, the film makers and the beautiful actors. It came together at a specific time and place, and built a piece that will live forever.
It is a glorious entity, and we should appreciate it for what it does...not tear it down for what we think it
didn't do, that we as individuals might like to have seen differently.....That is selfish in my estimation.
I suppose I need to clarify, better. I too feel that Jack had to die. I think he was the savior that Ennis
may be redeemed. I have stated this in other threads before..There are so many references to him being the good shephard...Carrying the sheep on his shoulders, and crossing over the symbolic and literal river...With the
weight on his shoulders, is to me the most obvious. His helping the lamb with the thorn, and many more that are obvious portrayals... Without his death, the entirety would have been rather meaningless. He offered himself up, both figuratively and literally for Ennis's salvation.
Sorry if this steps on any toes..
Jeff Wrangler:
The sheer variety of people, regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation, who have fallen in love with this film and this story, who have had their lives touched and changed and enriched by this film and this story, and who participate in this community as a result of this film and this story, is proof enough of the universal appeal of both "Brokeback Mountain" the story and Brokeback Mountain the film, any academic critic to the contrary notwithstanding. :)
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