Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 01/08: Do you think Jack was murdered or was it an accident?
twistedude:
I think the author--and the film maker--left it intentionally ambiguous, but I think it is natural for people to form opinions, one way or the other. My opinion is: it was an accident. My stories say: it was murder. Go figure...
LauraGigs:
Wow JudgeHolden, what an essay.
I especially appreciate all your details relating to local culture, the historical context of the situation, and all the mechanical issues.
pnwDUDE:
--- Quote from: JudgeHolden on January 10, 2008, 08:32:17 pm ---You can argue all day on the percentages of gay men that experience anti-gay violence. Those who are identifiably gay and do not fit gender norms are sadly lightning rods for such aggression, starting when they are very young, and likely to see danger as evr-present based on their experiences. However, Jack Twist is not one of those.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---Gaybashing is rarely a crime of conspiracy, as any cop will tell you, its almost always a case of opportunity and group intoxication. Its like the old fire triangle, fuel, heat and oxygen, you need bigotry, booze, and opportunity.
--- End quote ---
It's my perception Ms. Proulxs story is about Ennis, not Jack. The movie goes into much about Jacks life that wasn't contained in her work. It's not so much about what happened to Jack or what I think happened to Jack, but what Ennis thinks happened to Jack.
JH, you are correct here. Jack did not fit any stereotype of those generally targeted with bigotry, hate, and violence or teasing for that matter. I suspect (only for this discussion because I have been happy with the 'it is about what Ennis though' theroy and can't bring myself to read slash of any kind cause I want the story to be as is) if Jack was killed because he was queer, it may have been that Randalls big mouthed wife picked up on what was going on and put someone up to it for her personal reasons.
Blatant, violent acts of physical injury toward gay men for no other reason other than they are gay--out steretypes or not--is very rare in this country. I know. I am in the field and I am very aware of national crime statistics. Most of the violence I have seen is what JudgeHolden describes in his fire tetrahedron theory is correct. Usually it has to do with a younger tweaker homosexual inner city hustler assaulting a gay man over a money dispute. The victim rarely tells the entire story, but one in my profession can sure read between the lines. In a lot of these cases, they are reported at gay bashings by the media and not the police. Groups take this, usually lock-step with the media cause it sells add space, as random killings of gay men. Aditionally, lots of attacks have been reported in parks or rest stops late at night. Always a story not reported in these cases. These attacks aren't as common today as 10 years ago. It's safer to hook up with a hustler without drugs/alcohol through Craigslist and such, so these meetings, usually in bars or on the street have dramatically decreased. Cruising rest stops and parks had dropped way off for the same reason. Guys don't need those places so much for sex anymore. I don't know of any conspiracies of guys getting together, hunting, and killing a gay man. And as JH pointed out, this was not the case with Matthew Shepard
--- Quote ---Ultimately, I lean toward the random murder explanation, for a series of small reasons, all technical:
--- End quote ---
It was not clear who's tire and on what he was changing. Not 'he was changing his tire' but 'he was changin' a tire...'
While Lureen was describing the details in an almost scripted mono tone which would lead me to believe she got the story and she really didn't understand what happened, I think that it was a murder. Just because he was a gay man like Earl? I don't think so. Could he, drunked up, got frisky with some guy in a truck stop or parkinglot (usually guys who are violent toward guys like Jack in these circumstances are homosexual and very homophobic)? Perhaps.
I still like to stay with I don't know and I don't care what happened to Jack. Ennis thought he was tire ironed by a group of bigoted homophobes, so be it.
Thanks for the great and in depth essay JudgeHolden. It took lots of time to put it together and it is very thought provoking.
Brad
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: bradINblue on January 10, 2008, 11:20:06 pm ---JH, you are correct here. Jack did not fit any stereotype of those generally targeted with bigotry, hate, and violence or teasing for that matter.
--- End quote ---
Tell you what, I'm not questioning anybody here, but reading this suddenly reminded me/made me think that Earl and Rich probably didn't fit any common stereotype either. Remember, they ran a ranch, and Ennis describes them as "tough old birds," yet they were still "the joke of town." And look what happened to Earl. ...
Artiste:
Thanks Jeff! Thanks also to all others!! Interesting!!
Jack was certainly a target for straights or others to murder him because he was a gay man or bi-man!! Right?
Yes, and look what happened to Earl! As you say Jeff... you said well too!! I ask: Why was Earl murdered?
What I dislike about the BM movie is that in the trailer Earl is shown in an negative light!!
Awaiting your replies, etc.,
hugs!! May gay men be safe in the whole world!! Straights be safe too!!
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