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Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll
Marge_Innavera:
--- Quote from: magicmountain on November 17, 2006, 12:03:32 pm ---Who have really engaged with the tragedy of Brokeback Mountain?
1. Those who allowed themselves to experience the reality of Jack’s death and his disappearance from the world and felt so devastated by what this tragedy meant in human terms and by the pain of Jack’s death they needed psychological healing.
2. Those who refuse to read Dead!Jack stories, deny the reality of Jack’s death preferring to believe that Jack somehow survived.
3. Those for whom the story and Ennis’ life come to a dead end with Jack’s death.
--- End quote ---
I've had conversations with people in the 3) group, and some make an honest case for Ennis' getting involved with anyone else as being essentially out of character. I can respect that view, though I don't share it.
But to save my life, I never can figure out how people who wax hysterical at being reminded of the story and film's actual ending can call themselves BBM fans. It's a little like billing one's self as a Titanic fan and leaving 3/4 of the way into the movie because you don't want to see the ship sink!
--- Quote ---Groups 2 and 3 assert that they are the upholders of Annie’s vision in writing this story. Proulx’s story was one of loss. Where is the loss? Proulx’s capacity to create vivid characterization and Ang Lee's rendering of the evolution of Ennis’ character invite us to consider how his further development might unfold after the shock of Jack’s death. Where is this development?
Groups 2 and 3 also consider that Ennis' maturing sexuality and the representation of this with his new partner as debasing his character. Every sexual permutation in the book is allowed between two relatively unsophisticated country guys if those guys happen to be Ennis and Jack. What’s cool between them suddenly becomes something tawdry between Ennis and Ellery. No mystery as to the reason why.
--- End quote ---
Yes; for some it's apparently A-OK to depict fisting, golden showers, domestic violence and murder, Ennis as a hit man, Jack as a truck stop whore, etc. but a loving, monogamous relationship between Ennis and another man after Jack is dead (yes, that did happen in the original story, people; deal with it!) -- OMG, cover my eyes, I can't look! Annie would be outraged!
There's something more than a little irrational going on here. 8)
louisev:
I wrote in one of my private essays that only two weeks before writing the first chapter of "Taking Chances", I posted a statement saying I could not envision a situation in which Ennis could find another relationship after Jack's death.
However - my friendship with a man who went through the devastating loss of a lifelong love and found first comfort and then a new, full-blown love relationship with another man (in this case it was only 9 months later, but while he was still in the throes of a crippling depression over his partner's death) convinced me that my view was limited.
MaineWriter:
--- Quote from: Marge_Innavera on November 17, 2006, 01:16:39 pm ---
Yes; for some it's apparently A-OK to depict fisting, golden showers, domestic violence and murder, Ennis as a hit man, Jack as a truck stop whore, etc. but a loving, monogamous relationship between Ennis and another man after Jack is dead (yes, that did happen in the original story, people; deal with it!) -- OMG, cover my eyes, I can't look! Annie would be outraged!
There's something more than a little irrational going on here. 8)
--- End quote ---
This is so true....
Leslie
souxi:
Well the weather over here is terrible. It,s pouring with rain, the wind is blowing a gale and it,s orrible, absolutly orrible. :( So what we need is some of our boys to warm us all up. ;D Do you think Louise has managed to escape from work yet??
souxi:
BTW Where is June? Dont think I,ve seen her all day. :'( :'( :'( :'(
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