Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > All Things Brokeback: Books, Interviews and More

New BBM review

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RouxB:
I don't have that same issue with the "It just happens to be two men"-but I'm not a gay man. ;)
In my head what I hear is there is nothing wrong or weird or abnormal about two men being in love-in a sense it "normalizes' the relationship. I interpret the comment to mean "get over it-men fall in love with men and women fall in love with women all the time and heterosexuality is just one way to move through the world.

None of this, however, is meant to minimalize or trivialize the oppression of gay/lesbian peoples in our society or that message as delivered in the movie.

I could be wrong-it has happened before!

 O0

Aussie Chris:

--- Quote from: RouxB on May 11, 2006, 08:39:35 pm ---None of this, however, is meant to minimalize or trivialize the oppression of gay/lesbian peoples in our society or that message as delivered in the movie.

I could be wrong-it has happened before!

--- End quote ---

I don't think you're wrong Ruby.  The problem with the statement is that it tends to "down-play" the gay content in the hope that the straight world will see something they can relate to and want to go see it.  I don't think it's done to cast aspersions on the gay theme itself, it's more for those that are not gay.  It's a double-edged sword though.  To down-play the gay premise of a film can be taken too far and unsuspecting people can be taken off guard.  I don't know how many times I've read the back of a cover of a video with a gay theme and the word "gay" is never mentioned.  You see things like "special relationship" or "strong bond" and you have to read between the lines or at least already know there is a gay theme.  Even the back of my copy of Close Range says "...but suddenly companionship becomes something else on Brokeback Mountain: something not looked for, something deadly..." - I mean really, this could be rustlers for all we know!

Lynne:

--- Quote from: JudeW on May 11, 2006, 10:51:31 am ---But for some reason I don't like it when they keep saying something along the lines of: BBM is a universal love story. It just happens to be two men. For some reason the 'it just happens to be', annoys me.
~ j U d E

--- End quote ---

I think I'm with you on this, Jude...I did think this was a decent review, but the 'just happens to be' also riles me.

It reminds me of our poll about our 'least favorite criticism' where I chose "It's only a big deal because it's about gay guys."  To be fair, pretty much all of the typical criticisms annoy me, but this one bugs me the most.

I'm sure part of my irritation stems from feeling like the gay relationship is being trivialized.  Both Ruby and Chris have described that well in earlier posts.  The powers-that-be seem to think that the basic premise has to be soft-pedaled to minimize offense and maximize appeal to the masses (read: profit).  I can almost see the focus groups and marketing spin-doctors at work.

But my objection is also from a purist, literary perspective.  You might as well say that the central conflict of the work is of no importance.  And because conflict is central to drama, etc...everything other single part of BBM that is so perfectly crafted is trivialized by association.  Then the movie becomes unworthy of our energy.  So, I guess I think that this reviewer put forth a noble effort but is still missing the big picture.

-Lynne

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