Yeah, but cultural taboos are just human constructs.
I disagree. Taboos specific to single cultures may be social constructs. Incest, a universal cross-cultural taboo, goes much deeper than that -- it's probably biological, developed through evolution, because of the problems that result when siblings produce offspring.
The fact that children DO play doctor and house and that they are very commonly brother and sister who do so, indicates that they have no problem with such close contact with a sibling.
Maybe not, when they're FOUR. Few elementary school kids, let alone post-pubescent kids, play doctor with siblings.
Actually, so long as they don't try to produce offspring, there is no real reason why adult brother and sister or or other type relationships shouldn't be able to be together if they wanted to and both consented.
I agree. But that's not the issue here. In any case, I don't see any huge interest group of siblings pressuring Congress to repeal anti-incest laws.
Squicky, I agree, but that's just me. Doesn't mean others might feel differently.
Yet I don't consider you to be on the conservative edge, Del -- clearly you (and probably most of us here) are closer to the other end of the spectrum. Yes, there are no doubt a few viewers who don't feel incest is icky. But again, movie financers do not put up money hoping their project will be a hit with that small a percentage of the population.
Yes I do and I would prefer making out with him than some person I thought gross - Clark Gable was cast against one of the most beautiful women in the world in 'Gone with the Wind'. Clark was a leading man and swoon-worthy. In reality, the guy wore dentures and had horrible halitosis and Vivien had to kiss him and pretend he was beyond desirable. Eeech. Great acting by Vivien. Given the choice? I'd choose my brother. I know where he's been.
Really? Um, not me.
True, but then apparently some people showed up for BBM and didn't know it was a movie about a couple of gay cowboys. They might be living under a rock, but not everyone pays attention to celebrity news.
Anybody who showed up for BBM and didn't know it was a gay love story was TRULY living under a rock. You didn't exactly need a subscription to Entertainment Weekly to have heard that. Yes, there are people in the world who are that out of it. But again, movie financers do not put up money to appeal to that small a percentage of the population.
Um, yes, to some extent. I went to see BBM originally because I was intrigued by the concept. It was 'hot', a slash reader/writer's dream come true. I didn't have any squicks about it, but I was wondering if the two actors would be convincing since they were straight and was fascinated to find out why the two actors would agree to do this movie.
So there you go. You weren't squicky about it. Many people are, when it comes to incest. Put it this way. The producers of BBM knew that, at the very least, it would appeal to many gay men. Right there, that group alone far, far, far outnumbers the incestuous siblings community. They also believed, correctly obviously, it would appeal to a fair number of others who would find it sexy or have gay friends or relatives or are just generally open-minded about homosexuality.
But how many incestuous siblings do you count among your friends and relatives and coworkers? How many magazines and bars do you see targeted to the incestuous community? How much incest porn? I'm not a huge porn fan, but I have received porn spam about all kinds of things, including pictures of women doing it with horses. I have never received any spam for people who are turned on by incest. Not saying it's not out there -- god knows, everything else is -- only that it's not a big industry.
It was only after I saw it that I got swept away by the love story. Perhaps a movie with Jake and Maggie would be similar. People go to see it for many reasons and are repelled and/or attracted because of the story and the acting.
But if you're relying on people to love the movie because the story is good, why not just cast non-siblings? Why add that marketing obstacle? What's the point?
Controversy certainly would.
Um ... it took them seven years to make Brokeback, during which time they made countless movies based on comic books and '70s sitcoms.
And if Jake and Maggie thought the story good enough to actually put themselves through it, then I would respect their taste and go see it regardless of how I was brought up.
Sure, I might go myself, but that's not the issue. (Nor are any reservations I might have the result of upbringing; I don't recall my mother ever having to tell me that incest is a no-no.) Nor is the choice to make the movie up to Jake and Maggie, whether they're willing "to actually put themselves through it" (and doesn't that phrase alone prove my point?). Whether this hypothetical movie would ever get made is up to whoever would be putting up the money, and I don't think they'd give Jake and Maggie the opportunity.