Homosexuality in Film - 940 Words

Homosexuality in Film When sultry, womanly JoAnn steps into the five and dime, rarely would a viewer automatically leap to the conclusion that twenty years prior, that gorgeous she had been a he. Ed Graczyk and Robert Altman pushed the envelope when they so blatantly portrayed homosexuality and trans-genderedness in a movie in 1982. They were not, however the first to choose to display homosexuality in movies. In fact, homosexuality, or the idea of it, has been with [the viewer] since movies were born. During the hundred years of movie history, there is a startling lack of representation of gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons, and when it does appear it is often feared or laughed at. Hollywood, as a universal influencer, has†¦show more content†¦Gay liberation happened with the release of The Boys in the Band. The film addressed the gay population as one with a huge sense of brotherhood and gave them a feeling of community. In response to this, gays and lesbians in society were more open about there sexuality and strove to rid American people of the thought that homosexuality was a mental illness. The film has been said to have sprung from a low place within the characters which causes them to reach out to one another for support. After this, gays and lesbians were much more visible in movies, but it would be a very long time before they would be rid of the final punishment. People cheered for the deaths of these tragic heroes, but after the liberation censorship laws no longer restricted the content of most movies. Once this had been accomplished, film writers could include any type of gay characters, but because the American public was not ready for truly positive gay characters with positive experiences the trends in villainous gays continued until Philadelphia and the AIDS crisis. True, the gay hero still dies, but from this point on all people gay or strait had a common fear. The AIDS epidemic has truly united the gay and strait po pulation on-screen. Today, there are still some who associate fear and anxiety with homosexuals, but with the creation of such movies as Brokeback Mountain we can see that the American People in general have come a long way. America hasShow MoreRelated Homosexuality in the Film Latter Days and in Sexual Perversion by Nagel1369 Words   |  6 Pagesand film, I felt that I have gained a better understanding on one of the most controversial types of relationships, homosexuality. The topic of homosexuality isn’t easy to openly talk about but it is important as philosophy students, to have an open-mind about topics that we don’t partake in. Doing so allows us to promote new ways of thinking about the world around us and see them in a whole new light. In this personal response paper, I will discuss homosexuality in connection with the film LatterRead MoreHomosexuality : The Film And Tv Has Come A Very Long Way Since The 1920 S2055 Words   |  9 PagesWhile many believe that homosexuality has only been seen in mainstream media for only a few decades, it has actually been with America cinema since the early 1920’s. The portrayal of homosexuality in film and TV has come a very long way since the 1920’s. What viewers see on TV about homosexuality is really just a representation of America’s changing public view on the subject. While we have come to accept the topic of homosexuality in American society more willingly, we have substituted much of ourRead More`` Farewell My Concubine And The King And The Clown By Chen Kaige1197 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout many countries around the world, homosexuality has always been subjected as a controversial matter. The societal attitudes towards the behavior of homosexuality vary substantially across Asia. Surprisingly, there are two conflicting attitudes toward homosexuality. Some Asian countries strongly condemn against homosexuality, whereas some Asian countries visibly accept homose xuality. Judith Butler explained that gender is represented as a stylized repetition of acts or imitation. She describedRead MoreHomosexual Roles And Its Effect On Society1597 Words   |  7 Pagesacceptance and predominantly, normality. However, these views are rarely being reflected in modern or mainstream cinema. These films habitually present themselves with a lack of diverse stories or representation, with many of them sinking into the similar tropes and conventions, leading them to be heavily criticised by individuals who identify as homosexual. By exploring films throughout history that include homosexual characters in various ways, an understanding can be made on how homosexual rolesRead MoreCritical Review: Its Elementary Essay686 Words   |  3 Pages Its Elementary takes a look as to whether or not gay issues should be discussed in schools and how such issues should be treated. Its not often that adults get the chance to hear what children think about homosexuality. Wh en asked to respond to the discussion the school children responded in a frank and earnest manner, some especially in the younger grades with an instinctual sense of fairness and democracy towards homosexuals, particularly those facing adversity. Unlike opposing teachers and parentsRead MoreThe Biomedical Model And Aids904 Words   |  4 PagesAnd the Band Played On was a film created by HBO on the Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS) epidemic in the 1980s, and the political and social debate behind AIDS (Spelling, Vincent, Spottiswoode, 1993). The papers aim is on how the film draws the assumptions of the biomedical model to influence the audience that its accounts of the AIDS epidemic is true, such as scientism and positivism, doctrine of specific etiology, technological imperative, and objectivity versus subjectivity. This paperRead MoreMovie Release : The Hay s Code1314 Words   |  6 Pagesthe biggest form of cinematic censorship at the time of the movie release: The Hayâ €™s Code. Films were highly censored ever since the birth of the industry. During the Great Depression, homosexuality was seen as a threat to masculinity especially because men were having a more difficult time being breadwinners (Mislak). Throughout history, the rules only got stricter and positive depictions of homosexuality were almost unheard of. But that didn’t stop directors, producers, and writers from showingRead MoreRhetorical Analysis : Boys Beware 1277 Words   |  6 Pagesand logos creates an effective argument throughout the film, Boys Beware. The first aspect of rhetoric to look at is, ethos, or appeal to credibility. Ethos shows the viewer that what they are watching is from a source that they can trust. This is seen in the opening slides of the film; the words say â€Å"produced with the cooperation of the Inglewood police department and the Inglewood unified school district† (Boys Beware). This gives the film tremendous credibility by not only having the police departmentRead MoreThe Art Of Cinema As A Tool That Creates A Possible Platform For Social Commentary931 Words   |  4 Pagessame time, the way that the film is written and directed implies something different because the outcomes throughout the film have hidden homophobic meaning to them. Having Sori and Manga be disappointments to their families, Manga almost die because of his love sickness, and Sori leave his family are factors that support the implications that homosexuality is wrong. To begin, Sori and Manga’s parents have expectations of them that are attributed to their homosexuality when those expectations areRead MoreThe Anti Homosexuality Act Of Uganda1265 Words   |  6 Pagespopular news show, Tosh.O, regarding the Anti-Homosexuality Act proposed in Uganda. At this time, the idea of implementing a law that banned homosexuality was ludicrous and the claims presented by Ugandans regarding the lethality of homosexuals seemed comical. After watching the documentary, Call Me Kuchu, this student realized the seriousness of this matter and finds news clips that made of fun of this law no longer funny. Call Me Kuchu (2013) is a film that documents a new bill proposed in Uganda