Homosexuality In Brokeback Mountain

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Recommended: Relevance of media to identity

"Brokeback Mountain
Tyisha Stotts
Temple University
Gay and Lesbian Lives
03/24/2014

"Brokeback Mountain" could be described as a gay cowboy movie. It tells the story of a time and place where two gay men are forced to hide and deny the only great passion either one will ever feel. “Brokeback Mountain” is a love story, and like many love stories, its end is tragic. Their tragic story could be summed up as two lovers engaged in a forbidden love.
The two old guys shacked up together and soon became the joke of the town. The fact that they were two tough old guys did not matter simply because of their sexual orientation. Back then, kids are taught by their fathers to hate homosexuals. One of the two characters, Jack, is able to accept a little more willingly that he is inescapably gay.
Even their wives are not immuned from the public’s characterization of the men and the wives become victims too. Nothing in their background could have prepared them for what they found out about their husbands. Entertaining and comical shows Like: Jerry Springer,” in some way, provide a service by focusing on people, however pathetic, who are prepared to defend what and how they feel. Back in 1963, nothing like that existed on TV. And fast forward to 2005, not much has entirely changed. An Oscar campaign ad for the movie shows the two men together, although the movie's posters are certainly honest.
Wyoming, in conservative 1960s, is not so different from a lot of places and the idea of two male ranch hands falling in love serves as a good example of the suggestion that love, even though could be a natural force, persists against all odds. The two men, Jack and Ennis, have everything to lose because of their “forbidden” relationship. Society’s power...

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...has important direct and indirect positive effects, not least of which has been the new availability of role models and cultural icons for younger LGBTQ people, the attention to homophobia and hate crime, the growing recognition of demands for civil rights for gay people, and the public’s seeming greater comfort with “out” gay celebrities. A good example of this is Ellen DeGeneres, who’s ‘out’ was one of the most-watched TV events. A decade ago, it could be said that misinformation and homophobic stereotyping in the media could be connected to heterosexual’s lack of knowledge of gays and lesbians. I’m not sure the same could be said today.

Citation

Sharpio, Adam. "Portrayal of Homosexuality in the Media ." n.d., n. pag. Print.
Raymond, Diane. "POPULAR CULTURE AND QUEER REPRESENTATION." n.d., n. pag. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. . (A Critical Perspective)

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