A different perspective . . .

Posted by JefferyK on January 12, 2006 at 15:56:41

In Reply to: Re: Brokeback Mountain: whew! posted by smart845 on January 11, 2006 at 10:16:29:

Here's a letter a friend of a friend wrote in response to an opinion piece about "Brokeback Mountain":

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To the editor:

Aside from the fact that those who tend sheep are shepherds, not cowboys, and that the word "gay," as opposed to "homosexual," implies some degree of self-acceptance, and disregarding the inappropriate labeling as "gay" of a straight director's movie starring straight actors, made from a straight writer's screenplay based on another straight writer's short story, and viewed by mostly straight audiences, I suppose Meghan Daum [author of the op-ed] may have a legitimate point about "gay cowboys" emoting in the "gay
movie,"Brokeback Mountain."

If I'm a little cranky about "Brokeback Mountain" it's because I'm old enough to remember when gay characters in fiction were required to come to ugly ends, just like Jack's violent death in this movie or Ennis's lonely old age, not to mention the grisly murder of the old man in the story from Jack's childhood. I remember too the several closeted homosexual men in my own family, heavy drinkers like Jack and Ennis, strangers to their wives, their kids and themselves, leading deceitful, unfulfilled lives and bringing misery to those around them. I joined gay liberation 35 years ago so I wouldn't have to follow their examples.

If it weren't so clearly an anachronistic heterosexual daydream, "Brokeback Mountain" might take me back to a period of history I'm glad is over and done with.

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I haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain" because, to me, the only reason to see it is to watch the guys screw and I doubt it shows much: Wouldn't want to alienate those straight viewers! But a friend, a closet sociologist, has encouraged me to see it just to check out the audience and watch their reactions.

Jeffery

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Brokeback Mountain: whew! - tinear 14:50:56 01/09/06 (21)

"Gay cowboy" isn't a cliche? - JefferyK 16:05:04 01/12/06 (0)

Re: Brokeback Mountain: whew! - smart845 10:16:29 01/11/06 (2)

Re: Brokeback Mountain: whew! - Dave-A 16:38:53 01/16/06 (0)

A different perspective . . . - JefferyK 15:56:41 01/12/06 (0)

Hey, he is the director of Crouching Tiger... - Misael 08:08:30 01/10/06 (1)

Damn, of course. It's such a differerent film it slipped my - tinear 13:49:36 01/10/06 (0)

Re: Brokeback Mountain: whew! - Frihed89 01:01:50 01/10/06 (5)

I'd have to disagree about the handling of emotions in this film. - tinear 05:01:52 01/10/06 (4)

Good points - Frihed89 12:28:45 01/10/06 (3)

I think you're overlooking the many moments the film portrayed the two - tinear 15:18:50 01/10/06 (0)

"I couldn't tell what drew them together." That's because the actors had no "chemistry" with each other. nt - clarkjohnsen 13:24:36 01/10/06 (0)

Re: Sex was the least of it. - Revolver66 13:11:00 01/10/06 (0)

Re: Brokeback Mountain: whew! - Jim Campilongo 15:29:41 01/09/06 (8)

"Expectations from reading the book." Hmm... it was a short story. But besides that... - clarkjohnsen 00:02:29 01/10/06 (7)

Hmmm- that's right , she said "story", not book... - Jim Campilongo 14:41:28 01/10/06 (6)

"Brokeback Mountain is a damn good movie." Glad you liked it. - clarkjohnsen 16:47:19 01/10/06 (5)

Inside every bear . . . - JefferyK 16:22:42 01/12/06 (3)

"You keep posting really stupid things." Thanks for the lecture, Teach. - clarkjohnsen 16:36:12 01/12/06 (2)

Your true colors . . . - JefferyK 17:06:42 01/12/06 (1)

Folks, IT TOOK HIM THREE TRIES TO GET TO THIS. *THIS*! His snot-nosed, nebbish response. LOL!! Apply for the history. n - clarkjohnsen 23:10:02 01/12/06 (0)

I guess we'll have to wait for you to do a "Rocky" and write the - tinear 17:34:41 01/10/06 (0)

Follow Ups

A different perspective . . . - JefferyK 15:56:41 01/12/06 (0)

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