'Brokenback' makes me straight- Page 3

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:00pm

I think the point of this movie is to show that "back in the day" and in a "very masculine culture" there were, in fact, gay men. Many people don't believe that...and I like that this movie acknowledges that. It's historical...it's not saying, "IN THIS DAY AND AGE THERE ARE SOOOO MANY CLOSETED GAY COWBOYS!!!!!!"...and I think most people will understand that if they bother to see the movie.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:05pm

Well, ACTUALLY, there ARE a number of closeted cowboys and various stereotypes today. Brokeback Mountain could have easily been set today. In Texas. In Wisconsin. In Brooklyn with black men on the DL. In Astoria with Greek men on the DL. In the Bronx with Puerto Rican men on the DL.

It IS happening all around us.

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:15pm

yeah I know...but I guess I appreciate historical films about homosexuality because nobody ever thinks about it. Though it may be just as unacceptable today as it was back then in the western/cowboy culture to be gay...if someone were gay today there are many more resources for them to turn to to learn, and find acceptance (if they choose to).

A few years ago I went on a vacation to Colorado and was on a day long ride with my uncle, and two ranch hands-a man and a woman. Somehow dating and relationships came up, and the woman said she "doesn't mind black people" but if her daughter were to date one she'd "be devastated". So I'm sure homosexuality would not go over well, either. :-/

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:20pm

Jerby, you make me straight.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:22pm

I get what you are saying--and I certainly am fascinated when historians go back and uncover the homosexual history that was hidden because one didn't speak of it back then.

And, you are right that there are way more resources today for people, but the fact is that even then, one's community can hold them back--people in rural America, people of color, or strong conservative faiths, etc. They know they are gay--have researched it online. But they can not come out. They can only be gay on the DL. And like in Brokeback Mountain, you have to choose whether to stay where you are and be miserable or move to where you can be free, which is a big sacrifice.

What is pointed is that in 63, there were less options and that Ennis and Jack probably didn't know much if anything about the gay community or Stonewall or any of that during the time period of the film.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:23pm

zoney---knocking you back to 100 points.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:27pm

damnit, I almost had enough for the stuffed bear.