Do you think Brokeback Mountain helped people understand the gay community or further enforced claims...?

Question

of a gay-friendly media? In other words, do you think it helped or hurt the gay community in general?

Answer 1

I don't think it fostered any greater understanding of the gay community - all it does represent, to my mind, is a landmark achievement of mainstream cinema realising it CAN make money by portraying gays as other than deviants with mass murdering tendencies or as foppish shells with little to no characterisation. It helps too that the principals were established and respected actors and not some unknowns who had no reputation to lose by prising gay roles.

The movie itself was not that hot. The best thing about it for me was the cinematography/art direction.

Oh and it did give the media something to write about - not that much of what I saw was gay friendly - rather they just (rather salaciously, IMHO) reported on the brouhaha that the right-wingers saw fit to instigate about it. If anything, the only thing they helped was ticket sales - with all the free advertising.

Answer 2

i know a lot of straight people that saw the film, but they weren't homophobic. i can't imagine that any homophobes would see it knowing what it's about, so i don't see how it could change their minds. my only thought is that a huge reason for homophobia is a lack of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and otherwise queer visibility; the more queer people are represented in the arts and the media, the more we will be accepted.

it probably did give homophobes another excuse to scream that the media is gay-friendly. the obvious response, though, is why shouldn't it be? there are many, many queer people in the world: the actual biased thing to do would be to not feature us in films, on television, etc.

sitting in the theater, watching a different movie, poseidon, i felt very vulnerable when richard dreyfus' character was shown to be queer. i knew that some people in the theater were probably thinking that this was just "liberal media bias" and other ridiculous things. but the truth is, it'd be highly unlikely for there not to be queer passengers aboard the boat. for the media to be realistic and inclusive, it needs to show more of us.

many christians want more positive portrayals of christian characters in film. why can't they accept the disappointingly few positive portrayals of queer characters?

brokeback mountain shouldn't have been a major event because it was about two people of the same sex falling in love; it should have been a major event because it was a genuinely good movie.

edit, to ryan 7:
brokeback mountain wasn't shoving anything in anyone's face. just about every movie i see features heterosexual relationships, but i suppose you're fine with that because you view that as the norm, the default. comments like that just show your true bigotry.

Answer 3

Hurt ...i do not care one way or the other if same sex couples and marriages are around or not. But that movie has opened all gays up to being the butt of all jokes.I am sure it is hard enough to be a gay person at times with out the world making jokes because of a stupid movie....want proof of all the joking ? get it BUTT of all jokes....see even i cant help it.I never would have said something like that before but now it is just too easy to call some one a broke back bitc h.....u know what i mean?....so definitely hurt the gay community

Answer 4

the two, incredibly. strange, yet genuine. maximum fantastic issues with regard to the media buzz I witnessed, advance into the two David Letterman, and Howard Stern the two watched and counseled the practice to their visitors. and that they weren't joking, they have been severe. a pair of right now adult men, great at what they do, who attain hundreds of thousands especially much daily. They the two took huge possibilities that they might lose some visitors/listeners whilst they did that, yet they did it even however. i'm very pleased with them for that, very proud to be followers of them. listening to alot of communicate radio, i spotted that damned close to each conservative or average political commentator made quite a few unfavorable comments approximately the two Brokeback Mountain and TransAmerica, for many many days. i'm conservative gay myself, and because they have been consistently making unfavorable comments,calling the action pictures 'grime', i began out to think of that they may be good. How unusual to confirm that no longer purely have been they alot much less grimy than almost all of mainstream rated R video clips, yet that they have got been very stable video clips besides. My answer is the two.

Answer 5

I don't think it helped or hurt the gay community, what it did do was to show another section of the gay community. ie: Country guys, both married and both being scared of admittting to what they considered to be true love, because of the reactions of the society they were born and raised in. But it was a boring movie

Answer 6

Going on only one viewing (and being int erupted) I'd say, in simplest terms, Brokeback M. demonstrated how PASSION and DESIRE has absolutely NOTHING to do with traditions, rules or even fears. When you click, you click and its as private as two lovers in a tent. Not open for judgment!

Answer 7

Hurt. I didn't go see it, like most heterosexuals. This movie to me was just an attempt to normalize and mainstream the gay lifestyle to everyone. You do your thing and I'll do mine. Just don't shove it in my face.

Answer 8

I believe everyone already has their opinion on the whole gay issue. This movie just solidifies their ideas.

Answer 9

I am sorry but nothing whatsoever will ever convince me that a homosexual act between two men is natural in any sense of the word.

Answer 10

i thought the point of the movie was to look past their sexuality and see its just a story about 2 people finding their soulmates.