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Representation of gays/lesbians in cinema
Representations of sexuality in films
Sexualization and objectification of women in cinema
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Recommended: Representation of gays/lesbians in cinema
To me, the film Go Fish (1994) by Rose Troche was one of the more memorable films for me during the semester. One of the main reasons this film stuck with me the most is that many mainstream representations of LGBT people are stereotyped, and this film was one of the only films I’ve seen that truly represent lesbian women and their lives. The film doesn’t end tragically, as many films with LGBT characters are often punished by the end of the narrative. Go Fish, a film created by and for members of the lesbian community, accurately portray the day to day lives of lesbian women living in the city. Lisa Henderson’s article “Simple Pleasures: Lesbian Community and Go Fish” really helps to explain how this film resonates so deeply with lesbian
On October 14th, 2016 in class we watched “Two Spirits” by Lydia Nibley. Basically the film explored the cultural context behind a tragic and senseless murder of the main character. Fred was part of an honored “Navajo” youth who was killed at the age of sixteen by a man who bragged to his friends that he was nothing but a “fag”. While walking home from a carnival he was chased by one of his friends. Once his friend caught up to Fred, he pulled him down from a mountain and smashed his head with a heavy rock. Fred laid there for five days straight where two young boys found his body lying there. He was labeled as a “two-spirit” who was possessed of balancing masculine and feminine traits. In the film, there are two parts that are put together effortlessly like the people it discusses. Most of the documentary focuses on Fred’s murder, but the real issues in the film were those of the lesbian, gay, and transgender community and how its members were viewed in a
Released in 1994, 14 years into the AIDS epidemic, the film had a phenomenal response around the world and in Australia. Travelling from Sydney, the three main characters, played by Hugo Weaving, Guy Peirce and Terrance Stamp, travel to Alice Springs for a cabaret show hosted by Mitzi’s wife. The audience is positioned to sympathise with the main characters during their hardships, and good times. The movie confronts different types of masculinity in an extreme environment. The film presents the stereotypical behavior of gay men that is evident in our society.
It is often found that the stereotypical “butch” and “femme” pairing are more visible than other lesbian relationships. However, this does not mean that they do not exist. The ever-growing popularity of the lesbian social sphere has symbolized both difficulties and effects of identifying with such a label. The label or identity itself, though distinctly separating lesbians from “normal” heterosexuals begins to exhibit pre-existing conflict experienced by gay males: “there’s always been something wrong (Aldrich, 38).” This quote implies the conditioned and ingrained belief that homosexuality’s “taboo” existence was more than just wrong, but distasteful and something that society should look down upon for being an “abnormality.” Sometimes, this social reality for lesbians made it hard for them to “come out the closet” and be visible. This experience is exemplified as “The repressed lesbian has a harder time of it, for she is less aware of her abnormality (Aldrich, 41).” Additionally, to be able to clearly and accurately identify “the lesbian is to meet the many women she is at close range; to see her against her various backgrounds, hear her sundry voices, and familiarize yourself with the diverse facades of her several lives (Aldrich, 42).” Here, the presence of the “double life” is demonstrated to further analyze the lack of privileges that the lesbian community had, including the social aspect of their
Seidman, Steven. Beyond the Closet: The Transformation of Gay and Lesbian Life. New York: Routledge, 2004. Print
The 1950s is an era remembered for the Cold War, communism, and June Cleaver. Most historians, if asked about this period, will mention the ‘Red Scare’ and the fight to stop the pervasive reach of communism in post-war America. Feminists will immediately talk about the idea of June Cleaver and the detrimental effect this perfect housewife had on the women’s movement after the massive employment of women during the Second World War. Often forgotten and missing from the pages of history are the millions of women who were ostracized and discriminated against based upon their sexuality. These women lost federal jobs, their military careers came to a halt, and, in some cases, blacklisted from applying for civilian jobs. Lesbians in this era were ostracized by society and endured unending discrimination from the government and police. In the face of this tremendous cultural pressure these women carved their own communities and lives out on the edges of the social order. The ‘Lavender Scare’ of the 1950s bred anti-gay legislation that led to horrific discrimination against lesbians and the development of a lesbian subculture. This period is currently referred to as the ‘Red Scare’ and known for the discrimination and harsh treatment of communists; It should be known as the ‘Lavender Scare’ and known for the immense persecution faced by female homosexuals in this period of history.
For this assessment, I have chosen the movie Real Women Have Curves. The movie follows a traditional Mexican family and their struggle to survive in America. The film focuses, on the youngest American-born daughter Ana. Ana lives in a Hispanic community in East Los Angeles the daughter of Latino working immigrants from Mexico. Her family unit consists of her parents, two brothers, older sister and her grandfather. The movie shows the conflict Ana faces between the clashes of the two cultures. The film shows that Ana goes to great lengths to attend school every day. Ana has had a successful school career, as her peers are getting ready to attend college. She’s expected to get a job to financially help her struggling family. She
First of all, one of the filmic elements in the film is interviewing celebrities and also having them narrate the film. In the beginning of the film, celebrities such as Hilary Clinton, the United States Secretary of State, Mary Robinson, the president of Ireland are interviewed. I think this part is effective because they are professionals who have background knowledge to the oppression of women, especially Mary Robinson, who used to be the
In Blackfish, Director, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, addresses the accidents that occurred at SeaWorld involving trainers and whales. Cowperthwaite’s purpose is to educate the audience on the cruel treatment and rough conditions of whales that occur in SeaWorld. The film maintains a shocking tone in order to persuade the audience and appeal to feelings of sadness and anger.
The first people introduced are a couple, Agustin and Marcelo, that has been well established in Chicago, Illinois. Marcelo explained his struggle of being both gay and staying catholic because as a kid he prayed to god for a miracle to change him to be “normal”. Marcelo has accepted himself and continues to practice the religion even though Catholicism prohibits being gay. Another man named David described being teased in his school career for kissing another boy in the third grade because of his sexuality. He moved to New York City to get away from his childhood and to finally be happy in a place where he isn’t judged. This homophobia from young kids instigates violence in school that is learned from parents and from the community of others. The last person introduced in the film was a man who transitioned to be a woman that was rejected by her family and had to move out of her home for coming home with hair extensions. This form of violence caused Gabriela to abuse drugs and alcohol to deal with the pain of rejection. These three examples show how people have overcome the cultural normality, but have experienced all sorts of different
While Hollywood pumps fictional stories such as the first televised lesbian kiss on Ellen, the real world is turning. While th...
Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind, a movie that confuses yet entertains, with action, comedy, and most importantly the value of love. At times I became confounded between what was happening in the movie and what significance it had. Although it was amusing trying to figure out why I had to understand certain parts, it was also frustrating when I realized what I thought was important was really irrelevant.
Led by Laura Mulvey, feminist film critics have discussed the difficulty presented to female spectators by the controlling male gaze and narrative generally found in mainstream film, creating for female spectators a position that forces them into limited choices: "bisexual" identification with active male characters; identification with the passive, often victimized, female characters; or on occasion, identification with a "masculinized" active female character, who is generally punished for her unhealthy behavior. Before discussing recent improvements, it is important to note that a group of Classic Hollywood films regularly offered female spectators positive, female characters who were active in controlling narrative, gazing and desiring: the screwball comedy.
But things were slowly evolving in the movies. Independent films had been featuring gays and lesbians as main characters, depicting real life and real relationships. Armistead Maupin’s Tales of The City revolved around a homo-hetero pairing.
Ms. Toni Morrison found a “Stranger”, a fisher woman, fishing off of her neighbor’s garden. After a short conversation, Ms. Morrison leaves the fisher women with the understanding that they will see each other again. Ms. Toni imagined the women to be friendly and delightful without knowing her completely. After a month of waiting to see the fisher women, Ms. Morrison took it upon herself to find the missing women. Just after she learned that the women did not have permission to fish and nobody had ever seen her before, her feelings towards the women changed to annoyance, and disappointment.
and many more. These films have shaped the behaviors and characters of both the feminine and masculine species in the society.