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Christian Storrs
English 2850
April 30, 2015
Final Paper
Brokeback Mountain (the film) was released during a conservative societal era
(2004), and not only was this film shocking and offensive to a vast amount of the
American mainstream public, it was also a stepping stone in queer liberation and
queer awareness. This film was hope, and gave an ever so deserving queer audience,
a small taste of freedom, and an emotional connection to Hollywoods glamorous
love stories, that these individuals had hardly ever experienced and so badly craved.
It touched many people in ways they cant describe, and also infuriated, and
annoyed others. The range of emotions that were felt in this film could be seen as a
twisting and turning roller coaster, which almost made you nauseous to view.

In regards to bringing to light a new sense of LGBTQ visibility, this film did so in a
way that many older generations could personally relate to. While at the same time,
painting a picture to a younger generation of what being queer was like, in the rural
west during the 60s. It showed the horrors that were so often bestowed in
individuals during this time, and the hell that these people faced in their daily lives if
they were to ever be caught or noticed as queer. The filmed portrayed a sense of
hopelessness for these two cowboys, which in modern day political and societal
views didnt t seem to quite match up. So it could be noted that those who are in
younger generations, or who have never grown up in or near rural west farm

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country (probably most people watching this film), cant fully grasp the storyline or
settings to its full extent, to which it is being presented. So in other words, the film
has a theme that distances many of the audiences members, and disconnects them
from fully understanding the historical side of LGBTQ struggles in this area, and at
this time.
Moreover, I believe a message is being relayed to the audience that isnt necessarily
positive or progressive, this message is: those who are gay will never fully find true
happiness and satisfaction in their lives, and that who they are, and what they do, is
unacceptable in societys eyes and ideas. Next, the pessimistic, depressed, and lonely
character Ennis survives in the end, while Jack the optimistic one who desperately
wishes to live a life with the man he loves and cherishes, is assumed to be brutally
murdered later in the film, due to his open and hopeful thinking and attitudes for a
better, more meaningful life. The storyline to me seems depressing and outdated in
todays queer ideology, but given the time its being portrayed, it seems more fitting.

Furthermore, Its also hard for me to watch this film, knowing that Hollywood hasnt
released a major big budget queer film that has caught as much attention as
Brokeback, since Brokeback was released. I believe many mainstream Americans
are still using Brokeback as the rhetorical or metaphorical go to in understanding
how to accept and deal with queer people, this film didnt strengthen the love and
acceptance of queer individuals, but rather outed them as sad pathetic freaks in the
publics eye. Although, it isnt to say that the love story that unfolds in the film isnt
extremely passionate and heartwarming, while also showing real love and

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friendship between the two men. But the background message is silently preaching
that this love will never flourish and grow into something bigger, and that their
relationship is impossible. Leaving the audience in shock and desperation when
they finally leave the theater.

On another note, the article of The Magic Mountain brings attention to the

glamourized aspects of Brokeback, that doesnt necessarily correspond to real life or


the actual story. For an example, the new clothing that is worn by these rugged
cowboys, and the perfect physiques and looks these two men hold. Where as in the
short story, the men are described as anything but absolutely beautiful, clean, and
perfect. This comes to show the gender binaries that are used in Hollywood and the
media, and the way we as a society view and expect gay men, or heterosexual men
to act, look, and behave. America wants buff, dominating, strong, masculine, or
idealized men in their films as the lead roles, and submissive, under spoken,
reserved women as their counter parts, like with Ennis and his wife. But strikingly
enough, these outdated norms are actually challenged in Jack and his wifes
relationship. His wife is noted and portrayed as the strong, independent, and
beautiful breadwinner, where as Jack is seen as an unqualified, under appreciated,
outcast and a disrespected cowboy. This shows explicitly within Jacks wifes family
and his own, and the lack of power he possess while at dinner with his wifes father,
where he finally explodes and releases all of his built up anger at the dinner table.

Finally, the film goes against the mainstream grain, in the sense that it challenges
many of the cultural norms and taboos during that period of time, and even still

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today. Things like dominance in marriage, masculinity and gay men, gay cowboys
(who in history have been seen as manly, rugged and most definitely heterosexual)
woman as the breadwinner, and true passionate love between men etc

Although overall, I believe this film was much more progressive than the films
shown in the celluloid closet, especially because of the time period in which it was
released. This film brought about new ideas to a public that so badly needed a
broader range of understanding, along with serious desensitizing of queer sexuality,
and the many forms it can occur in. Brokeback opened a large closet door to a whole
new level of queer communication, awareness, and media mainstreaming, or
normalizing queer sexualities. Even with all the jokes, and mocking media reports
that later followed its release, the film still stands out with dignity, and plays a
momentous role in the progression of queer equality and awareness. I believe that
in a semi short matter of time, we will start seeing queer Disney princes, princesses,
and hopefully those that are somewhere in the middle, or entirely genderless,
equally inclusive in popular films in the U.S, and around the world.


Heres a neat quote I find quite moving and progressive to be found in a modern day
childs cartoon. Hope you enjoy it!

-Well one isnt purely defined by their sex or gender. I have yet to find out who
I really am. I have freedom, no longer bound by the limits of my core. Freedom

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to shape my reality, and in turn be shaped by it-Lamp, Friends Forever


episode of Adventure Time Cartoon show.


Citations

"Hello Cowboy." The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web.


<www.theguardian.com/2005/sep/3>.

"The Magic Mountain." The Gay Lesbian Review. N.p., 28 Feb. 2006. Web.
30 Apr. 2015. <http://www.glreview.org/article/article-120/>.

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