Exclusion from the Mainstream Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Exclusion from the Mainstream - Term Paper ExampleThe purpose of this paper is to meet how themes of heterosexuality and homophobia tidy sum also be present in queer images, and how homophiles have been continuously demonized and marginalized in films, thus promoting a deeper sense of homophobia in the edict and reflecting how widespread the social institutions believing in the sexual norms are. The approach of looking into theories of social deviance in relation to sexuality in queer films can aid in refocusing on the issue of social stigma and exclusion from the mainstream. Degradation in Mainstream and Queer Films While it is true that there leave behind always be great films, a lot of those that reached blockbuster success portray laughable characters in a supporting role, usually as a friend of the female lead character. While there is nonhing wrong with supporting roles, sometimes, these gay characters are not fully developed in the film and are used as a of parody of t he homosexual stereotypes that, ironically, have been fought by several organizations over the years. notwithstanding the good intentions of the film, degrading the role of these gays into something to energise laughter due to their homosexual antics is something that is not right. This dos not happen in mainstream films only. Even in queer films such as The Birdcage, some of these homosexual parodies can be observed. For example, in the films last part where the gays are dancing to the song Macho Man, it can immediately be felt that it is meant to be a joke that macho and gay are deuce terms that cannot come together. Even though the film is really all about the the message that gays should be treated equally, resorting to using the stereotypes for laughter defeats the overall message. Another example of this is Brokeback Mountain, where homosexuality is supposedly celebrated judging from the way the public acknowledged the film. However, how are the gay men portrayed in the stor y? They are shown as queer --- people who cannot be accepted in the mainstream, the other. Even homosexuality here is shown as something shameful and to be kept secret. Such films do not really bridge the gap of inequality between the heterosexuals and the homosexuals. Queer films actually do not advance the idea that homosexuals are equal to their heterosexual counterparts. They just breed a what can be called understanding towards homosexuality, but they do not really allow the mass audience to relate to them. They do not treat the idea of homosexuality as something normal, but as something that invokes pity. Heavenly Creatures To further thrive on this idea, a recently viewed film entitled Heavenly Bodies will be discussed. This film is based on a true story of two teenage girls who committed murder in 1954. The story is about Pauline and Juliet, the two teenage girls who are involved in a strange birth that is viewed as homosexual (lesbian) by the people around them. The two g irls are shown as the exact opposite of the other --- Juliet being extrovert, and Pauline being introvert. Despite being based on a true story, one cannot help but notice how the weird details of these two girls are played up in the story. It has been mentioned earlier that homosexuals have been continuously demonized and marginalized in films, and this is observed in this