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An Analisis of the Teeatment of the Homosexual

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An Analisis of the Teeatment of the Homosexual ho, zo» AN ANALISIS OF THE TEEATMENT OF THE HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTER IN DRAMAS PRODUCED IN THE NEW YOEK THEATRE FEOM 1950 TO 1968 & Donald L. Loeffler A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOE OF PHILOSOPHY August 1969 11+ ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to analyze the treatment of the homosexual character on the New York stage from 1950 through 1968. The study was concerned primarily with the male character who has been labeled a homosexual by the playwright and who has been presented on the stages in the established on Broadway and off-Broadway theatres in Manhattan. An evaluation of the accuracy with which the homosexual character was presented was considered. Selected publications and scientific investigations concerning homosexuality over the past twenty years were reviewed. The presentation of homosexual characters in productions on the New York stages was surveyed. Seventy- five scripts of dramas pertinent to the study were available and were analyzed with consideration of the homosexual's attitude towards himself, the family's attitude toward the homosexual, and society's attitude toward the homosexual. These seventy-five scripts were compared with the results of published psychological and sociological studies. The most significant conclusion of the study seemed to be that there was a positive relationship between homosexuality as understood in scientific study and the homosexuality as pre-' sented by playwrights. Whether by intuition or by a know­ ledge of scientific observation, the playwrights had presented an accurate picture of the homosexual on the stage. The homosexual character has interchangeably played a major and a minor role in his relation to the theme and the plot of the pertinent plays of the period. No one trend seemed to predominate in any particular season. The major trends of treatment of the homosexual character in this period may be identified as: the presentation of the homosexual character for local color, the homosexual character fied as a sexual invert, the homosexual character resolving his problems by means of suicide, the homosexual character attempting to become heterosexual, the homosexual character as a third party in a love affair, the homosexual character as establishing a vanguard for his sexual rights and minority status, and the homosexual character for broad comic effect. The homosexual character has been presented in varying degrees of caricature. He has primarily been presented in his late teens, reflecting the archetypal hero, or in his early forties, reflecting the trauma of the homosexual adjustment to middle age and the possible loss of physical attractiveness. The speech and language patterns of the Il ÖL Donald Lee Loeffler 1970 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ili homosexual character have indicated his degree of effeminacy, his mental status, his education, and his individuality* Psychological assessment of homosexuality has pro­ gressed from the concept of being caused by a familial relationship to a pronounced awareness of the additive rela­ tions of cultural and environmental conditions. It has progressed to an awareness that any male may develop homo­ sexual interests regardless of age or marital, socio­ economic, occupational, religious, or racial status. It has progressed to an awareness that a cure may not always be possible or necessary, but that an acceptance of self is important for the mental health of the homosexual. The treatment of the homosexual character in drama has progressed from the offstage motivational force in the onstage action to the presentation on the stage of a labeled homosexual who is seemingly an accepted member of society. It has progressed from a satirical exaggerated caricature to the presentation of an individual who is warm, human, and compassionate. It has progressed from a character who spoke in forced inflectional stress patterns to one who utilizes his own personal syntax. It has progressed from the novelty of presenting a "shocking" character to the routine presen­ tation of just another member of complex society. Homo­ sexuality has become an acceptable topic for comedy, rather than appearing only at the opposing extremes of tragedy and farce. IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Charles R. Boughton, Ph.D. for his encouragement, patience and guidance in the writing of the dissertation. Donald L. Leventhal, Ph.D. for his direction and guidance in the area of psychology. F. Lee Miesle, Ph.D., Harold B. Ohee, Ph.D., George W. Herman, Ph.D., and the Theatre Staff of the Speech Department of Bowling Green State University for their continued interest and support in the research for this dissertation. Mrs. Delores Sutter, Mrs. Virginia Gray, Mr. John A. Poes, and Mr. James Goetz for their valuable assistance in the preparation of the final copies of the dissertation V TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTEE PAGE I. A EEVIEW OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN CONTEMPOEAEY MEDIA................................................................................................... 1 The Publications and Scientific Eesearch on Homosexuality ............................................................... 2 Psychoanalytical Contributions .... 2 Psychological Contributions ........................... 5 Sociological Contributions ........................... 9 Theological Contributions ................................ 9 Contributions in Periodicals ..................... 10 Academie Contributions ........................................ 10 Homophile Contributions .................................. lU The Homosexual Character on the Broadway Stage Prior to 1950 .......................................................... 15 Homosexuality in Plays of the Twenties . 15 Homosexuality in Plays of the Thirties . 17 Homosexuality in Plays of the Forties . 18 The Increase of Homosexuality in Contemporary Fiction ..................................................... 22 The Increase of Homosexuality in Motion Pictures....................................................................................23 The Presentation of the Homosexual Character on the Broadway Stage from 1950 to 1968 . 29 Identified Homosexual Characters in Plays of the Fifties..........................................31 VI CHAPTER PAGE Identified Homosexual Characters in Plays of the Sixties...............................................34 Considerations andI nferences ........................... 47 Summary..................................................................................................51 II. THE HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL ... 53 The Relationship to Theme and Plot........................53 The Homosexual Character as Local- Color 54 The Offstage Homosexual Character ... 56 The Unidentified Homosexual Character . 58 The Homosexual Character in a Love Triangle..........................................................................6l The Homosexual Character and Tragic Death...............................................................................62 The Homosexual Character Attempting Heterosexuality .....................................63 The Homosexual Character and Acceptance of Self.......................................... ...............................64 The Homosexual Character as Broad Comedy.......................................................................... 66 Atypical Homosexual Characters .... 68 The Relationship to Stage Role................................71 The Off-Stage Characters .................................... 71 The Walk-on Characters ........................................ 71 The Supporting Characters .............................. 72 The Minor Characters .............................................. 73 Vll CHAPTER PAGE The Major Characters...................................................74 Homosexual Caricatures ............................................ 75 The Relationship to Occupationa nd Age ... 75 Racial Factors ................................................................. 8l Religious Factors ....................................................... 8l Physique Factors ............................................................ 82 The Relationship to Speech and.S yntax .... 82 Summary..................................................................................................89 III. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTER ............................................................. 91 The Influence of Sigmund Freud . ............................... 91 Psychological Studies and the Homosexual Character....................................................................................... 9^- Gebhard, Gagnon et al...................................................95 Albert Ellis ............................................................... 100 Martin Hoffman .......................................................... 109 Homosexual Fixations .......................................... Il4 An Example of Homosexual Development . Il8 The Reflection of Trauma in the Homosexual Character............................................................ 120 The Law as a Cause of Trauma......................... 120 Blackmail as a Cause of Trauma .... 121 Suspicion as a Cause of Trauma .... 122 The Relationship of the Female to the Homosexual...................................................................................124 vili CHAPTER PAGE The Sexual Activity of the Homosexual Character............................................... ...............................129
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