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The Representations of Homophobia in Gay-Themed American Movies of 1990S-2010S

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The Representations of Homophobia in Gay-Themed American Movies of 1990S-2010S Stella Maris Saraswati Mere – The Representations of Homophobia in Gay- Themed American Movies of 1900s-2010s THE REPRESENTATIONS OF HOMOPHOBIA IN GAY-THEMED AMERICAN MOVIES OF 1990S-2010S Stella Maris Saraswati Mere [email protected] Abstract The United States is well-known for its acceptance of homosexuality. Nevertheless, homophobia remains a threat that endangers gay communities in the United States. Homophobia is an intriguing phenomenon for American filmmakers. Through gay-themed movies, those filmmakers intend to raise the awareness that homophobia is elusive to eradicate. This study scrutinizes the representations of homophobia in the United States as seen in gay-themed American movies. The study carries out Postnationalist America Studies as the paradigm of the study which encompasses the discussions of numerous phenomena in the United States. Also, the study applies theory of representation by Stuart Hall probing the representations of homophobia in gay-themed American movies of 1990s-2010s. The study uses nine gay-themed American movies of 1990s-2010s as the primary data of the research. The findings of the study show three representations of homophobia in the United States, which encompass religions, gender roles, heteronormativity, masculinity, and HIV/AIDS as the highlighted factors that incite homophobia. By highlighting those major factors of homophobia, the filmmakers come up with two major intentions. The first intention is the movies as means to criticize the society who conforms to strict religious beliefs, traditional gender roles, masculinity, and heteronormativity. The conformity has led the society to commit homophobia, hence making homophobia elusive to eradicate. The second intention is the movies are aimed at encouraging gay communities to keep fighting for their issues and equality. Keywords: Homosexuality, Homophobia, the United States, Gay-themed American Movies Introduction 2005). It was not until the 1960s that The United States has recognized the finally gay communities were eventually existence of gay communities following its recognized. In the late 1960s, gay first emergence during 19th to 20th century organizations and movements which were (Bronski, 2011: 65-66). However, the first once secretive finally became public emergence of gay communities was (Jagose, 1996: 25-26). The organizations negatively received by the authorities. The gradually became popular all over the negative attitudes towards gay country. Their contributions documented communities at that time were mostly in media attracted public to gain respect triggered by its negative association with towards the existence of gay communities crimes and abnormalities (Bullough, in the United States. 1 RUBIKON Volume 4 / Number 2 September 2017 As gay communities have affirmed Despite the United States’ support their existence through positive for gay people, the country is still contributions, the United States eventually struggling with homophobia. There has opens a total access to gay communities to been a great number of murder, violence, express their identity and to fully and suicide cases which were motivated by contribute to the society. A great number homophobia. Among those cases, hate- of LGBT figures have been recognized crime places as a type of homophobia through their remarkable works which which is often addressed to gay people. In successfully empower the society. The 2013, FBI released a statistic data world’s most famous drag queen, Ru Paul, mentioning that 20.8% of hate crime were is a prominent LGBT figure, who incited by homophobia2. In addition to empowers young gay artists to enhance hate crime and suicide, homophobia causes their creativity and passion for fashion, depression and constant fear among gay make-up, and entertainment. Another people which unfortunately eliminates considerable LGBT figure is Harvey Milk, chances for gay people to live normally who became a prominent gay politician in and embrace a better future. Homophobia the 1970s. against gay athletes is an example on how The presence of prominent gay homophobia risks the future of theirs. A figures is not the sole proof that the United recent study on homophobia in sports States has acknowledged the existence of entitled “Out on The Fields” launches a LGBT communities. Thirty six states have statistics report mentioning that the US even chartered the same-sex marriage law, ranks worst in homophobia against gay which indicates another positive athletes3. Specifically, this study recognition from the country towards demonstrates that over 80% of homosexual LGBT community. Most importantly, athletes choose to keep their sexual Barack Obama has confirmed his support orientation secret. for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. 1 2 Federal Bureau of Investigation. “FBI- Victims”.fbi.gov. Retrieved on December 16, 2015 from https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/december/la 1 Reilly, Mollie. "Obama Praises Supreme Court's test-hate-crime-statistics-report-released Decision To Legalize Gay Marriage Nationwide." 3 Gregory, Sean. "U.S. Ranks Worst in Sports Huff Post Politics. Huffington Post, 26 June 2015. Homophobia Study." TIME. TIME, 9 May 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2015. Web. 19 June 2015 2 Stella Maris Saraswati Mere – The Representations of Homophobia in Gay- Themed American Movies of 1900s-2010s The increasing number of question on why movies portraying homophobic acts is intriguing. People homophobia are still released in the might question why homophobia still takes modern United States despite the country’s place in the country which is well-known tremendous support towards for its immense supports to gay people. homosexuality. In order to answer the Ironically, the number is increasing while question, the study attempts to further the country continuously endorses equality probe how homophobia in the United for gay people. Through various means States is represented in such movies. Also, such as art and social media, the country the study intends to reveal the triggers has encouraged people to help preserve the behind homophobic acts against equality for gay people. Nevertheless, the homosexuals in the United States. Since attempts still face challenges. there is a great number of gay-themed Regarding art as one means to help American movies which have been preserve equality for gay people, literary released in the last 25 years, this study works such as plays and movies, uses some of the movies as the object of consistently promote equality for gay this research. These movies are famous for people. For movies, there has been a great depicting homosexuality and homophobia deal of gay-themed American movies in the modern United States, which is portraying the lives of gay people, useful for figuring out the representations particularly in the United States. Critically of homophobia in the country as well as acclaimed American movies, namely, Milk disclosing the triggers behind homophobic (2008) and The Kids Are Alright (2011) acts. are examples of movies demonstrating This study carries out the concept positive contributions made by American subalternity as it confirms the basic idea of gay people. On the other hand, Saving Post-Nationalist American Studies that Face (2004), Philadelphia (1993), and The rejects American Exceptionalism. It also Normal Heart (2014) are few names of reflects on problems of the minority and American movies disclosing the ugly truth oppressed groups since the groups as parts of homophobia in the United States. of the United States. Hence, subalternity Intrigued by the representations of acknowledges the necessity of homophobia in gay-themed American encompassing racial/ethnic minorities, movies, this study aims to answer the gender hierarchy, and sexuality hierarchy 3 RUBIKON Volume 4 / Number 2 September 2017 as pivotal subjects to be studied in the the society and those attitudes shape the context of Post-Nationalist American way homosexuals perceive their Studies (Rowe, 2000: 25). homosexuality (Forstein, Gonsiorek, and Since subalternity encompasses the Loulan qtd. in Shidlo, 1994: 178). discussions on sexuality and sexual In regards to causes of homophobia, hierarchy on grounds of American Studies, religions, heterosexism4, inaccurate the use of theories surrounding representations of homosexuals in media, homosexuality and homophobia is pivotal and HIV/AIDS are immensely referred as to scrutinize the problems of gay the causes of homophobia (Roggemans, communities in the United States. 2015: 254; Girshick 337 qtd. in Jagose, Specifically, the study carries out the 1996: 94). In accordance with religions, theory of homophobia that is seminal to Roggemans et al (2015: 270) revealed that foreground the representations of religious people generally show negative homophobia in the United States as seen in attitudes towards homosexuals. Religious gay-themed movies of 1990s to 2010s. The people believe that homosexuality is following explanation offers concise against religions’ teachings; hence it is explanations on homophobia in general permitted to display negative attitudes and how it is manifested in the society. towards homosexuals (Duck and The term homophobia was first Hunsberger qtd. in Roggemans, 2015: introduced by George Weisenberg in 1972. 258). Heterosexism as one main trigger of The word refers to the situation where homophobia asserts that homosexuality heterosexuals show the fear of being close violates traditional gender roles and to homosexuals (Shidlo, 1994: 177). heterosexuality
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