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Apple Pie, Baseball and Drag Queens: the Persuasive Elements in Current Gay-Themed Films

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Apple Pie, Baseball and Drag Queens: the Persuasive Elements in Current Gay-Themed Films UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1996 Apple pie, baseball and drag queens: The persuasive elements in current gay-themed films Michael Jordan Higdon University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Higdon, Michael Jordan, "Apple pie, baseball and drag queens: The persuasive elements in current gay- themed films" (1996). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 3277. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/rbh4-fsz3 processed, response: 201 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text direct^ fit>m the origmai or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter 6ce, while others may be fi-om any type of conqmter printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent npon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversety affect rq>roduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerognqjhically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Infonnation Compary 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPLE PIE, BASEBALL AND DRAG QUEENS: THE PERSUASIVE ELEMENTS IN CURRENT GAY-THEMED FILMS b y Michael Higdon A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication Studies Department of Communications University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMX Number: 1385175 UMI hficroform 1385175 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Thesis of Michael Higdon for the degree of Master of Arts in Communications is approved. c :C ^ - Chairperson, Dr. Richard Jensen, Ph.D. Examining Committee Member, Dr. Gage Chapel, Ph.D. Examining Committe/Member, Dr. Lawrence Mullen, Ph.D. Graduate Faculty Representative, Dr. Michael Bowers, Ph.D. u Dean of the Graduate College, Dr. Ronald W. Smith, Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1997 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT This study examines two recent gay-themed films {Philadelphia and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar) using Fisher’s Narrative Theory. The researcher wants to discover how the films gained success given their controversial themes. The films are analyzed based on the presence of Reich’s cultural myths and Reike and Sillars’ value systems. The purpose is to show how the presence of elements in the films, that Americans already accept as true, makes the newer, controversial elements more engaging. The study finds an overwhelming presence of cultural myths and value systems that qualifies both films as persuasive devices. Background on popular opinion toward homosexuals as well as homosexual themes in other forms of media is also included. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT................................................................................................................ üi CHAPTER 1 AN OVERVIEW............................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Importance ...................................................................................................... 3 Literature Review ........................................................................................... 5 Public Attitudes Toward Homosexuality .................................. 5 Media and Homosexuality................................................................ 7 Films and Public Movements .......................................................... 8 Gay Themes in Film s......................................................................... 10 Use of Narrative Theory of Film Studies ...................................12 The Narrative Approach .............................................................................. 13 Conclusion .......................................................................................................14 Outline of Thesis by Chapter..................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2 METHODOLOGY..............................................................................16 Fidelity.............................................................................................................18 Reich’s Cultural Myths.......................................................................18 American Value Systems..................................................................23 Coherence ........................................................................................................26 Conclusion .......................................................................................................27 CHAPTERS THE FILMS........................................................................................29 Philadelphia.....................................................................................................29 Behind the Scenes.............................................................................. 31 Public Response ................................................................................. 32 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar .................... 34 Behind the Scenes.............................................................................. 36 Public Response ................................................................................. 37 Conclusion ......................................................................................................39 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 4 THE FINDINGS............................................................................... 40 Fidelity.......................................................................................................... 40 Philadelphia.......................................................................................41 Cultural Myths....................................................................... 41 Value Systems........................................................................44 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar ......... 48 Cultural Myths....................................................................... 48 Value Systems........................................................................52 Coherence ......................................................................................................56 Structural Coherence ........................................................................ 56 Material Coherence ........................................................................... 57 Characterological Coherence .......................................................... 58 Conclusion .....................................................................................................59 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION ................................................................................. 61 Implications ...................................................................................................62 Limitations .................................................................................................... 65 Directions for Further Study .......................................................................67
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