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fandomhigh2010-03-17 01:49 pm
carpe_demon) wrote in fandomhigh2010-03-17 01:49 pm
Entry tags:
Love & Romance, Hollywood Style [Period 4, Class 10]
"All right, kiddies," Drake started the class, "the next two classes are going to deal with same-sex love. Emmett, you'll get your turn next week. If this is going to bother any of you, you're excused, you can leave now and not be marked down for skipping class." Not that he marked anyone down for skipping, and he really hoped no one was going to leave.
"So, sapphic love. There's this thing called 'The Dead/Evil Lesbian Cliché,' so named because for awhile there, any time a lesbian appeared in a film, they invariably turned out to be either evil or they got killed off. Or sometimes both. They could never find happiness and were generally portrayed as bad seeds or weak and unstable because being gay was supposed to be bad. Hence, if you were a lesbian, you were doomed. Or if you were 'lucky'" -- that was complete with air quotes -- "the healing power of the penis would fix you right up.
"Fortunately, there are movies now telling that cliché to go screw. First, there's Bound, which is a neo-noir crime thriller that just happens to be about lesbians. Violet is in a relationship with Caesar, who is involved with the mafia, and Corky is the ex-con renovating the apartment next door. Violet is immediately attracted to Corky, and since she's tired of the violence and brutality of the life of a mafia moll, she asks Corky for help in making a new life for herself. So Corky and Violet plan to seen $2 million worth of mafia money and set up Caesar to take the fall. Things don't exactly end up going as planned, and Violet shoots Caesar to stop him from killing Corky, and our two lesbians ride off into the sunset together.
"The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love is more of a romantic comedy. It's the story of two very different high school girls, Randy and Evie, who meet and fall in love. They have to struggle with disapproving family and friends, different social statuses, grades, and worries about intolerance. The movie ends with Randy and Evie kissing and hugging in the open motel room doorway while everyone they know argues about them in the background.
"While cinematic portrayals will never make everyone happy," Drake finished up, "being a lesbian in a movie or TV show doesn't automatically mean you're going to be evil or die anymore. Fortunately, you'll find a lot more realistic roles, or even parts where the character isn't defined primarily by their sexuality. It's just one of any number of facets to their life and personality. And that's a trend Hollywood should be proud of. Love is love, and same-sex or not has nothing to do with it."
"So, sapphic love. There's this thing called 'The Dead/Evil Lesbian Cliché,' so named because for awhile there, any time a lesbian appeared in a film, they invariably turned out to be either evil or they got killed off. Or sometimes both. They could never find happiness and were generally portrayed as bad seeds or weak and unstable because being gay was supposed to be bad. Hence, if you were a lesbian, you were doomed. Or if you were 'lucky'" -- that was complete with air quotes -- "the healing power of the penis would fix you right up.
"Fortunately, there are movies now telling that cliché to go screw. First, there's Bound, which is a neo-noir crime thriller that just happens to be about lesbians. Violet is in a relationship with Caesar, who is involved with the mafia, and Corky is the ex-con renovating the apartment next door. Violet is immediately attracted to Corky, and since she's tired of the violence and brutality of the life of a mafia moll, she asks Corky for help in making a new life for herself. So Corky and Violet plan to seen $2 million worth of mafia money and set up Caesar to take the fall. Things don't exactly end up going as planned, and Violet shoots Caesar to stop him from killing Corky, and our two lesbians ride off into the sunset together.
"The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love is more of a romantic comedy. It's the story of two very different high school girls, Randy and Evie, who meet and fall in love. They have to struggle with disapproving family and friends, different social statuses, grades, and worries about intolerance. The movie ends with Randy and Evie kissing and hugging in the open motel room doorway while everyone they know argues about them in the background.
"While cinematic portrayals will never make everyone happy," Drake finished up, "being a lesbian in a movie or TV show doesn't automatically mean you're going to be evil or die anymore. Fortunately, you'll find a lot more realistic roles, or even parts where the character isn't defined primarily by their sexuality. It's just one of any number of facets to their life and personality. And that's a trend Hollywood should be proud of. Love is love, and same-sex or not has nothing to do with it."
Re: Listen to the Lecture/Watch the Clips [L&R: Class Ten]
Re: Listen to the Lecture/Watch the Clips [L&R: Class Ten]
"Sure," he said with a shrug. "Just- time-lag, you know? It's December back home."
Re: Listen to the Lecture/Watch the Clips [L&R: Class Ten]
Wasn't going to be the last, either.
Kate made a face. "December? Ugh, that would give me a headache."
Re: Listen to the Lecture/Watch the Clips [L&R: Class Ten]
"I think I'm seventeen now," Bobby said, frowning as he tried to figure the whole thing out. "Technically. Legally. Or something," he waved a hand. "Sorry to burst your bubble, though, if you were getting any ideas about having the room to yourself," he smirked.
Re: Listen to the Lecture/Watch the Clips [L&R: Class Ten]
Re: Listen to the Lecture/Watch the Clips [L&R: Class Ten]
Re: Listen to the Lecture/Watch the Clips [L&R: Class Ten]