Interesting BBM article

[madlori]

For the public good, I'm posting this link to an excellent article about Misunderstanding Brokeback Mountain, in which the author neatly articulates what I've been so far incapable of articulating

Comments

[logansrogue]

Oooh, what a great article! I relate a lot, actually, to what he says Jack and Ennis rejected in the movie. When I realised that I was attracted to women, or at least, that I felt that I could love a woman too, I was horrified and scared that I'd have to cut my hair short and start wearing birkenstocks. I also assumed that I'd have to give up men. Bisexuality just wasn't talked about, so there I was, trying to fit myself in a box. But I have a friend that refuses to label herself as bisexual, even though she finds both sexes attractive. She is just who she is and she takes people as they come.

Sexuality is so fluid, trying to make ordered sense of it is like trying to cut up a cup of water.

[owlmoose]

That's an excellent article, and I largely agree with it, particularly in terms of Ennis's character. However, I think that Jack was willing to accept himself as gay and make changes in his life to be with Ennis -- he did propose getting a ranch together, and when he learned that Ennis had left his wife, he dropped everything to go be with him. There were also hints that Jack was at least considering being involved with other men; I was left with the very strong impression that his visit to the hustler in Mexico was not his only such encounter, and that there was something going on with the other rancher he spoke to at the dinner dance.

Very interesting analysis, though; thanks for linking to it.

[griffstudent]

I concur. The feel the article was very well written and thought provoking. But I also feel that Jack's character was more than willing to label himself as gay and to start a life with Ennis. Upon receiving word from Ennis that he had divorced Alma, he drove to him, expecting to start their life together. Only to be turned away, heartbroken.
As to Jack's comment on the Mountain that he wasn't "queer", I feel it was a reaction to Ennis' statement that he wasn't gay. I believe he didn’t want Ennis to think he was “queer”, for fear that Ennis would call off their relationship.
I feel Jack new he was gay. There is no doubt in my mind he had relations with other men. Based on his father's comments (to Ennis) after his death - he had started an affair with the other rancher. I think his choice of partner (Hustlers) dealt more with the stigma surrounding homosexuality, and being found out. He knew if he propositioned the wrong man, he’d be killed. Which is why it was safe to start a relationship with the rancher - he propositioned Jack

[leiabelle]

He had seen, as a child what happened to gay men and how they were treated by society.In my opinion, that's where the problem lies for Ennis. Based on his experiences as a child, he believed that he knew exactly what would happen if anyone found out about their relationship -- that either he or Jack (or both) would be killed, and in nasty ways. It seems to me that Ennis had to keep the relationship secret at all costs because to reveal it would mean losing Jack. The "flashback" during Ennis's phone call to Jack's wife at the end of the movie confirms this to me -- no matter what the wife said about the cause of death, Ennis believed that Jack was killed because someone, somewhere, found out he was involved with men. That's what makes the movie so sad for me -- that despite Ennis's lifetime of denial in order to keep Jack safe, he believes that Jack was killed for the same reason that he would've been if they had been together, so in the end, all his self-sacrifice was for nothing

mom & dad

[anonymous]

Hi Lori,
This is Sherry at Medoc Mountain State Park. I have been watching for your Mom and Dad lately, but to no avail, are they ok? I have really enjoyed their journey. Thanks for your time.

[madlori]

Hi Sherry...actually this morning I said some words about Mom and Dad in an earlier entry.

They're fine, just don't have much wi-fi of late. They're in Texas, where dad is having fun pushing dirt around with big boy toys.

[nakotaco]

This is entirely random and has nothing to do with anything, but - how do you get your tag list to display on the right? Is it part of the layout you use, or is there a box you click somewhere that I've managed somehow to miss?

[madlori]

That's just part of the Smooth Sailing layout.

[nakotaco]

Ah. Blast. u__u Oh well. Thanks!

[azdesertrose]

Completely OT, but is that Ramona in your icon?

[azdesertrose]

Coolness!