Did Brokeback Change our Culture?

[Dave Cullen]

Way back on Christmas Eve, when we started this forum from the old Salon blog space, one of the original threads was called, "Will Brokeback rock the culture like Ellen?"

It had 300-some posts, and you can read them all here if you like: http://davecullen.com/forum/index.php?topic=24.0

But the question, now . . .

Did it? You can forget Ellen if you like, what we're concerned about is how much has it shaken things up? More or less than expected? How is it rippling out there? Is it still way too early to even see?

[Garry_LH]

I think it may still be too early to tell. My guess is the real effect will be five years behind us before we see what really happened. One way we might tell is watching how the votes go, as the right wing nuts continue to try and push that US Constitutional amendment banning any form of gay unions.

Then, with twenty years of the wing nuts claiming gay relationships are an attack on 'family values', the safety of children, and gods knows what else, we got a steep road to climb before the average citizen sees gay folks as just another part of society.

[gebt]

  I am encouraged by the number of mindful people out there taking interest in this movie/story. I think it mves people to see the bigger picture for alot of people. I will NOT however let my guard down as there people unwilling to accept anything but their own beliefs. However, It has changed me and I am part of culture....so it has changed culture.

[David Dragon 3]

I believe with a small crack the damm has been broken and it has the power to sweep away all the hate and fear. It all starts with one life, one heart and one thought.  BBM has given us that blessed glimpse in to a greater truth of love for all those who can feel it hear the sound of its power ringing true.  It is in everyone of us just waiting to get out and spread through out the darkness.  A divine light shattering the night and it will shine though the rain with a greater understanding that we are all in this together.

After the rain came the rainbow...

[sunspot]

It's having a pop culture impact.  I think Kathy Griffin said something recently regarding gay boys giving up on wondering whether Tom Cruise is gay or not (who cares - he's an annoying horse's ass and a freak) and moving on to speculating about Jake Gyllenhaal's sexuality.  So there's one positive impact, anyhow.  Well, unless you're poor Jake!

I'm leery about investing too much energy into any celebrity worship - most of them just aren't terribly bright, god bless 'em - but I am eternally grateful we lucked out and got Heath and Jake in this film instead of just about any other pair of actors in Hollywood.  I feel like they might actually be worthy of some of the adulation they're receiving.

I don't know how much of an impact the film's going to have on mainstream culture.  Not a lot, I suspect.  But I think the impact on gay culture is going to be enormous.  Brokeback kicked down lots of doors in Hollywood, and we can expect a number of major studio gay romances as a result.  Even if Brokeback alone doesn't change gay culture, the combined impact of Brokeback and her children most certainly will.

[hifrommike65]

Well, one thing has happened.  Porn studios are remarketing their country-themed porn films using allusions to "Brokeback Mountain."   

[1224butternut]

Brokeback Mountain has become part of the culture.  I have heard it mentioned in various ways on television and elsewhere, and although I am sometimes offended by the way it is referred to, I do enjoy that it is discussed and everyone knows and recognizes Brokeback Mountain.  It is part of all of us in some way.  Is *rash? In any way? No, no one took anything away from that movie.  But Jack and Ennis leave a mark in movie history unlike anything ever in cinema.

[gebt]

   I think I am still too isolated to understand the impact within the gay culture.

[Zuraffo]

Erm, I think the cultural impact is the strongest in American. After all, it's a deconstruction of an American male icon: cowboy.

Not sure the same impact could be felt in Asiatic cultures.

[samsung]

  I think I am still too isolated to understand the impact within the gay culture.

I think BM's main impact will be to undermine what is so loosely called "gay" (read:  urban, affluent, bohemian) culture by making possible more varied and honest depictions of the lives of homo-oriented men.  This may be wishful thinking, of course.  But I for one have lost all tolerance for the stereotypical rubbish that we are regularly fed, both within the "gay culture" and without.  Goodbye Will and Grace!

[TomS]

I think BM's main impact will be ...making possible more varied and honest depictions of the lives of homo-oriented men.  This may be wishful thinking, of course.  But I for one have lost all tolerance for the stereotypical rubbish that we are regularly fed, both within the "gay culture" and without. 

samsung this is perfect.  I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to say the same exact thing!  Thank you; hope to expand this discussion at some point.

[Desecra]

Well, one thing has happened.  Porn studios are remarketing their country-themed porn films using allusions to "Brokeback Mountain."   

And where does one order these ...oh, I meant to say how terrible, exploiting a work of art in such a tacky way!

[PatSinnott]

I am not saying this is for sure caused by the impact of BBM, but there was a report on the evening news about two weeks ago on the subject of same sex marriage.  The poll was taken in NY state in the last quarter of 2005, and then again in April.  In 05 something like 58% were opposed, and 38% were in favor, in the latest poll 46% were opposed and 50% were in favor.  It was a major shift in the % figures.  I don't know where to go to investigate the actual poll numbers, but I remember thinking while watching the news, that is was a MAJOR amount of shift, not a small number, over a 10% change.  I think some of this must have to do with the movie, but again, that's just my wishful opinion. 

[lovedalittledog]

I don't think one single movie can change a culture because changes happen over a period of time.  But what we have seen in the past decade with shows like Will and Grace is a change.  Notice that several hollywood actors have come out of the closet (Ellen, Rosie, Rupert Evert, Sir Ian McKellen just to name a few)  and now BBM....its a shift in common thinking.  However small it this shift may seem...its too early to tell what effect BBM will have on society as a whole.

 I will bet that the film has begun to change many peoples minds about the meaning of "love" and "acceptance"  as a universal experience no matter your sexual orientation, color, race etc.

[john john]

Are there more Christians since "The passion of the Christ" came out?