Excellent session today (week 6). Here's the Fight Club as Brokeback Mountain video as discussed. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=phcbqQu5Exk.
This raises in a different way some of the issues we talked about today - especially how the cultural construction of straight masculinity often encodes a homo-erotics. (Thinking of John Wayne and the classical Western.)
So, we might start from a sense of 'BBM' as a revisionist Western, adapting the tropes of the Western to encode a gay (or as we said, bisexual) love story.
...But we might also see BBM as making explicit a homo-erotics that was present, but implicit, in the Western all along. Demythologising and re-encoding.
'Love is a force of nature' - ie Ennis buys into the socially constructed roles of husband, father and breadwinner, but his 'real' feelings turn out to be elsewhere.
I look forward to your further comments...
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Review on Brokeback Mountain
http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/30938.html
Instead of finding a more academic view on Brokeback Mountain, much like Becky and Christine, i wanted to find a review from a LGBT website which could address the issues faced in the film from a more personal perspective. A reviewer from the LGBT community isn't as quick to praise the film due to risk of offending anyone, so i believe them to give a more impartial point of view.
I found this review on a independent gay forum which gives a very academic take on Brokeback Mountain. It is known that a portion of the gay community thought Brokeback Mountain too heterosexual, and downplays the fact that it is a film about two men falling in love, but this review differs. The author, Dale Carpenter, says that "There's much to admire in this film. Ennis and Jack bust stereotypes of gay men. They aren't effeminate. When they meet, they are modern “cowboys” who live on profanity, fighting, country music, beer, and hard work for low pay. Yet their masculinity is also not the posed hyper-masculinity of leather, Levi, and uniform fetish scenes". Carpenter gives the impression that he has realised the film is a love story, albeit a rather contrived and reckless one, not just about 'Gay Cowboys'.
Carpenter also talks about the main protagonists shirking their responsibilities throughout the film. Right from the offset, the two men neglect their duties of looking after sheep to indulge in hedonistic pursuits and this continues for all of the film. The men regularly leave behind wives, families, jobs to go on 'fishing trips' causing catastrophic consequences - Ennis' divorce, Jack's death.
Ultimately, this review isn't gushing on about the bravery of Ang Lee to take on such a story, nor does it once mention how hard it must have been for the actors to fulfill gay roles because it is against their sexuality, it purely concentrates on the content and how two men have neglected all the had to pursue each other and their relationships. I believe this to be a much better way of looking at the film then focusing on its homosexual connotations.
On the other side, i have found this post from a Christian Website on their take on Brokeback Mountain. Coincidentaly, Brokeback Mountain was released around the same time as America was revising its laws on gay mariage. The topic, however already controversial, was inadvertantly helped by the films release.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/brokebackmountain.html
Instead of finding a more academic view on Brokeback Mountain, much like Becky and Christine, i wanted to find a review from a LGBT website which could address the issues faced in the film from a more personal perspective. A reviewer from the LGBT community isn't as quick to praise the film due to risk of offending anyone, so i believe them to give a more impartial point of view.
I found this review on a independent gay forum which gives a very academic take on Brokeback Mountain. It is known that a portion of the gay community thought Brokeback Mountain too heterosexual, and downplays the fact that it is a film about two men falling in love, but this review differs. The author, Dale Carpenter, says that "There's much to admire in this film. Ennis and Jack bust stereotypes of gay men. They aren't effeminate. When they meet, they are modern “cowboys” who live on profanity, fighting, country music, beer, and hard work for low pay. Yet their masculinity is also not the posed hyper-masculinity of leather, Levi, and uniform fetish scenes". Carpenter gives the impression that he has realised the film is a love story, albeit a rather contrived and reckless one, not just about 'Gay Cowboys'.
Carpenter also talks about the main protagonists shirking their responsibilities throughout the film. Right from the offset, the two men neglect their duties of looking after sheep to indulge in hedonistic pursuits and this continues for all of the film. The men regularly leave behind wives, families, jobs to go on 'fishing trips' causing catastrophic consequences - Ennis' divorce, Jack's death.
Ultimately, this review isn't gushing on about the bravery of Ang Lee to take on such a story, nor does it once mention how hard it must have been for the actors to fulfill gay roles because it is against their sexuality, it purely concentrates on the content and how two men have neglected all the had to pursue each other and their relationships. I believe this to be a much better way of looking at the film then focusing on its homosexual connotations.
On the other side, i have found this post from a Christian Website on their take on Brokeback Mountain. Coincidentaly, Brokeback Mountain was released around the same time as America was revising its laws on gay mariage. The topic, however already controversial, was inadvertantly helped by the films release.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/brokebackmountain.html
BBC Review on Brokeback Mountain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/12/16/brokeback_mountain_2005_review.shtml
I have selected this review of the film Brokeback Mountain because I think it is very insightful and analytical in how the writer has reviewed the film. It has an academic tone to the review by looking deeper into the director Ang Lee's intentions of what he tried to create cinematically with the long shots of the awe inspiring mountainous background within the film. "Poignantly offset by sweeping mountain vistas" which the reviewer notes that it reflects "the heartbreak and beauty of a tortured love affair and, without resorting to pat sentimentality."
This information within the review therefore is quite interesting and useful to people considering whether to view the film and get a more clearer sense behind a simple 'gay love story' that it has been belittled and regarded as. There is a more significant, moving theme to the film that tries to demyth the standard ideas of the myth and 'the cowboy hero' that is so often depicted within Western films.
The review also, gives the reader a historical background of when the film was set, therefore giving the reader more information to understand the taboo behind the gay scenes and the mindset of the character when they find out they are gay, and the characters themselves of the way they handle it saying they "aint no queer", showing her quick they are to defend and deny what they are because it is considered wrong at the time.
I think this review is useful and a good overall review of the film as the writer does not really give a biased, personal opinion but an overall review of the historical context of the film and the cinematic ideas behind the directing, thus explaining why the film will be good on a certain level because of it.
I have selected this review of the film Brokeback Mountain because I think it is very insightful and analytical in how the writer has reviewed the film. It has an academic tone to the review by looking deeper into the director Ang Lee's intentions of what he tried to create cinematically with the long shots of the awe inspiring mountainous background within the film. "Poignantly offset by sweeping mountain vistas" which the reviewer notes that it reflects "the heartbreak and beauty of a tortured love affair and, without resorting to pat sentimentality."
This information within the review therefore is quite interesting and useful to people considering whether to view the film and get a more clearer sense behind a simple 'gay love story' that it has been belittled and regarded as. There is a more significant, moving theme to the film that tries to demyth the standard ideas of the myth and 'the cowboy hero' that is so often depicted within Western films.
The review also, gives the reader a historical background of when the film was set, therefore giving the reader more information to understand the taboo behind the gay scenes and the mindset of the character when they find out they are gay, and the characters themselves of the way they handle it saying they "aint no queer", showing her quick they are to defend and deny what they are because it is considered wrong at the time.
I think this review is useful and a good overall review of the film as the writer does not really give a biased, personal opinion but an overall review of the historical context of the film and the cinematic ideas behind the directing, thus explaining why the film will be good on a certain level because of it.
Brokeback Mountain review from the Guardian
http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,1680094,00.html#article_continue
I found this review on Brokeback Mountain and thought it gave a good impression of the movie. It not only describes the story, and the background to the story but it does more than that, it goes deeper into the heart and issues of the story. I found when we watched the movie that not a lot happened and that it was pretty boring, half the film is in silence.The review picks up on this however it gives reason to the silence. To create a cowboys world there has to be every aspect of their lives and so that includes the silence and emptiness of their world. The review comments on the issues of homosexuality and how the film deals with those issues. I find it interesting that the review picked up on the fact that the word 'Love' is never actually used when Ennis and Jacks relationship is brought up. The question is whether Jack and Ennis actually love their wives. They may have feelings for them and care about them but if they in fact 'love' each other then how can they possibly love their wives in the same manner. The review talks about how the wives are destined to be baffled and hurt. I believe that this is true, i don't know myself whether Jack ever loved his wive. I do believe however that Ennis loved Alma his wife even if it was only before he got to Brokeback Mountain. As the review says Ennis is only doing the job to make enough cash to marry his sweetheart Alma. This shows his passion for her. I think that this story is actually a story about Ennis and what happens to him. You see a lot more of his life, in the end he is the one who is left when Jack is killed, you feel sorry for him cause all his life has added up to is a nasty old trailer and no proper job. The review 'Hits the nail on the head' when it says: 'their true selves become more poignantly inaccessible with each unsatisfactory holiday together', as the story continues insted of becoming more happy the guys become unhappy and fustrated with their situation. I love the last paragraph in this review. In amongst all the pain, unhappiness and difficulties the review gets to the core of the story. It shows us how one moment in our lives can change everything, how one moment everything can feel right and in that moment you're truely happy. Then the next minute that moment has passed, and your left with an empiness and left to pick up the pieces.
I found this review on Brokeback Mountain and thought it gave a good impression of the movie. It not only describes the story, and the background to the story but it does more than that, it goes deeper into the heart and issues of the story. I found when we watched the movie that not a lot happened and that it was pretty boring, half the film is in silence.The review picks up on this however it gives reason to the silence. To create a cowboys world there has to be every aspect of their lives and so that includes the silence and emptiness of their world. The review comments on the issues of homosexuality and how the film deals with those issues. I find it interesting that the review picked up on the fact that the word 'Love' is never actually used when Ennis and Jacks relationship is brought up. The question is whether Jack and Ennis actually love their wives. They may have feelings for them and care about them but if they in fact 'love' each other then how can they possibly love their wives in the same manner. The review talks about how the wives are destined to be baffled and hurt. I believe that this is true, i don't know myself whether Jack ever loved his wive. I do believe however that Ennis loved Alma his wife even if it was only before he got to Brokeback Mountain. As the review says Ennis is only doing the job to make enough cash to marry his sweetheart Alma. This shows his passion for her. I think that this story is actually a story about Ennis and what happens to him. You see a lot more of his life, in the end he is the one who is left when Jack is killed, you feel sorry for him cause all his life has added up to is a nasty old trailer and no proper job. The review 'Hits the nail on the head' when it says: 'their true selves become more poignantly inaccessible with each unsatisfactory holiday together', as the story continues insted of becoming more happy the guys become unhappy and fustrated with their situation. I love the last paragraph in this review. In amongst all the pain, unhappiness and difficulties the review gets to the core of the story. It shows us how one moment in our lives can change everything, how one moment everything can feel right and in that moment you're truely happy. Then the next minute that moment has passed, and your left with an empiness and left to pick up the pieces.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Greenhouse Effect on Water in American West in Mid 21st Century
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/west-rain-scenario.html
The website that i have chosen focuses on how if the co2 emissions doesnt stop esculating then the greenhouse effect will destroy precious ecosystems in the West of the US.
"Serious water problems are projected for California and other western states by the year 2049 because of an increase in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide" says scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
They are concerned that it will create more drought and an increase in flooding in places, particularly around California.
I think this website is very insightful, as it makes you more aware of the problems that the West have. Population is constantly increasing in particular places like California where they then have the demand for increase in housing, to which they are building on flood plains making them "exposed to natural hazards".
The website that i have chosen focuses on how if the co2 emissions doesnt stop esculating then the greenhouse effect will destroy precious ecosystems in the West of the US.
"Serious water problems are projected for California and other western states by the year 2049 because of an increase in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide" says scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
They are concerned that it will create more drought and an increase in flooding in places, particularly around California.
I think this website is very insightful, as it makes you more aware of the problems that the West have. Population is constantly increasing in particular places like California where they then have the demand for increase in housing, to which they are building on flood plains making them "exposed to natural hazards".
Water Shortage
http://www.geosociety.org/news/pr/02-23.htm
This website page is talking about how some areas of Texas may have a water shortage in the next few years, this is because of the population growth in some areas of Texas that the Rio Grande which is relied on for drinking water is running low. Thers a been a drought in some areas of Texas for 10 years. i was really surprised by this, i knew that Texas was quite a dry state and that it didn't rain often there. i had no idea how serious the problem could be. This article talks about how one way to sort the water problem would be to use a water recharge process. i didn't know what this meant so i had to look up the definition:
'Artificial recharge occcurs when water is put into special basins or is directed into modified stream channels and allowed to sink into the ground. Artificial recharge also can take place when water is pumped directly in the aquifer through special wells.'
unfortuantly as my article says this process is not good for crop cultivation, which would be a problem in Texas because the people rely on the land so much. Having running clean fresh water is something which we take for granted in England. When i think of a county which has water shortage problems i would think of somewhere like Africa. it wouldn't cross my mind to think of states in America. i think because it's such a powerful country i would have thought they would have found a way to deal with water shortage problems along time ago.
This website page is talking about how some areas of Texas may have a water shortage in the next few years, this is because of the population growth in some areas of Texas that the Rio Grande which is relied on for drinking water is running low. Thers a been a drought in some areas of Texas for 10 years. i was really surprised by this, i knew that Texas was quite a dry state and that it didn't rain often there. i had no idea how serious the problem could be. This article talks about how one way to sort the water problem would be to use a water recharge process. i didn't know what this meant so i had to look up the definition:
'Artificial recharge occcurs when water is put into special basins or is directed into modified stream channels and allowed to sink into the ground. Artificial recharge also can take place when water is pumped directly in the aquifer through special wells.'
unfortuantly as my article says this process is not good for crop cultivation, which would be a problem in Texas because the people rely on the land so much. Having running clean fresh water is something which we take for granted in England. When i think of a county which has water shortage problems i would think of somewhere like Africa. it wouldn't cross my mind to think of states in America. i think because it's such a powerful country i would have thought they would have found a way to deal with water shortage problems along time ago.
Problems for the West
For the blog this week, i have decided to focus on the problem the west is having with the depletion of its water source.
The climate of the west is notoriously hot and dry, making farming almost impossible and living conditions in some places, unbearable.
If you look at Death Valley in California for instance, a place where some days no one is allowed near because it was too hot and quite dangerous. If you compare these to the luscious green states of the east, its quite a huge variable.
States like Nevada have a system where they have to import water in, and by having a state where the population is steadily growing this could prove a problem. The issue of who gets the most water is a very controversial one as no one wants to decide this issue.
I have found an article on the economics of water in the west, which i found very interesting as it is written by someone who's witnessed it themselves.
http://www.mises.org/story/1557
The climate of the west is notoriously hot and dry, making farming almost impossible and living conditions in some places, unbearable.
If you look at Death Valley in California for instance, a place where some days no one is allowed near because it was too hot and quite dangerous. If you compare these to the luscious green states of the east, its quite a huge variable.
States like Nevada have a system where they have to import water in, and by having a state where the population is steadily growing this could prove a problem. The issue of who gets the most water is a very controversial one as no one wants to decide this issue.
I have found an article on the economics of water in the west, which i found very interesting as it is written by someone who's witnessed it themselves.
http://www.mises.org/story/1557
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Review of the Range
Great distances, unforgiving spaces, vicious winters, searing summers and barren soil are characteristics of the violence of the Wyoming environment. These are the same ingredients that spawn the loneliness of its inhabitants. But to suggest that the ruthless environment is solely responsible for shaping her characters is a trite oversimplification of her concept of fate. Annie Proulx is so much more complex than that.
These qualities of violence and loneliness, however, are centerpieces of many of the stories. Her characters are drawn from bars, rodeos, ranches, and their stories draw upon the traditions and folk tales of Wyoming, the day-to-day details of ranch work, and their characteristic toughness and persistence in the face of adversity, set against the values of the new West.
Two of the stories, "The Blood Bay" and "The Half-Skinned Steer" leave you with the same reaction that O. Henry does. All leave you with profoundly differing emotions…from awareness of the hopelessness of uphill struggles to understandings of obsession, or the wrong types of love. Proulx's imagery is incredible, and she uses it not only to capture the essence of her characters but also to tie her stories together...
This web site gives an indepth review of Annie Proulx Close Range. It helps break down the book, giving you detail about why the book was written, what it is about, and what life was like living in Wyoming.
The reviw suggests that Most of the stories not only tie in together but also with her own emotions, commenting on how incredible her imagination is.
The huge empty landscape of Wyoming is a vivid presence in this book, the stage for great and small human tragedies. The stories are full of vivid, gritty details about contemporary western life;
These qualities of violence and loneliness, however, are centerpieces of many of the stories. Her characters are drawn from bars, rodeos, ranches, and their stories draw upon the traditions and folk tales of Wyoming, the day-to-day details of ranch work, and their characteristic toughness and persistence in the face of adversity, set against the values of the new West.
Two of the stories, "The Blood Bay" and "The Half-Skinned Steer" leave you with the same reaction that O. Henry does. All leave you with profoundly differing emotions…from awareness of the hopelessness of uphill struggles to understandings of obsession, or the wrong types of love. Proulx's imagery is incredible, and she uses it not only to capture the essence of her characters but also to tie her stories together...
This web site gives an indepth review of Annie Proulx Close Range. It helps break down the book, giving you detail about why the book was written, what it is about, and what life was like living in Wyoming.
The reviw suggests that Most of the stories not only tie in together but also with her own emotions, commenting on how incredible her imagination is.
The huge empty landscape of Wyoming is a vivid presence in this book, the stage for great and small human tragedies. The stories are full of vivid, gritty details about contemporary western life;
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