The movie "Brokeback Mountain", directed by Ang Lee and published in the year 2005, tells the story of two young men, Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist, who are hired to look after a flock of sheep on 'Brokeback Mountain'. The two discover an intense sexual attraction. But because of social limitations, the two have to maintain their heterosexual facade. Ennis marries Alma and Jack marries Lureen. However, over a period of twenty years, Ennis and Jack contrive to meet periodically for trips to 'Brokeback Mountain'. "Brokeback Mountain" is often depicted as the first gay cowboy movie or gay western movie.
In this term paper we firstly constitute the historical background of "Brokeback Mountain". For the recapitulation of the GLTB history we will use the book Queer America. A GLBT History of the 20th century by Vicki Eaklor which is interesting as it precisely describes how queer activism developed from 1890 to 2005.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical Context (GLTB Activism in the 1960s to 1980s)
3. Brokeback Mountain
3.1 (De) construction of the Western Genre
3.2 Depiction of Homosexuality and Expression of Masculinity
4. Conclusion
5. References
6. Honesty Declaration
Objectives & Research Focus
This paper examines Ang Lee’s 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, specifically analyzing how the movie intersects with the historical development of queer activism, the conventions of the Western genre, and the performative expression of masculinity in a homophobic environment.
- Historical evolution of the GLTB civil rights movement and queer theory.
- Deconstruction of the traditional American Western genre and its myths.
- The relationship between internal homophobia and traditional masculine identity.
- Analysis of cinematic tropes in depicting the protagonists' double lives.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 (De)construction of the Western Genre
At first we take a closer look at the definition of a Western movie. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica a Western is set in the American West in the 1850s to the 19th Century, the movie's setting contains “immense plains, rugged tablelands, and mountain ranges of the portion of the United States lying West of the Mississippi River” (Encyclopædia Britannica). The basic plot in the Western is the conflict between the white Americans and the Natives. Another typical theme are the cowboys, who were hired by ranchers “to drive cattle across hundreds of miles of western pastureland” (Encyclopædia Britannica). The main purpose of the traditional Western was to dramatize the settling of the West. The movie's hero was a person who embodied both civilization and savagery, captured within a conflict set on a territorial border between the two (cf. Schatz 48). Richard White writes in his essay that Ang Lee uses many typical Western attributes, “the dialogue is sparse with simple declarative sentences, and the scenery is magnificent and always changing […] [the movie] moves between settled- towns and ranches- and the idyllic wild.” (White 65).
The beautiful landscape which defines a Western is clearly present in Brokeback Mountain, there is frequent switching between the civilization in the cities and the lovely wilderness and just this “isolation of the wilderness and the utter loneliness of their lives both make possible the love that overwhelms” (Kitses 25) Jack and Ennis when they first climb the Brokeback to tend sheep.
In Brokeback Mountain there is no conflict between white Americans and the Natives, but there is another social conflict. The two homosexual protagonists resemble the Native Americans, who were domineered by the white Americans, and in the movie's case, the homophobic society. The White Americans wanted to impose their standards on the Natives and it is the same case as in Brokeback Mountain, the homophobic society do not accept homosexual love, it imposes their heterosexual view of partnership on Ennis and Jack.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Presents the central plot of the film and outlines the research objective regarding the historical context, genre analysis, and gender dynamics.
2. Historical Context (GLTB Activism in the 1960s to 1980s): Surveys the development of the gay rights movement, from early homophile organizations to the impact of the Stonewall Riots and the emergence of queer theory.
3. Brokeback Mountain: Explores the intersection of the Western genre, its deconstruction, and the crisis of masculine identity within a homophobic society.
3.1 (De) construction of the Western Genre: Investigates whether the film acts as a traditional Western or a subversion of the genre's mythic conventions.
3.2 Depiction of Homosexuality and Expression of Masculinity: Analyzes how the protagonists perform their masculinity and navigate their internal and external struggles with sexuality.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes findings on the film's significance in queering the Western myth while highlighting its tragic reflection of internalised homophobia.
5. References: Provides a comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used in the paper.
6. Honesty Declaration: Formally confirms the authorship and integrity of the term paper.
Keywords
Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee, Western Genre, Masculinity, Homosexuality, Queer Theory, Sexual Essentialism, Stonewall Riots, GLTB History, Deconstruction, Rural Homophobia, Cowboy, Gender Studies, Social Constructionism, Identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the intersection of queer history and film studies, focusing on how Brokeback Mountain challenges traditional cinematic representations of the American West and masculine identity.
Which historical events are discussed in relation to the film?
The author reviews the GLTB civil rights movement, specifically highlighting the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and the subsequent fight for civil rights, though notes that the film largely elides these real-world activist events.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if Brokeback Mountain should be categorized as a classical Western or a deconstructive hybrid that uses Western iconography to address themes of same-sex love and internalized homophobia.
Which theoretical frameworks are applied to the film?
The paper utilizes queer theory, Michel Foucault’s History of Sexuality, and the concept of "sexual essentialism" to analyze the characters' experiences and the film's portrayal of nature versus social construction.
How is the Western genre analyzed in the main body?
The author compares the film’s use of classic Western tropes—such as the wilderness, the cowboy figure, and the frontier setting—with its subversion of these tropes through the lens of homosexual identity.
Which keywords best describe the thematic content?
The most relevant keywords include Brokeback Mountain, Masculinity, Western Genre, Homosexuality, Queer Theory, and Social Constructionism.
How do the protagonists express their masculinity in the film?
The protagonists often perform masculinity through violence, aggressive behavior, and by maintaining a "heterosexual facade" in public, which the paper interprets as a symptom of internalised homophobia.
What is the significance of the mountain in this analysis?
The mountain functions as a "heterotopic space" or an antihomophobic site where the characters can temporarily explore their desires, despite being unable to escape the societal prejudices they have internalised.
- Citation du texte
- Sabrina Langanke (Auteur), 2013, The (De-)Construction of the Western Genre and the Expression of Masculinity in “Brokeback Mountain”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/308301
