The drama Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit tells the story of a young lesbian girl, Jeanette/Jess, who is raised in a repressive Pentecostal home by an overpowering mother. Jess tries to find her sexual identity in the context of the fanatical Pentecostal church. Although Jess herself does not have any problems with her sexuality combined with her religiosity at all, she gets into a conflict with the Christian community and into a deep inner conflict because the church regards her sexuality as a sin and herself as possessed by demons. This paper discusses how the different conflicts in the story arise and which impact the film’s way of representing religion and lesbianism has on the viewer. It demonstrates how the ways in which the novel and the film version ofOrangespresent lesbianism work to naturalize and normalize it. By its representation of lesbian love and the church as its enemy Oranges challenges normative values and conventional standards.Oranges makes an attempt to reverse the viewer’s former attitudes towards these opponents.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Representation of religion
- 2.1 Religion as fanaticism
- 2.2 Stylistic devices in the film
- 3 Representation of homosexuality
- 3.1 The Title of the film
- 3.2 Naturalization of lesbianism
- 3.3 Stylistic devices in the film
- 4 Conflicts between religion and lesbianism
- 4.1 Community vs. Jeanette/Jess
- 4.2 Mother-Daughter-Relationship
- 4.3 Jeanette's/Jess' inner conflict
- 5 Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the depiction of religion and homosexuality in the drama "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit," focusing on the conflicts arising from the protagonist's lesbian identity within a repressive Pentecostal community. The analysis explores how the film represents lesbianism, aiming to understand its impact on the viewer and the ways in which it challenges societal norms.
- The representation of religious fanaticism within a Pentecostal community.
- The portrayal of lesbian identity and its normalization within the narrative.
- The exploration of conflicts between religious beliefs and sexual orientation.
- The analysis of stylistic devices used to convey the themes of religion and homosexuality.
- The examination of the impact of the film's representation on the viewer's perspective.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by introducing the main character, Jeanette/Jess, a young lesbian raised in a strict Pentecostal household. It establishes the central conflict: Jess's struggle to reconcile her sexuality with her religious upbringing and the opposing views of the Pentecostal community. The chapter previews the paper's aim to analyze the conflicts presented in the story and how the film's representation of religion and lesbianism influences the viewer, ultimately aiming to demonstrate how the novel and film naturalize and normalize lesbianism. The introduction also defines the usage of the names Jeanette and Jess, specifying when one or both names will be used.
2 Representation of religion: This chapter delves into the portrayal of Pentecostalism in "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit," characterizing it as fanatical and sectarian. It highlights the community's rigid belief system, which interprets events through a binary lens of God or the devil. The chapter uses the example of Jeanette/Jess's deafness, which is misconstrued as a spiritual experience rather than an illness, to illustrate the community's lack of understanding of secular issues. The analysis extends to the film's portrayal of the pastor, depicted as an entertainer rather than a traditional religious figure, highlighting the manipulative nature of his sermons, oscillating between jubilation and fear-mongering. The chapter also examines scenes illustrating the community's radical and arguably advertising approach to religion.
Keywords
Religious fanaticism, Pentecostalism, lesbian identity, normalization, conflict, representation, stylistic devices, mother-daughter relationship, community pressure, sexual orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit - A Film Analysis
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the representation of religion and homosexuality in the drama "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit," focusing on the conflicts arising from the protagonist's lesbian identity within a repressive Pentecostal community. It explores how the film represents lesbianism and its impact on the viewer, and how it challenges societal norms.
What are the key themes explored in the film analysis?
The key themes include the representation of religious fanaticism within a Pentecostal community; the portrayal of lesbian identity and its normalization within the narrative; the exploration of conflicts between religious beliefs and sexual orientation; the analysis of stylistic devices used to convey these themes; and the examination of the film's impact on the viewer's perspective.
What are the main chapters and their respective focuses?
The paper is structured as follows: Chapter 1 (Introduction) sets the scene and introduces the protagonist's conflict. Chapter 2 (Representation of Religion) analyzes the portrayal of Pentecostalism as fanatical and sectarian. Chapter 3 (Representation of Homosexuality) examines how lesbianism is depicted and normalized. Chapter 4 (Conflicts between Religion and Lesbianism) explores the conflicts arising from the protagonist's identity within the community. Chapter 5 (Conclusion) summarizes the findings.
How is religion depicted in the film?
The film portrays Pentecostalism as fanatical and sectarian, with a rigid belief system interpreting events through a binary of God or the devil. The analysis highlights the community's lack of understanding of secular issues and the manipulative nature of the pastor's sermons.
How is homosexuality, specifically lesbianism, represented?
The analysis focuses on how the film portrays and normalizes lesbianism. It examines the impact of this representation on the viewer and how it challenges societal norms. The narrative's handling of the protagonist's lesbian identity is a central point of discussion.
What types of conflicts are analyzed in the paper?
The paper analyzes the conflicts between the protagonist's lesbian identity and her religious upbringing, as well as the conflicts between the protagonist and her community. It also examines the protagonist's internal conflict.
What stylistic devices are examined in the analysis?
The analysis examines the stylistic devices used in the film to convey the themes of religion and homosexuality. Specific examples are not detailed in this overview, but are explored within the full paper.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Religious fanaticism, Pentecostalism, lesbian identity, normalization, conflict, representation, stylistic devices, mother-daughter relationship, community pressure, sexual orientation.
What is the overall aim of this analysis?
The overall aim is to understand how the film "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" represents religion and homosexuality, the conflicts that arise, and the impact of this representation on the viewer. A key focus is on how the film contributes to the normalization of lesbianism.
- Quote paper
- Stephanie Schmitz (Author), 2004, The depiction of religion and homosexuality in "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/57878
