Celestine:Week 2

The film Brokeback Mountain helps to understand the short story a lot better. Being able to visualize the actions of the characters helped the story to evolve and give a sense of clarity to the reader. In the film the emotions and point of view the women were actually presented unlike in the short story. Jack’s wife Laureen did not experience as much hurt as Alma did when it comes to Jack and Ennis’ relationship. The only proof that Laureen knew something was going on is when she questions why Ennis doesn’t visit Texas, at a party she makes the statement “why don’t husbands dance with their wives”, and when she finally speaks to Ennis on the telephone. Hearing Ennis’ voice hurts her because she finally comes into contact with the man her husband drove fourteen hours to see often. While that was traumatic for her, Alma actually dealt with the physical aspect of their secret relationship and was hurt more frequently until she decided she had enough of the neglect and disrespect she was feeling.

In the film scene 86:53 expresses Alma’s point of view because here she tells Ennis to get married because the girls and her are worried about him being alone. She also questions whether he and Jack still go on fishing trips together. Ennis replies not often and this leads her to telling him about the note she attached to the line of his fishing rod. Alma tells Ennis that as soon as she could check his creel box she opened it to see if the note had been removed and she found that it was not. After saying this she confronts him by saying that she knew what he and Jack “nasty” Twist was doing on those fishing trips. Ennis is angered by this and grabs her arm while threatening her. This scene is sympathetic to Alma and allows the viewer to see her point of view because she is finally acknowledging Ennis behavior out aloud. While years ago she saw Ennis and Jack embrace each other and engage in a long lasting kiss she never admitted to him that she was aware of his real reasons for going on fishing trips with Jack. Perhaps Alma had been in denial of Ennis sexuality because she loved him dearly. Alma easily angered Ennis when she began speaking negatively about Jack Twist and lashes out at her because no one is supposed to know about his relationship and she was disrespecting his lover. When Ennis lashed out at Alma for her negative words towards he and Jack’s relationship she really gets upset because he never fought for her or cared about her feelings as much as he did Jack’s. By suggesting that Ennis gets remarried demonstrated that homosexuality in Alma’s eyes is not acceptable. Alma felt as though Ennis was going through a phase and should be over it by now. Society has taught Alma that same sex relationships are not the norm which is why she attempts to discuss marriage. She also knows that what he is doing is wrong and she cannot accept that she lost her husband to another man. When Alma ask about Jack I do not think she actually wants to hear the truth because as soon as he responds she is hurt and disappointed that Jack “nasty” Twist is still a part of his life. The reality that Ennis has not moved on to a new marriage lets her know that Ennis’s relationship with Jack is very important to him.

Alma’s point of view in this scene represents deep hurt because the man she loves and the father of her children is in love with another man. It takes Alma more than half the film to let Ennis know she speculates a relationship between him and Jack. This occurs because she is not ready to face the idea that she married a gay man. In an American society Alma relates to the older generation because many adults have a difficult time accepting or acknowledging homosexual relationships as real. Some older Americans are in denial about homosexuals and have a problem realizing that this is not a phase of life but people of the same gender can have strong feelings for each other. Overall, Alma and society need to accept the way people are and not attempt to make them conform to a norm that does not work for them.

BONNIN- Brokeback Mountain Film

Even though the film “Brokeback Mountain” focuses primarily on the lives of its male characters, Ennis and Jack, and their relationship to each other, it utilizes the characters of Laureen and Alma to comment on the female’s role within the family during the 1960’s. Throughout the film Alma is portrayed as the submissive wife. However, we are shown a different side of Alma when she comes out of her shell and confronts Ennis about his homosexuality at the Thanksgiving dinner. In this scene she is no longer portrayed as a weak voiceless woman, but as a strong individual capable of posing a threat to Ennis.

While Alma was married to Ennis she kept the secret of his homosexuality hidden from everyone. She didn’t even let him know she knew. One could argue that she did this because she was either physically afraid of Ennis and of being left as a single mother or that she kept his secret out of love. In the scene where she finally tells him that she knew his fishing trips did not involve fishing with “Jack nasty,” the character of Alma is transformed from a woman who Ennis pities at times to a powerful force capable of destroying his life. The fact that she doesn’t tell him that she saw them kissing the day she met Jack, but instead uses her love note on the fishing rod as evidence of his affair, makes the viewer much more sympathetic to her. She had in fact loved him and had even tried to deny to herself what she had witnessed that day, but now she had solid evidence. In this scene Alma had first said to Ennis that he should find someone to remarry, to which he responded “once burned…” insinuating he was the victim in their relationship. It was then fitting that she make him aware of reality; their relationship had not worked because he was a homosexual. Ennis again utilizes violence to defend himself against being branded a homosexual by yelling and forcefully grabbing Alma’s arm. In the scene one can see that even though she is terror stricken, he has no real power over her and he is forced to leave the house.

When Ennis exits Alma’s house he leaves as a vulnerable homosexual man. Their exchange in the kitchen has left him powerless before her for the first time. She no longer needs to take his physical and emotional abuse, as she is set free.

Campbell - Brokeback Mountain Film

During the scene in which Jack, Luareen and Lureen’s family are having thanksgiving dinner seemed to be a point in which Lureen enjoyed a spark of pride and completeness.  During most of the movie Jack is constantly being portrayed as inferior from remarks by Lureen’s father or patrons of the family business.  Even Lureen herself was dismissive of Jack and his concerns about their son. 

It was during the thanksgiving dinner that Jack finally had enough.  Jack and Lureen’s son was watching the football game on TV while at the dinner table and not responding to Lureen’s questioning.  Jack brought out the turkey and began to carve it when Lureen’s father belittled him by taking over the carving duties.  This started jack’s temperature boiling at which point he lashed out by getting up and turning off the TV and telling his son to listen to his mother.  Lureen’s father then proceeded to turn the TV back on and make a comment about “Real men need to watch football”. This further enraged Jack prompting him to again turn off the TV and proceed to finally put Lureen’s father in his place.  It was at this time that Lureen was illuminated with the sense of fulfillment of having a complete husband that had shown a back bone and the potential to be the provider she had hoped for.

While Lureen was a strong and resilient woman who seemed to be the head of her immediate family, it was evident that she longed for a traditional marriage where the male was the primary provider who provided comfort and security for the family.  This is no doubt a product for societal norms and expectations of the white patriarchal structure.  Lureen struggles with this probably from the expectation of her father and what she has always known from seeing her father and other males being the primary decision makers of families.  What Lureen actually learned, was how to take charge and be resilient and strong willed which was how she was portrayed in the movie.  This further complicated Lureen’s feeling and expectations.  If society had not set false boundaries and expectations for certain segments of our society, much of the animosity that perpetuates these barriers would be eliminated.

Ultimately Lureen struggled with her natural abilities as a leader and confident business women which were stifled by her own inhibitions which were ingrained in her by society contributing to her unhappiness.

Baker - Brokeback Mountain Film

In the film Brokeback Mountain, Ennis del Mar has been taught to participate in the patriarchal society of America, and those beliefs play a huge role in the way he treats his family. There are many scenes throughout the film in which this attitude Ennis has towards his family is shown. One scene in particular happens when Ennis brings the children to Alma's work, and he leaves them with her instead of taking care of them himself. This event occurs for the sake of his own job, even if it is at the expense of hers'.

In this scene, Alma is once again left to take care of the children, even though Ennis promised to look after them for one night. When he gets called into work, he automatically chooses to drop the children off with Alma so that he can keep his own job. Ennis believes that because Alma is the woman in the relationship, she should be the one to look after the children. When Alma asks, "What about my job?" Ennis' silence speaks louder than words.

It is clear that Ennis believes that as the man of the house, he should be the one who brings home the money and provides for the family. This makes him feel powerful and important, and it reassures him of his masculinity. When Alma questions Ennis about her own job and Ennis remains silent, he is telling her that what he wants is more important, and as the man in the relationship he gets to have the final say on what is going to happen.

This scene really made me feel for Alma because it is obvious that Ennis views her as someone who is there to take care of the children, and he believes it is her job as a woman to fulfill that role. I felt like the look of resignation on Alma's face really spoke of how her relationship with Ennis had been like up until the point where they got divorced, which consisted of Ennis calling all the shots. In the patriarchal society they live in, Alma has no voice and no input on what happens in her life until she decides to divorce Ennis.

Corkern- Brokeback Mountain

Homophobia is the New Sexism

Regarding the rights or women and equality for women, America, as a society has come a long way in the past 50 years. Sexism still exists, as there will always be people around who are afraid of anything different than themselves, but it is not nearly as prevalent nor accepted as it once was. Women these days have the options of getting jobs, voting, divorcing, terminating and unwanted pregnancy- things that not too long ago, would have been illegal. It seems that homophobia has replaced sexism as another way to be intolerant. Now, homosexuals have trouble being accepted, are not always able to marry or adopt children, and face rejection from their own families.

The story, Brokeback Mountain which was set in the early 1960’s, is a story of two men, Jack and Ennis, who develop a relationship while working together one summer. While reading, it is easy to see just how pervasive the homophobic mentality was. During that time, it was no secret that men caught in homosexual relationships could very well be killed for such a thing, as Ennis himself witnessed as a young boy. When these two young men fall in love while working together over the summer, they were forced to keep it a secret, not only from society, but from themselves. Jack and Ennis would be intimate time and again, yet never speak of it. As time went on, they both married and had children, yet for many years they continued to see each other on occasion and try to figure out ways to see each other more frequently. Fear, mainly Ennis’ fear, kept them from being together all the time.  He was afraid of losing his children, and more so, afraid of them getting killed for their relationship. Tragically, Ennis’ fears came true when he found out Jack had been killed in a supposed accident. Ennis knew better though. He knew Jack had been murdered.

Homophobia and sexism are so closely linked. It’s almost as if homophobia has replaced sexism in a way. Since sexism isn’t nearly as strong nor accepted as it once was, I have hope that homophobia will become less and less apparent as our society evolves.



Vitanza Brokeback Mountain Post

Ever since the 1980's, the gay community has gained the courage to stand up for their rights. As a community, they had a vision, which was to gain the respect and same treatment as for every other citizen. The constant marches, protests and other social involved activities that have been carried out by such community have been executed for a purpose, and that purpose is more than well stated in Brokeback Mountain. The repression and disrespect towards a minority only causes a domino effect in which together as a community it rises and begins demanding equality.

Since I come from Hispanic background I'll talk about the oppression of the gay community in Latin America. Latin America is far less openminded than North America and Europe. In a way that the traditions and ideology that the founders of this continent stood up for, are still in visioned upon present generations. It becomes very hard for most minorities to become accepted, since a change or difference scares all humans in general. As the movie Signs, by M. Night Shyamalan visualizes the panic of the human race towards an outsider, the same concept may be applied to further understand the fear towards the different. In my home country, for example, the first protest ever carried out by the gay community took place a couple of months ago this year. Due to the out of control violence towards the homosexuals, a march was carried out in one of the most popular streets of the capital city, and was actually broadcasted by the media. Though very few in number, a couple of members of the gay community took action and decided this type of behavior was not going to go on anymore. Few has been done ever since y the authorities, being a country with such high index of violence, but a lot was done as well.

Back in the early 1960's, when Brokeback Mountain, being an open homosexual was out of question, that is of course you had a death wish. Which was exactly what happened to Earl, the cowboy Ennis talked about that was left in a ditch for living with another man. This picture, trapped in Ennis's mind, is what causes the main conflict of the story. I believe so because, it was many times Jack pursued Ennis into moving forward, accepting each others feelings, yet it is Ennis that seems to always hold back. and stop Jack's illusions of something that was impossible for him to happen. Hence Jack's fate becomes deja vu all over again for Ennis, and he succumbs to guilt in a sense in which he gets in touch with Jacks's wife and parents as well. While in Jack's parents ranch, he offers himself to carry out Jack's wish of his ashes being dropped at Brokeback Mountain, which he does not accomplish to carry out.

Campbell

I agree with the premise of the white patriarchal power structure; however, I feel that in America it is much less prevalent than in other places around the world.  Furthermore, woman and gay men is like comparing apples and oranges.  In America, if woman and gay men are submissive, it is by choice.  Woman can choose a more traditional life such as marriage and kids, or they can choose to be non-traditional and never marry or be anywhere on the spectrum from straight, bisexual, or lesbian.  This to me, is quite powerful.  Gay men have options as well. There are openly gay and closet gay men. There are dominate and submissive gay men, there are cities in America that openly embrace and have whole sections of town dedicated to gay and alternate lifestyles.  This to, tells me that gay’s to have power to be or not be victims.

You wrote that Ennis conformed to Jacks advances like any woman would; however, Ennis took the dominant role and jack the submissive.  In addition, throughout the story, Ennis seemed to be the stronger one and the one that more or less make the decisions on when and where they would see each other.  It also seemed that Jack more fit the typical gay male, whereas Ennis seemed to be confused about his sexuality.  I feel that this was due to Ennis having his first real understanding of the emotion of love that happened to be complicated by sex and it be towards another man.