Casey Coulter Article Review #1

Casey Coulter
WGST 202
T/TH 12:30-1:45
Professor Currans

Roughton, Ralph. “The Significance of Brokeback Mountian” Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health 18.1 (2014): 83-95
In “The Significance of Brokeback Mountian,” Ralph Roughton explains his reasoning of why he thinks that the movie Brokeback Mountain was a “significant milestone in public attitudes toward homosexuality” (Roughton 85). He introduces the topic by pointing out recent developments in the LGBT movement, goes into a summary of the movie itself, and then analyzes it and gives his own thoughts about why it’s important today. The way the movie is set up evokes empathetic feelings towards the main characters. They are made real and relatable and that’s why Roughton thinks it has made such an impact in our society. 
Roughton explains that the way scenes are placed reflects a certain symbolism in the movie. After describing the two boys’ sexual encounter one night, one wakes up and discovers that a coyote had mangled one of the sheep that he was supposed to be watching (Roughton 89). This scene and others like it highlight the theme in the movie that “link man-to-man sex and sin and violent consequences” (Roughton 89). This metaphor is presented in a way that makes you sympathize with the characters rather than implying that homosexuality is wrong. The whole movie is about coming to terms with sexuality. There’s a theme throughout the movie that shows that that that’s how people are treated when they love someone of the same sex can really open people’s eyes about the issue. 
     In each scene you can see the emotions behind the character’s actions, even though they don’t come right out and say what they’re feeling you still know because the movie puts you in their shoes and forces you to feel with them (Roughton 93). Some of the most powerful moments in the movie have absolutely no words at all. Roughton describes the scene where one of the guys, Ennis, finds his shirt in the room of the other guy, Jack, who had died. Roughton says that, “The message is subtle, but powerful. For the first time, Ennis has met understanding and acceptance for his love of Jack” (Roughton 90). Roughton mentions that Annie Proulx, the woman who wrote the original story in 1997, received many letters from fathers who said “’now I understand the kind of hell my son went through’” (Roughton 93). This helps show that the story can change people’s opinions and be more sensitive and aware of how hard it is for LGBT individuals. She also received many letters from gay men who identified and related to it (Roughton 93). So this shows that her story and the movie it’s based on is not only revealing the struggles of homosexuals, but it is sending a message to actual homosexuals that they are real, what they feel is real, and it helps them embrace who they are. 

     My blog topic for this semester is sexuality in film, so Roughton’s analysis of Brokeback Mountain and how it affects society’s opinion on sexuality really fits in. It helps add to my theory that movies are very influential in our thinking and can give us new insights on thinks we don’t understand and Roughton did a great job of telling us how this movie helped change society’s view of homosexuality. I think this article can relate to the article we read by Abby Ferber, “Keeping Sex in Bounds: Sexuality and the Deconstruction of Race and Gender”. Both Ferber and Roughton mention how society views sexuality, but instead of talking about how movies can affect opinions of it like Roughton did, Ferber talks about how sexuality affects gender and how it can be harmful or hurtful to people. In my opinion this movie is filled with instances that show how society can restrict sexuality in the same ways that Ferber describes in her article, although her article is much more focused on the sexuality aspect. In class last week we discussed landmarks in the LGBT movement and made a timeline. After reading this article I wholeheartedly believe that this movie deserves a place on that timeline.