Although the conservative christian movement was resolved not to protest Brokeback Mountain lest it raise visibility and increase sales, the men over at Concerned “Women” for American can’t help themselves.
CWA’s Ben Frichtl contrasts Chonicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with Brokeback Mountain and tries to draw some cultural relevance from the projected disparity in box office:
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in contrast to Brokeback Mountain, is not only a ripping good story, but its heart is the basic Christian theme of Divine sacrifice and redemption,” Knight said. “That’s why it will make zillions while Brokeback will impress the critics and some fringe audiences in urban centers, but that’s about it.
Zillions. That’s a lot of dollars, Ben.
And Brokeback only will play to some fringe audiences? Not even all of the fringe audiences? And only in urban centers?
Hyperbole aside, what will Ben say if Brokeback does better than expected? Or if Narnia’s sales come in less than that anti-Christian witchcraft movie, Harry Potter? Somehow I’m not expecting a retraction.
BB is not Narnia’s problem. Kong is.
Let me get this straight – two men in love and making love – yuck! Oversized ape falls in love with blonde human – take the kids?
Here is the big difference between CWA and gay groups: I don’t know of any gay group that is going to attack Narnia or convince others to not go to see it. They aren’t really comparable movies in the end.
I had a date the other night; we went to see the Narnia film. My date, although raised in a Southern Baptist household, never read any of the Narnia books. At one point a character shouts out, “We Must go to Aslan!” To which my date turned to me with a smirk and asked, “Did they just say Ass Land?”
Which reminds me of Brokeback Mountain. This film threatens Exodus and Focus and other anti-gay spout tanks because is it is NOT Bareback Mountain, it is not about Ass Land. It is about gay love. Two masculine men who show affection and love through sex and many other ways. That is a message many conservative leaders do not want to be heard. It contradicts the false image they relentlessly present of gay men as sex pigs. And if we are more than just man whores, than they will have begin to question their rejection of us.
Beautifully written, Peterson.
I just disagree about one thing: it’s not about “gay love”. It’s about love. And that is the big threat the wingnuts fear: that straight movie-goers will recognize the relationship between the characters and rather than see it as “gay love” will see it as love, true and universal.
Aaron
“Here is the big difference between CWA and gay groups: I don’t know of any gay group that is going to attack Narnia or convince others to not go to see it.”
True. I loved the Naria books and plan on seeing the movie myself (although not if they go to Ass Land – CS Lewis would never approve).
Re: …it’s not about “gay love”. It’s about love
I agree. The threat that the wingnuts correctly perceive is that Brokeback mountain is about love, pure and simple. In all possible shades and expressions of human experience, none has the utter universality of love.
So what? Are they going to try to set up some sort of horse race between Brokeback Mountain and Narnia?
The “Christian” political groups have a vested interest in denying the fact that gay people can and do actually love eachother.
It takes the focus off of the sex which is a huge fundraising tool for them.
Anything that attempts to humanize gays is a threat to their bottom line.
Let me get this straight – two men in love and making love – yuck! Oversized ape falls in love with blonde human – take the kids?
LOFL. That’s rich! I never thought about it but it makes sense. Thanks for the laugh.
I agree that BB is threatening because it is so “normal” (that’s not a bad word) in presenting what essentially is normal, beautiful love, in this instance between two gay men.
What has struck me most about BB, and I have only seen previews and an extensive behind the scenes look on LOGO, is how comforting this movie would have been to me in my youth. It would have been so wonderful to have a few examples, role models, the heros that we all make out of certain figures. I ached for something like that in the worst way. I can only be thankful now that another generation is getting the benefit of such things.
I know it’s just a movie, but in the starved world of a gay teenager in the 1970’s, it would have gone a long way.
David
hi, i stumbled on this forum looking for quotes from ignorant brain-washed anti-gay christians and found this amazing site. Im writing a university essay on coming out films at the moment which is tedeous but fun.
you’ve all got your heads screwed on.