TEACHSOC: Re: Crash/ Brokeback Mountiain

[Sarah Murray]

Del... I would just say that when violence springs out of a homosexual situation ( as in Brokeback Mountain, when viewers see two different killings of people specifically because they are homosexuals), this violence is not caused by homosexuality, as you mentioned some church groups try to present, but, rather, because the killers are homophobic.  Therefore, churches and other groups concerned with the issue should work on eliminating hatred and homophobia, rather than homosexuality.   Violence, including domestic violence (which was not the type I will be addressing specifically with my students, but rather, hate crimes) has roots in many social conditions -- fear is one of them.  In fact, of the major reasons Americans are violent (access to guns; fear cultivated by the media; the gap between the haves and have-nots; and a collective narcissistic culture) the two that distinguish us from other capitalist nations is our fear and  insensitive attitude toward marginalized groups. Homophobia is, by definition, fear- based, as is racism.   Of course, domestic violence occurs between heterosexuals -- and in those cases, the basis is obviously not homophobia.   I have absolutely no idea how to test or prove any of this!  But I will ask my students if they believe the characters in the film were the targets of violence (or thought they could be) because they were homosexual, or because of rural homophobia, and the students can give me their ideas.  A couple are religious, and from cultures not open to homosexuality, so I'm sure I'll get a variety of responses.   When black people were lynched, was the cause race or racism?  How could you ever test or prove the answer to that?   Sarah ----- Original Message ----- From: Del Thomas Ph D To: Sarah Murray ; teachsoc@googlegroups.com Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:32 PM Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: Crash? Sarah, I expect that a basic goal for/of learning is a sociology class would be testable and the best available science.  Church groups are faith based and use a different standard.... that is why I used the terms convince and leads to......   Can you provide a reliable measure of  homophobia and evidence that homophobia causes infidelity or violence...... How do you explain domestic violence in heterosexual households? Del Sarah Murray wrote: What I'm hoping my students will learn from the film is that homophobia causes infidelity and violence -- not that homosexuality does. ----- Original Message ----- From: Del Thomas Ph D To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: teachsoc@googlegroups.com Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 10:19 PM Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: Crash? Locally, church groups have used Brokeback Mountain to convince teens that the gay lifestyle is evil.... leads to violence and infidelity....they solve the so what issue by having teens work for candidates promoting anti gay legislation.... They report the film is quite effective...  They are not concerned by the science or the fact that these are commercial works of fiction.  As you know B Mountain was designed as a chick flick  ....... but it may have had other more powerful messages that producers will not admit to. Del Melanie E. L. Bush wrote: The issue I am referring to is not that the film is inflammatory but that it reinforces racism by levelling out the impact of white supremacy on whites and peoples of color.    For example.. where's the film that shows the differential approach to incarceration that is being discussed on this listserve?    To address racism as solely prejudice or stereotype as the film primarily does provides some relief to some who believe that "everybody's a little bit racist" - it's just world we live in - and if they are "nice" and don't engage overtly racist language or ideas they need not be overly concerned ... though it is highly offensive to many who face constant reminder of the structural and ideological consequences.   ahhhh this is precisely the subject of Breaking the Code of Good Intentions: Everyday Forms of Whiteness...   --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to teachsoc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---