The Brokeback Jokes

[Meldread]

You know, I've been giving it a lot of thought. It seems more and more that people are making fun of Brokeback Mountain. I mean, using it to make fun of Bush / Cheney is one thing considering they strive for a similar "ranch/cowboy" type image. However, it seems that it's branching out into all sorts of areas, and I'm not really talking about anything on DU - but I'm talking about in the media and general public.

It seems to me that the jokes are stemming from people who are insecure about their own sexuality. The more and more I see those "jokes" the more and more it seems to be clear. The jokes about Brokeback are a way of illegitimatizing LGBT people (and gay men in particular) in their own eyes (the joke teller) and the eyes of the public.

I'm beginning to find it insulting. When will straights learn that our relationships are just as strong - if not stronger (according to some studies) - than theirs? When will straight people learn that we will not give up until our relationships and our very lives are put on a same and equal level as theirs? That is the root of the problem, of course, their inability to accept us as equals.

[yellowdoginGA]

1. quit being so sensitive

what studies?

[foreigncorrespondent]

3. If you are gay...

...then you better apologize for telling another gay person to quite being so sensitive, knowing damn well what a trigger that line is. If you are straight then how dare you come into the LGBTIQQ forums and tell one of us to quite being so sensitive. We have earned the right to be sensitive!

[yellowdoginGA]

4. it was posted in the main room

[foreigncorrespondent]

34. That's right...

...ignore the actual point and talk weather instead!

[Meldread]

6. Sorry...

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend your delicate heterosexual sensibilities. I'll let you get back back to fishin' trips and stuff.

[yellowdoginGA]

10. Can I ask you a question?

Do you really think anyone that tells or laughs at a gay cowboy joke secretly wants to be one?

[Meldread]

11. No, but...

...I do believe that a lot of heterosexual men are afraid of gay men. They are afraid of their masculinity being questioned, and that is why they are making and laughing at the gay cowboy jokes because they are uncomfortable with themselves.

[yellowdoginGA]

13. C'mon, it's a pop culture phenomenon

it's not any different from mr.t jokes back in the 80's. get off your high horse (ha) and don't analise (doulble ha) it to much.

[Meldread]

15. Oh, so that makes it alright?

We should just ignore the fact that it is bigoted (your indirect admission) and pretend it isn't happening instead of standing up and saying something about it?

Yeah, thanks but no thanks. I have no desire to take a seat in the back of the bus.

[yellowdoginGA]

16. you've got to be kidding

[Meldread]

17. No, I'm not.

Would you still be laughing if it was a movie made about a black man and white woman during segregation? Do you even think people would even *THINK* about mocking it? How then is Brokeback Mountain any different? Brokeback Mountain could be a movie about anyone who is denied something because society says that it's wrong - or because society doesn't approve.

The difference in the analogy being, of course, that segregation against African Americans has ended, and the legalized segregation of gays and lesbians is just beginning. It won't be long before my own state, the state of Virginia, joins the ranks of those states who have illegalized same sex marriage. (The exception being Virginia's constitutional amendment will be much more broadly sweeping than most other states.)

[Bluebear]

25. analise....hahahahahahahaha!!!!

:eyes:

[Meldread]

26. Yeah I know.

The guy is obviously insecure in his own sexuality. It's a pity though that he didn't respond to my last post to him.

[Bluebear]

27. Mike Savage calls it "Fudgepack Mountain"....

and Chris Matthews thought that was hilarious too. But, then again, we're too "sensitive".

[Meldread]

28. Oh, yeah and don't forget it's part of "pop culture" so it must be okay.

:eyes:

[sui generis]

32. I don't understand.

I have some qwershtuns mr. shabbage.

What does fudgepack mean? Where does that come from? Oh!!!1! you mean, like when in YOUR breeder movies the guy flips the girl over (or sometimes the girl flips the guy over) and sticks one in the other hole. Okay, I get it. You're comparing BBM to pornography.

But I saw it and I didn't see any pornography. I saw Bridges of Madison County too, and there was a LOT more sex in that, although no fudgepacking or news commentators talking about unnatural immoral lying two faced fuck buddies.

Mr. Shabbage, why does this movie bother you so much? You keep talking about it a lot. If I were you I'd be pretty embarrassed to be talking about fudgepacking in public, since apparently it's more common than you think. Have you had yours packed lately?

I wonder what clever thing you would have called this movie if it had been about two cowgirls or if you would be too busy wiping the yogurt off your face to remember that lesbians are "gay" too.

[foreigncorrespondent]

35. You really do have a nerve.

By the way, your own homophobia is showing!

[Bluebear]

24. Are you gay?

If not, you have nooooooo right advising people what to be sensitive about.

[400Years]

2. homophobes are just sexually insecure people

who feel the need to inoculate themselves lest they get "tempted"

I think they are just nervous that the movie is a success.

[Hardrada]

5. I twitted our theater owner about this movie.

He said he wouldn't book Good Night and Good Luck because it's not conmmercially feasible. BUT BBM has yet to appear here. So I guess it's something else!

[Geoff R. Casavant]

7. I have yet to hear a Brokeback joke

I've seen the fake posters here on DU with Bush/Cheney, Bush/Abramoff, Bush/anybody, but I don't think you're referring to that.

I've also seen the usual fundie rants about how this movie will singlehandedly bring all of western civilization crumbling down, but I don't think that's what you mean either.

Now, I have heard "brokeback" recently used as an adjective, in reference to a man whose "macho" is so over the top it must be an act to compensate for something, but that doesn't seem to be what you're referring to either.

Other than that, I haven't seen, heard, or read any jokes that are making fun of the movie itself. If this is what you mean, can you at least post a link?

[Meldread]

12. Actually what spurned me to make this thread was...

Actually what spurned me to make this thread was something I saw after the local news on one of those entertainment shows. I didn't catch it all because I was reading the Newspaper (it comes freakin' late where I live) but I caught the tail end of it. It was about the jokes being made as a result of the movie and it really pissed me off at the end to see that bitchy looking straight woman at the end chuckling after playing a few clips from the movie.

As if something about the movie was funny - or the concept of the movie was funny - and for some odd reason I don't remember it being a comedy. I don't imagine jokes would be told about the movie, especially stereotypical jokes, if it were a movie about a relationship between a heterosexual black couple during segregation. Do you? So why is it somehow "funny" when it is two men?

[Brian_Expat]

8. Oh for cryin' out loud

It's a stupid movie with a bit of soft-porn totty in it, not the meaning of life!

[Meldread]

14. Actually...

I've only read the short story and haven't seen the movie yet.

It actually has little to do with the movie itself, but rather some straight folks reaction to it. Their reaction to the movie also has little to do with the movie, but is rather their reaction to us. Maybe you don't care, but the fact of the matter is they are making fun of the movie because they are (subconsciously) hoping to illegitimatize you and your relationships. As if were not possible of two people of the same sex to not have "real" feelings for one another. It is also a result of their own insecurities with their sexuality.

It's really how people tend to do with such "uncomfortable" issues. Rather than confronting the problem (keeping gays as second class citizens), they mock the issue or in some way make a joke about it in an effort to "laugh it off".

[Brian_Expat]

20. But don't you see?

The community brings this sort of thing on itself by glorifying the film and what it stands for.

Plot-wise, it stands for an old idea of gay men as dishonest covert fuckbuddies who marry women but still get action furtively on the side -- and as emotional wrecks who cannot have a healthy relationship.

And reality-wise, it takes two sex kittens who were popular with gays for years and tarts them up in a movie that has queer men in particular tossing dollars at Hot Heath and Gorgeous Jake and quivering over every carefully scripted "hot" thing they say about kissing or sleeping naked with a man. . . making us look shallow and sex-obsessed.

Finally, people see that gays have at least $30 million to spend on this movie (not to mention devoting most prominent media and conversations to the movie), but couldn't even cough up $7 million to oppose anti-gay laws in states across the country. And they think "oh, those homos, they're all about Hollywood, hot guys, sex and glitz, not real life."

And can you really blame them when you consider the face "we" are putting forward with this film and our response to it?

Rather than confronting the problem (keeping gays as second class citizens), they mock the issue or in some way make a joke about it in an effort to "laugh it off".

Perhaps -- but when gay people themselves cannot be bothered to confront the problem in society -- spending more money on this movie than on fighting anti-gay laws around the country last year and in 2004, can you blame them for thinking things a bit ridiculous?

I can't.

[Meldread]

21. I agree on some points and disagree on others.

Yes, the gay community has glorified the film but I don't see anything wrong with that. The progressive community glorified F9/11 despite not everyone agreeing with everything Michael Moore says or does. The fact of the matter is, it's the first major Hollywood movie with gay characters as it's main characters and still do well! The gay community, at least those who are thinking forward, realize that Brokeback Mountain opens the doors for Hollywood to do more mainstream movies with gay characters as the main characters.

Plot wise - I disagree. It's true that you could spin it that way, but that isn't how the majority of the people who've seen the movie view it. It has little to do with sex at all, really, and while I know the wives got expanded for the film it really isn't about them marrying women either. It's about two people who want to be together, but can't be because of their own personal fears and the realistic fears of what could happen to them because of how they are viewed by society.

Are a bunch of gay guys drooling over Heath and Jake? Of course, why do you think they were chosen to play the leading roles? You don't think straight women weren't there doing the same (who have just about as much chance with them as a gay guy). Am I disappointed that openly gay men weren't chosen to play the leading roles instead of straight men? Of course. Am I disappointed that it was directed by a straight actor and written by a straight women? Of course. After all, none of those people can *REALLY* know what it is like to be gay, and none of them could even articulate what it is like to have society do the things that it has done to gays and lesbians.

I am, of course, disappointed as you are that so many LGBT people are willing to go out and buy movie tickets rather than send in money to support same sex marriage rights. However, I do also believe that a higher portion of LGBT people are politically active than straight people. Still, there are those who are just tuned out and really there is nothing that we can do about that.

I am supportive of Brokeback because I know that in order for change to happen in America it is important for us to push for gay visibility in media. The more we are portrayed in movies, on TV, and the like the more power it gives to us as a group. It makes people aware that we exist and that we are active.

I remember when I was a teenager in High School. I grew up in a small little town with a population just over 5,000. You better believe homophobia was prevalent everywhere. It still is. I would have killed to at least know, as a young teen, that other gay people existed in the world - even if I never managed to see the movie - just the thought of gay people *EXISTING* would have meant so much to me.

Really, I don't think LGBT people growing up now-a-days know how good they have it. I never even heard of GSA, PFLAG, or any of that when I was growing up. This is just yet another reason why Brokeback and projects like it are important.

[xchrom]

29. by your reasoning -- a person of african descent shouldn't play hamlet.

the point is that our stories are human and therefore universal.

the way we love is just as accessible to straight folk as it is to gay folk.

it's not precious to be held in a certain crucible.

[sui generis]

33. don't get him started on black jesus!

Yeah, pop culture jokes are funny you know. We instinctively know that IF there had been a black hamlet indie film we wouldn't be making poisoned watermelon and fried chicken jokes, that in Macbeth the sisters would not be stirrin' bubble bubble boil and trouble a big ol' pot fulla chitlins and greens.

So I say fight back with breeder jokes. Breeder men are a lot more sensitive about their half erect premature ejaculating wooters anyway - it wouldn't take nothin' to stoke them up into a killing rage with a few "pop culture jokes" to make a point. Hell hath no fury like mocking a breeder's sex life.

Damn all this talk about gritty cowboy hot man on man monkey love is making me all verklempt . . . and slightly flushed.

[xchrom]

36. stop that -- i split a fuckin gut!

:rofl: black jesus! :rofl:

[dsc]

22. Do you have any citation for the inability to raise 7 million

or for that matter that gays alone spent 30 million on the movie. I find both of those figures very suspect.

[moose65]

38. We get it, Brian

You don't like the movie. Understood. I've seen your posts all over the place. I doubt if every cent paid to see this came from gay people.

[ronnykmarshall]

39. I was waiting for him to pop in.

[mitchtv]

23. It needed more soft porn

It was far too"soft" for me. all in all however, it doesn't make Leno funny. At least he'll have something other than Clenis jokes.

[Democrats_win]

37. I agree about Leno. Clenis jokes are last century. His BBM jokes involve

an outstanding line from the movie, "God, I wish I knew how to quit you!" I think he (or Conan?) had one with bush saying this to cheney.

Some jokes are good publicity, some are cruel. We have to take the bad with the good. And in bu$h world you´re lucky to find any good so I´m counting my blessings. It´s always good to point when jokes are cruel and not really funny and for that I thank the posters on this thread.

[CTyankee]

9. No, not if the person hearing the joke is a progressive

Some older heterosexual progressives are just quiet about sexuality, but are committed to voting the right way and for the right candidate. I am quite accustomed to sexual diversity among coworkers, friends and acquaintances. But some progressives are not in that diverse a community. They probably won't see the movie, but they will support your rights as a human being. I truly believe that. We will, all together, overcome (someday)!

[kweerwolf]

18. Here's an article from the Arizona Republic on the phenomenon

"I wish I knew how to quit you" is the new "Show me the money."

Gay cowboys are now the new penguins.

Movie poster spoofs featuring every male couple from cartoon hero He-Man and foe Skeletor ("Grayskull Mountain") to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Rep. Tom DeLay (in "Kickback Mountain") litter the Internet.

Against all odds, a Western romance about two men, "Brokeback Mountain," has corralled the cultural zeitgeist, making it safe for our national funny bone to come out of the closet.

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0126gns-brokeback26-ON.html

[kweerwolf]

19. Here are a few more examples from USA Today

Conan O'Brien

"Today, the controversial new movie Brokeback Mountain opens, about two gay cowboys. Apparently, you can tell the characters are gay because they're dressed like cowboys."

Jay Leno

"Hey, just a week to go until Elton John's wedding. You know where Elton's honeymooning? Brokeback Mountain."

"A movie theater in Utah abruptly canceled a screening of the movie Brokeback Mountain. They felt it was inappropriate for the community standards. Instead they ran Deliverance."

"Ninety percent of men say their lover is also their best friend. Which has got to be a big surprise to their wives. 'Hey, hon, I'm going over to Bob's. We're catching the 10 o'clock showing of Brokeback Mountain. Don't wait up.' "

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-01-25-brokeback-side_x.htm

[BR_Parkway]

30. I just don't see it that way - find me a gay guy who didn't react to the

title in some form of Bareback Mountain or other joke. I take my ability to laugh at myself as a positive - and if others find the situation humorous - then perhaps they are also finding it a little less scary. If they're laughing about it, they're still thinking about it. If they're still thinking about it, then it has the potential to make them consider other people's situations more than they probably had before. I don't see that as a negative.

I'm not going to tell you to stop being so sensitive, but personally, I don't see it the same way. We're all a little bit different.

[William769]

31. In the world we live in today, you not being to sensitive.

How may Gays have been killed while people were laughing at them because they thought it was funny? Just some food for thought.