Brokeback desert

[IndianaGreen]

Brokeback desert

It is a pity Brokeback Mountain isn't showing in the Arab world, because it resembles current reality there.

Brian Whitaker

Western audiences who see the film can view it as a portrayal of gay life in the bad old days of the 50s and 60s. For Arabs, on the other hand, it's a portrayal of the reality now.

While researching a book on gay and lesbian Arabs, which will be published shortly, I came across many in the Middle East who face the same predicament as Jack and Ennis. Marriage is more or less obligatory in the Arab countries and parents often take it upon themselves to choose a partner for their sons and daughters.

Youngsters who are gay or lesbian find ways to delay this as much as possible - for example, by prolonging their studies - but eventually the crunch comes and they have to decide whether the play along with their family's wishes and get married or to reveal the secret of their sexuality.

Deciding to "come out" to your family is still quite an ordeal for gay youngsters in the west, but in the Middle East it can be catastrophic. Having a gay member of the family brings shame on the entire household; it can cause fathers to lose their jobs and make brothers and sisters unmarriageable.

Some families respond to a son or daughter's coming out with physical violence or by throwing them out of the house. Others send them off to be "cured" by psychiatrists who offer ludicrous remedies and charge a fortune.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/brian_whitaker/2006/03/brokeback_desert.html

[closeupready]

1. Interesting; will definitely have to read this book.

thanks for posting link! :hi:

[DarkTirade]

2. It also makes for a lot of excuses.

From what I've heard from people who've been to arab countries, a man isn't gay if he's the 'top'. Yeah, I ain't sure what kinda twisted logic it takes to convince yourself of that one, but apparently you're only gay if you're taking, not giving.
Of course, there are still some people on this side of the world who try to convince themselves of that too. :)

[closeupready]

4. As I understand it, it's not so much excuses as deep cultural differences.

Not to get too deep on anyone, but there are gay Western scholars who've studied non-Western cultures, and claim that the vocabularies of some indigenous cultures do not possess words for "gay" in terms that we in the West understand that term, and the baggage it carries with it. There are all sorts of ways in which life differs such that a "gay" life is sort of unique to the West for some really good reasons, having to do with materialism, history, religion, marriage and family roles, the role of sexuality in a culture, etc. It's fascinating to study.

I'm really looking forward to this book. :)

[willows]

3. Condemn each other

I've read reports of Sudam H. being allowed to line up 10 gay men along a wall, then collapse the wall on top of them. Not just during his dictatorship, but before, after, and in many countries without adequate human rights laws.

There are many people there that believe homosexuality is punishable by death.
I don't know about that 'you're only gay if you're a 'top'' part another person has replied, as being a trend of thought, but that's just plain unfair. Engaging in a 'homosexual act' that is illegal in your country, getting caught then blaming the person , potentially getting off scott free (really, no pun intended)seems inhumane. Engaging in any act in that manner, actually.

I know that some religions i.e. Islam are being 'revamped' or rather reinterpreted for present times.
There are groups of Muslims who are moving towards a more open faith on love and respect, keeping the basic tenants, but essentially not condemning each other for any LGBTQ sexual, gender identification differences.

I don't know if I'd use BrokeBack as an example for something like this. BrokeBack seemed to be more about the homophobic atmosphere, tensions where individuals have to fight with their society, and themselves to 'let themselves be'. But the atmosphere of the movie is almost pensive, a sort of watching and waiting and living.

It is sad. It's sad that the majority of the movies and documentaries in my generation are mostly slow to convey the reality of times before mid 90's.
Books, do a better job at it. And I'd say the majority of films are too 'fluffy' catering to a society who may not be ready to see its own ugliness in its most brutal (for a variety of issues btw).