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July 1994

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Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
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Fri, 8 Jul 1994 16:47:04 EDT
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On Fri, 8 Jul 1994 15:21:20 EDT MECHAR,KYLE WILLIAM,MR said:
>Examples like this abound. When ever there is an anxiety producing momen
>t caused by the presence of the queer body?AIDS body , the scene
>switches to affirm more traditonal sexualities. Think also of the
>Maria Callas scence, and you can begin to see the ways in which
>the representation of homosexuality and AIDS is continually underminded
>in this way.This anxiety producing moment for Miller (never mind Beckett
>) results in him running to the arms of his wife, as the same Callas ari
>a reaches a cresendo.  Kyle, McGill University, Montreal
 
   You make this sound like a bad thing.  :)
 
   Seriously, though, while your criticism would be appropriate if this
film were simply about the Beckett character, it fails to consider the
fact that this is a story about *two* lawyers.  Miller, with whom the
heterosexual audience is more apt to identify, is shown in direct contrast
to the rapid decline of Beckett, making his own moral and ethical stance
all the more questionable (and thus, those stances which identify with his
as well).
 
   Thus, the points of contrast are not necessarily shown to alleviate the
discomfort associated with 'taboo' homosexuality and its 'evil' nature, as
you seem to imply by the use of cuts, but rather to more dramatically reflect
the emotional differences we as an audience associate with the two men.
 
    I thought the juxtaposition of the more traditional values in light of
human tragedy to be wonderfully demonstrated, because it dared not neglect
the story as two men with different lifestyles brought together under
terrible circumstances, rather than just a pity plea for AIDS victims.  Much
more effective.
 
J Metz
Department of Telecommunications
University of Georgia
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