What does Brokeback Mountain show us about attitudes toward Essay

What does Brokeback Mountain show us about attitudes toward masculinity in the United States between 1963 and in 1983 and the possible effects of these attitudes - Essay Example imacy, especially homosexual behaviors, and these attitudes result to intolerance and inhuman treatment of gay people, as well as broken identities and families. From the 1960s to 1980s, society proscribes and controls male intimacy. Ibson illustrates the historical context of the 1950s as â€Å"hostile to male intimacy† (190). As a child, Jack has problems urinating. One time, seeing his urine all over the toilet, his father beat him up in â€Å"crazy rage† (Proulx 49). His father does not show him any tenderness at all. Since then, Jack feels estranged from his father, who always wanted him to be a man through rodeo shows. Rodeos represent the apex of traditional masculinity. It makes no sense to be riding an anxious bull, but for men, this is a rite of passage. Bull riding portrays strength, courage, and virility, which are masculine virtues. Society teaches men to ride life like a bull, whipping people on their paths. It encourages promiscuity too, which is why even when married, Ennis and Jack both talk about enjoying sex with their wives and desires for extra-marital affairs. It is interesting, nevertheless, that they rem ain faithful to one another. This depicts their powerful sense of faithfulness that they never feel for their wives or other women. Intolerance to differences is one of the main effects of homophobia. Grippi interviews Proulx who stresses that she wants â€Å"to awaken in people an [sic] empathy for diversity, for each other and the larger world.† Indeed, people who know that Ennis and Jack are lovers spit this knowledge with disgust. Alma calls Jack Twist as â€Å"Jack Nasty† (Proulx 33), and her words show that for society, homosexuality is a nasty behavior. People do not have tolerance for sexual differences. They only value heterosexual nature and treat homosexuality as a disease. Since homosexuals fear expressing their real sexual preferences, they rupture their own identities and families. Hunter asserts that Ennis and Jack resent