MovieChat Forums > Edge of Seventeen (2000) Discussion > a good depiction but somewhat stereotypi...

a good depiction but somewhat stereotypical

posted 16 years ago by Clue55
7 replies | jump to latest

I understand the setting is in the 80s so the stereotyping of the movie made sense because it was hard to be out at that time.

There were parts when I felt the main character reminded me of Duckie from Pretty in Pink.

One thing I was confused about was...

Why exactly did Maggie get so upset with him?

I heard that one guy in the club call her a "Fag Hag" and I can understand that she probably had feelings for him and felt betrayed when he came out to her but I think it some small way in that sense she was out of line because she could have done that earlier when he came out instead of hold in her emotions.

I agree with the ending being very in conclusive but I think it was appropriate because he was only in high school so they can't really make a solid, happy ending can they?

[–] Angiers 15 years ago

This is suppose to be auto biographical. I think you finding it stereotypical is coincidental since it was the writers own experience.

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

To: clue55 - This movie could have been my life! Most every element touched me.

And, to answer your question about Maggie, it's true she's upset about not being able to truly have Eric, but there is another side to her pain.

While it's difficult to believe today, friends of gay people were tormented almost just as much as gays. I had a female friend in college who became ostercised by her friends for hanging around two gay guys.

In fact, in a dramatic scene worthy of film, it all played out...

My friend and I went to a gay club and Andrea didn't wish to join us as she was meeting her straight friends at a 'metal' club called 'The Gasworks' (I guess you'd call it the 'Hard Rock Cafe' of it's day). Anyway, she ended up having a terrible time with her 'friends' whom she overhead making a nasty remark about 'how strange she'd been acting lately' (because she was taking 'Fashion Merchandising at College with two gay guys). Andrea left the club in tears and tried to get to Club 101 (where we were) but she didn't know exactly where the club was located.

She actually asked two police officers for directions whist crying and finally made it to the club where we had a tight three-way hug on the dancefloor. As tears rolled down her cheeks she told us she loved us and was so glad to be there (i.e. where she'd be accepted).

Sorry for being verbose, but it was a touching memory...

'There’s a name for you ladies, but it’s not used - Outside a kennel! (Crystal Allen in The Women)'

[–] mike12348 12 years ago

Agree that it was tough for friends of gay people. Hell, it still is in some parts of the country.
I had two friends in High School who decided to come out. I'd been friends with them since elementary and middle school, so their sexuality didn't bother me, but some kids took it hard. Texas isn't really known for their acceptance and living in the "ghetto" religious part of my city didn't help make their lives easier. Anyways, I can remember losing friends because they were pissed I wouldn't ostracize them. Got in a *beep* load of fights for them because they were often outnumbered. My mother wouldn't even be upset about the fighting, but rather get pissed that I helped them. I only had a few friends left by the end of my senior year, but it never really bothered me. I never saw the point in too many friends in High School, but I still call my close friends to this day, so it worked out well for us. It's only been a few years but that area seems to be more accepting today because I've seen openly gay guys kissing on school grounds. It actually makes me happy to see them being able to be together without fear of some jocks trying to kick their ass. I never could understand bullying, especially when it was because of two people being together.
Anyways, I'm still friends with my gays. They took me to my first gay bar last, which was...definitely strange, but not as strange as it was in this movie.
Damn, I ramble too much. LOL. But yes, it can be extremely tough for friends of gays. I can't imagine what would have happened if it were 20-30 years ago and I did the same *beep* Glad to see things are slowly changing.

[–] rockethulsey 10 years ago

ME 2

[–] Chefeetaboopers 8 years ago

What you said is pretty true for me, too. Granted I'm asexual so I'm not "normal" by society's standards, but I was strongly supportive of everyone in high school.

Every year, I always did the Day of Silence with the GSA club in school which usually only consisted of 10 kids- my sister and I who were straight/asexual and our bi/gay/pan/trans friends. They gave us white boards and we would be silent for the day to show everyone the voices they're not hearing because of being hurtful to people who are gay thus those people can't be their true selves and our principal allowed it.

Well, I remember the time I did it during my senior year of school. My teacher was sick so we had a substitute teacher. He called role and by Day of Silence rules, if we're going to get into trouble, we can talk. So, I talked and said here and the sub was like "OH! You're not a F*g lover! You talked! FAKER!!" and then marked me as absent. I explained why I talked and told him that I wouldn't be doing day of silence if I didn't care and that I feel it's unfair that all people can't be treated equally. Well, the teacher and class ganged up on me and started making fun of gay people, telling me I'm a freak and I should burn in hell with those freaks. I got mad and told him that what he's doing is wrong and then walked out and went straight to the office. Didn't have to go to class, got an A for that period and they fired the sub right after that.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] 8 years ago

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