this movie queer?

[deleted]

This gay person is.

andrewthezeppo wrote:
> What a stupid post, what are you trying to ask? ... The movie itself
> isn't queer, not being alive it doesn't have a sexual orientation

Why the overreaction? It's not a stupid or offensive question because "queer cinema" is an accepted term in gay academia, which is often known as "queer studies." In fact, I've even seen "queer cinema" used in mainstream cinema studies, especially in the best programs, i.e. NYU and UCLA. You'll also see the term quite a bit in The Journal of Homosexuality.

If cinema can be queer, why can't a movie?

Something need not be alive to be described as queer or gay. Indeed, the terms are often used to describe a sensibility, especially when talking about art. For example, a gay song (i.e. Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy") or gay play (i.e. Harvey Fierstein's "Torch Song Trilogy"). Neither of those are alive either. Likewise, a recipe can be Jewish and a dress can be Chinese, although neither are alive, thus unable to be religious, ethnic or racial (which requires genes).

> "just wondering, if this movie is queer..." that isn't even a sentence, or a question.

Would you nitpick the question if s/he was asking about something else? For example, "just wondering, if this movie is scary..."

I don't know the original poster's motives, which may be innocent or homophobic, but there simply is no reason to assume the worst and launch a personal attack (and lecture!). Finally, have you considered that English may not be the person's primary language? And is it really so unusual that imperfect sentences and typos appear in such an informal forum?

shesamazingnyc
> I would categorize this as a queer movie.
> I am NOT being a bigot and not using "queer" in its perjorative sense,
> as I suspect the OP was (but I'm giving the benefit of the doubt.

I agree completely, and I too gave him/her the benefit of the doubt. Objectively speaking, without taking into the OP's motives, "queer" is now considered an acceptable term in gay academia, and "queer cinema" is a recognize genre.

I wrote more about this in a previous post in this same thread.

> Alan Cumming is definitely queer. And there was lots of homosexual
> content/flavor. Add to that, the fabulous Karen Black and other actors
> who are more queer-friendly and you have a queer movie.

Exactly. The term is often used to describe media that has a gay sensibility, even if there is nothing explicitly gay. This is especially true of older movies where gay topics were forbidden. Several of Hitchcock's movies come immediately to mind, i.e. Strangers on a Train, and Rope. And of course, The Wizard of Oz. More modern examples include Yentl, and the TV show Golden Girls.

As such, this was certainly queer. There are at least 3 openly gay/bi actors, Allan Cumming, Ann Heche and Jane Lynch, and Cumming's character is stereotypically gay. He's an opera-loving, high strung drama queen. And look at his mode of punishment: dressing his victim in a bra and panties while binding him in rainbow lights. Then there's the brief gay oral sex scene in the car. Etc, etc.