Homosexual Portrayal in "Basic Instinct"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the portrayal of homosexuality in the movie "Basic Instinct" and examines the reactions the movie garnered when it was first released. The author explains how themes of homosexuality were portrayed in the film: lesbianism and lesbian identity characterized as a petty power battle against male type territorial invasions, and femininity being expressed as power centered, egotistical, and manipulative. In closing, the paper noted that although the movie itself was perceived as unflattering to the gay community, it's release marked an epochal moment in the history of gay acceptance in society, as it polarized and mobilized the gay community like no other film.

From the Paper:

"Homosexuality was a source of social concern at the time that the movie Basic Instinct came out, and the movie did not help change attitudes or temper anti-gay sentiment. For this reason it was protested by gay activist groups, who were seeking a more normal, friendly, and standardize image that would dispel the stratification and alienation of gay society at the time. The result was that though the movie itself was perceived as unflattering to the gay community, it's release was an marked an epochal moment in the history of gay acceptance in society, because it polarized and mobilized the gay community like no other film, and historically reveals to have brought about the change which the gay community needed in society as the time."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Basic Instinct." 2007: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103772/
• "Basic Instinct." 2007: http://www.filmsite.org/basi2.html
• "Philadelphia." 2003: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107818/
• "Philadelphia--Rotten Tomatoes." 2007: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/philadelphia/
• Simpson, Janice. "Out of The Celluloid Closet." April 6, 1992: http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,975226,00.html

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