Paul Blog

The representation of sexual minorities in popular media has come a long way, and some can now be viewed in a positive light. One of these stereotypes is the "closeted jock", a very masculine character who is outwardly homophobic but secretly gay. The social meanings associated with this stereotype include the perpetuation of toxic masculinity, the idea that LGBTQIA+ individuals must conform to traditional gender roles, and the fear of coming out due to potential harm or discrimination. The closeted jock character is a lot more common of an archetype nowadays given that this archetype tends to promote a positive notion towards homosexuality as the audience develops a sense of empathy as we see the closeted jocks struggle with a fear of rejection or ridicule from their peers. The “closeted jock” trope shows the struggles of typically homophobic men who are “in the closet” while also highlighting how they can come to terms with their own sexuality.  Sex Education (2019-2023) An...

 First off I thought the movie was a banger. It mixed clips from old movies and clips from interviews really well, and I really liked hearing what directors, writers, and actors thought of the films they were in in retrospect. Even though some were oblivious to the queer coded undertones in films that were presented, most took pride in the ways they were able to subtly implement references to queerness while still standing by the strict restrictions of the time. It was really special to the positive ways in which queerness was implemented in films rather than when it was villainized. When I heard about how some people would watch entire movies just for a single subtle reference to queer representation, it really struck a tone with me. I feel that that somewhat lives on in today as I'll look out for queer representation in films that isn't just being used as a cash grab. Overall, watching the The Celluloid Closet was a very valuable experience as it gave me a very insightful his...