But I'm a Cheerleader (Queer Theory)

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Today, in this movie review I will discuss a romantic comedy film named But I'm a Cheerleader. This is because this film have give us a homosexual feelings when we watch this film. The theory that they use in this film Queer theory.

Theory Discussion

Queer theory is an approach to literary and cultural study that rejects traditional categories of gender and sexuality, it proposed by Feminist Theory. It can be a critical response to the numerous discourse surrounding AIDS and homosexuality. There are some approaches in Queer theory which includes the audience reception. Many films are open with the homosexuals characters in a narrative film. Other looks or visual exchanges between the participants is mediated on a "narrative" visual discourse in which the look of of the subject.

The next approaches is the actors or actress have captured by the straight audiences but sometimes they also captured by the non-straight audiences. It examines queer work. making and writings, done by all sexualities. The straight previously can now be viewed as queer. The same subject in relation to a self-defined straight object of desire are also occupied by gay men and straight women such as an actress named Madonna who have beautiful body that can draw the straight audiences attention but she also draw the non-straight audiences attention. (Thomas Waugh, 1996)

Synopsis

This film is start with Megan (played by Natasha Lyonne), a seventeen-year-old American girl is one of the best cheerleader on the team. She has a boyfriend name Jared (played by Brandt Wille), who is the captain of the football team. However, there are some abnormal things about her. She does not enjoy to kiss her boyfriend very much and prefers looking at her fellow cheerleaders. When her parents and friends knows that she is a lesbian and send her to True Direction, a reparative therapy camp to let her to learn how to be straight. However, this camp makes Megan embrace that she is a homosexual and then she falls in love with Graham. At the end of this film is when her parents attend a meeting to show that with their daughter’s homosexuality.


Analysis

For the theory in this film, It did not concerned about the positive images but it overconfidence in politics. Sexuality is looked into multiplicity and not fixed. It can said that Queer theory is multiplicity. For example, Megan is a cheerleader and cheerleaders are supposed not to be lesbians but put a lots of efforts to maintain her heterosexuality so she dates her boyfriend who a member of football team. However, she does not enjoy kissing and she is lack of sexual attraction to other cheerleaders. The use of stereotypical signs seems appropriate. (Travis Homenuk, n.d)

Moreover, this theory is ridicules consumer passivity through deliberate vulgarity just like in-your-face visuals and context of homosexuality and possibly in excess. There have the details with wow factor to reminds that what kind of their people. For instance, Megan had got her girl and also with her parents respect and approval. Her parents attending a PFLAG meeting to imply that they are coming to terms with her sexuality. (Amaris Andrade, 2016)


Conclusion

Queer Cinema ascribes value to homosexuality and lesbianism, be it good or bad. It also related with the Feminist Theory to show that there are minority group in the world. Therefore, after I watched this film, I feel that when we see the world or meet our friends, keep reminding ourselves that there is more than one way for looking things. There always many method to see through. Overall of this movie is very interesting. It can change the society in this world. (Amaris Andrade, 2016)



Reference
1. Thomas Waugh, 1996. Hard to Imagine: Gay Male Eroticism in Photography and Film from Their Beginnings to Stonewall. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996

2. Travis Homenuk, n.d. But I'm a Cheerleader: A brief textual analysis. Retrieved from, https://genderandsexualityinsocialstudies.wordpress.com/film-reviews/but-im-a-cheerleader/

3. Amaris Andrade, 2016. But I'm a Cheerleader: A Satirical Masterpiece on Conversion Therapy. Retrieved from, https://sites.psu.edu/queerrepresentation/2016/08/09/but-im-a-cheerleader-a-satirical-masterpiece-on-conversion-therapy/

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