EXPLORING REPRESENTATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN FILM

African vs. American film




The gay and lesbian community has very little representation in African film versus American film. However, the question that I am posing in my paper is what are the similarities and what are the differences. In African film the representation of gays and lesbians is much more subtle, and in some cases non-existent rather than in American film. My paper discusses the gay and lesbian community being ostracized socially and as a result within the realm of film as well. In Africa and America the same, there are still major struggles for the homosexual population. One of the biggest adversaries for the gay and lesbian community is the church. Many people neglect to realize the power of the church and how much control it has over how people think and the perspective when it comes to political issues and problems in the community. My paper briefly touches on the effects that the church has on the plight of gays and lesbians. The role that the church plays when it comes to homosexuality in film whether it’s in Africa or in America is discouraging people from supporting the films. In the South African film Karmen Gei by director Joseph Ramaka the lead character is a free spirited lesbian. The film was substantial in showing how deep rather than artificial lesbian love can be. It is of great importance for the world to see the other side of gay and lesbian romance that is typically not explored. It is critical that the boundaries that society has restricted on film excluding homosexuality should be redefined as we advance into the future.It is my greatest hope that as a result of more African as well ad American films relating to this issue will change the perspectives and stereotypes for people across the world when it comes to the gay and lesbian community.

Chapter IV from J.M. Coetzee's Foe

The following is a brief synapsis of chapter IV of J.M. Coetzee's Foe enjoy!




I think that the last chapter of this book is about Susan hanging Friday and then committing suicide out of the frustration of never getting to hear Friday talk. This would explain the marks around his neck in the following passage: “About his neck- I had not observed this before – is a scar like a necklace, left by a rope or chain.” (155)


I think that the reason why she had Mr. Foe continually trying to pry his mouth open was an illustration of a final attempt at hearing something come out of his mouth. For example:

“His teeth are clenched. I press a fingernail between the upper and lower rows, trying to part them.” (154)


“I pass a fingernail across his teeth, trying to find a way in.” (157)


However, now that Friday is dead there is no sound that can be heard from him. The only sound is nothingness which coincides with the notion that the Island does not exist and is only a figment of Susan’s imagination. For example:


“The skin, dry as paper, is stretched tight over their bones. Their lips have receded, uncovering their teeth, so that they seem to be smiling. Their eyes are closed” (153)

“Closer I press, listening for other sounds: the chirp of sparrows, the thud of a mattock, the call of a voice. From his mouth, without a breath, issue the sounds of the island.” (154)

The reason that there are two versions of the discovery of the bodies is because one is from the perspective of Susan as she would imagine Foe to discover them, and the other version is that of Foe’s actual discovery of the bodies and the suicide note left by Susan. My guess is that Susan could not make up her mind how she wanted Foe to discover their bodies. Therefore she decides to write a story where Mr. Foe would discover their bodies and then return for another viewing of the bodies and discover the elaborate suicide note that she wrote. For example:

“The room is darker than before…” (155)

“About his neck- I had not observed this before – is a scar like a necklace, left by a rope or chain.” (155)