Reading Brokeback Mountain: Essays on the Story and the Film

by Jim Stacy (Editor)

This collection offers 15 critical essays on Annie Proulx's short story "Brokeback Mountain" and its controversial film adaptation by screenwriters Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana and director Ang Lee. Each essay explores the short story, the film, and the sociocultural phenomenon that followed the release of the motion picture in December 2005. This anthology includes selections from traditional perspectives and from postmodern angles, including women's studies, gender studies, queer studies, sexuality studies, ethnic studies, and American studies. Many of the essays focus primarily on the film, its critical reception, its stars, its director, its soundtrack, and its cultural implications.

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2007

Reviews

[Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a fan of the one essay that tries to say brokeback mountain is more revolutionary than paris is burning(!?!?!?!?!) because it features normal (cisgender, masculine, and let's be real, white) gay men instead of the "mainstream" perception of effeminate and gender-nonconforming queers but otherwise pretty solid book

[Daniel Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of essays that tackle the cultural/social/political dimensions of both the original short story by E. Annie Proulx and the film by Ang Lee. If you are into cultural theory, this book really is a great launch pad to discuss a story and film that is perhaps the most contentious politically and culturally in terms of its impact and message to the world around and within us.