Queer Theory in 80's and 90's Action Movies | Renegade Cut

An examination of queer theory explained through popular 80's and 90's action movies like Top Gun, Die Hard, Point Break and more. Support Renegade Cut Media through Patreon: / renegadecut
#lgbt #queertheory
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Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/leonthomas/
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING:
reel3.com/point-heart-break-or...
classic-horror.com/newsreel/h...
www.ruthlessreviews.com/3759/t...
www.ebony.com/wp-content/uplo...
• Needs More Gaze: A Cri...
• Top Gun Needs More Gay
• Queering Michael Bay |...

[@HowardWimshurst]

10/10 for taking the opportunity to title “the male gaze and the male gays

[@chancellorpalpatine4035]

Wanted to give you like but then it would ruin the 420 so go ahead and have this 👍🏻

[@andriybrine1188]

Its 460 likes now and I dont want to ruin it

[@hakasims]

Not talking about Point Break at all and then name dropping it as a positive example at the end with no explanation is such a power move. Love it

[@leonis5664]

As a bisexual, I find interesting that most of homosocial scenes has a "no homo" scene ( with the protagonist showing attraction to women) to assure the audience that this movie is Not GaY, but that just not exclude ppl like me reading that character as bisexual. The thing is, Bisexuality is almost never shown or alluded in most mainstrain media, and that's why you never have a dudebro saying 'that character Can't be bi' because that possibility is not even approached in most queer readings and definetely not in general audiences. It's kinda of alienating.

[@EzioHanitore]

Oberyn Martell is the best bisexual representation in media. change my mind

[@zitrodivad]

Jake Peralta!

[@SampoPaalanen]

@@EzioHanitore yes and no, sure he was sympathetic, but still fell into the stereotype that bi men "can't keep it in their pants", now while Oberyn is better depiction in that he does take "no" for an answer it's still the same stereotype that kept me in the closet until my late 30s since I'm someone who can easily "keep it in my pants" and in fact have mental health issues that make sexual interactions extremely difficult at best of times (and yes I'm bi myself).

[@octopusmime]

Eugene Levy's son's character in Schitt's creek is also Bi !

[@alexsmit5430]

Yah we don't much good representation in general, and it's even less for bi men.

[@musicmage4114]

10:00 Me: "Is he about to say, 'Hella gay?'" RC: "Hella gay." Me: "Nailed it."

[@mothmanghost983]

And people ask why women write so much fanfiction based on super "manly" films and franchises.

[@ravenwyld]

Spirk!

[@danman1950]

I didn't realize it before but this is why I have an easier time conversing with women than men. I'm shit for conversation, but the whole "insult" game has always made things difficult as I've had very low self esteem growing up. It's difficult to be a boy who yearns for vulnerability, and connection.

[@LucasSampaioMaia]

Same here

[@oof-rr5nf]

aw, man. i am so sorry

[@Syurtpiutha]

I hear ya. Been bullied because of that very reason in high school. Uni was very liberating in that regard, though your mileage may vary.

[@whoisbatman]

I sincerely value your comment.

[@SabrinaRina]

Funny, I have an easier time talking with guys because they're often straight forward and intent is easy to gather more often than not. I feel other women are often trying to one up me or get me into a sense of vulnerable openess just to use things against me. I hate the notion that women and men can't be friends because other than my best friend, I'd say 90% of my friends are guys.

[@lesteryaytrippy7282]

When the content creator said "Don't blame me for the lack of lesbians. I didn't make the cast." I felt that.

[@mehwhatever9483]

I think it’s interesting to see which emotions are considered “hard” and “soft” emotions in our society. “soft” emotions are things like sadness or affection... these are simultaneously related to femininity, and seen as something that would make a woman irrational or hysterical when expressed too terribly much. but the truth is, these emotions are ones that openly express vulnerability, and if you’re able to safely share them with another person, you can form a stronger bond with them. “hard” emotions are things like derision or anger. they are related to masculinity, and seen as something that makes men more powerful or confident when expressed with frequency. the truth is, these emotions are defensive. they put up walls between people, turning everything that anyone says into either a joke or a threat, and ultimately not letting anyone see that any other emotions exist at all. I think this is rooted in the idea of self reliance. if someone is feeling threatened, they can either open themselves up to someone they trust, and ask for support... or they can push everyone away and make themselves an island, not letting anything near enough to affect them. men are expected to be an independent unit... they should be strong enough to be fine on their own, and thus have no practical need for bonds between themselves and others. their aggression and/or insincerity isolates them, and the idea is that a truly strong man would be okay with that. this is, of course, an idea that runs contrary to basic human nature, but a lot of men will try to emulate this ideal anyway. being open and being closed off both have their pitfalls... being open can get you seriously hurt if you trust someone who goes on to betray you, but closing yourself off leaves you with nothing to fall back on if your strength alone somehow fails you. but whereas being hurt by openness could lead you to becoming closed off, its rare for a closed off person to suddenly become okay with opening up... especially if they’re at their most hurt/threatened. it’s a real problem.

[@hetmobi]

love this comment.

[@burninsherman1037]

I'm one of those folks who's closed off due to past betrayal of trust. Far too many times I've had things i told someone in confidence used against me, or thrown out there for loads of folks to know. I try to be open with those i know care, but its hard because in the back of my head I've always got that nagging voice reminding me that i thought the folks who did that shit really loved and cared for me too.

[@PatrickHogan]

*Nightmare on Elm Street 2 has left the chat*

[@ShirDeutch]

He made an entire video just about that movie.

[@MeltingIcecapsDrawmybabyUps]

He has a video just for this one

[@wizardwor511]

HAHA, I was gonna say something similar

[@SabrinaRina]

"And you want to sleep with me!" 😃 *Stab* 😱

[@somedudefromTX]

What was up with that shower scene featuring the gym coach?

[@Doodlebob108]

when are we gonna talk about how gay pro wrestling is? me and my dad used to watch it together when i was a kid and it's the reason i figured out i'm bi.

[@LadyOfTheEdits]

Oh really haha that's interesting. As for me I'm lesbian.

[@arnoldfreeman2885]

It’s super duper gay and in defense of Jesse Ventura, the actor for Blain in The Predator, he has been a major advocate for gay rights since the 90’s because he witnessed so many gay wrestlers unjustly treated. He was a major advocate for gay rights before, during, and after his political career as Minnesota governor.

[@robertjackson1987]

I'm straight and a HUGE wrestling fan but you are 10000% correct lol.

[@ijansk]

What about bodybuding? Men flexing almost naked and sometimes in sexually-charged ways for other men. Not only that. There is even a rule that regulares the size and shape of posing suits because some bodybuilders have the impulse to cross the line.

[@thunderhorse6666]

That's why they called it Monday night raw cuz after pulling on rock hard pecker for 3 full hours it's gonna be raw as a mofo

[@SimoExMachina2]

Braveheart took the idea of a "queer" as a throw away character to whole new level. There is a particular scene the said character is literally thrown.

[@denisl2760]

Missed opportunity there. Should've shown the defenestration scene while saying "throwaway character".

[@bayoublue83]

@snake plissken thank you for saying defenestration. One the best words in the English language.

[@milkenobi]

Well 😂 … but also 😢

[@soiboisixtnine8848]

Jesse Ventura in Predator using that slur really makes me think of how Ernst Rohm (actual Nazi, friend of Hitler) was an open homosexual, but considered his version of homosexuality just another part of soldierly camaraderie, while violently persecuted other homosexuals he considered morally degenerate.

[@alexbristol4413]

They Live is a great example of a male focused action movie of that time that is also super gay. It also helps that it is blatantly anti Reaganomics, and very sympathetic to the working class and homeless.

[@mslightbulb]

I LOVE THAT MOVIE! It’s a bit slow at the start but it has entered the top of films that influenced me.

[@fiorefiore9910]

I'm glad I'm not the only one to point out that Marvel isn't as progressive as it pretends to be. Valkyrie doesn't come across as lesbian or bi in any of the movies (as a matter of fact I initially thought that she was going to be Thor's next love interest), but since someone said that she is not straight in an interview the studio is allowed to pat itself on the back. Also, if you apply queer theory, Captain America: the winter soldier and Civil War does the exact same thing as those '80s action movies. The emotional core of the movies is the relationship between two male, masculine characters (Steve and Bucky) who express affection towards each other and Captain America doesn't seem too pleased when he is kissed by Black Widow; but to avoid controversy, there is a "no homo" moment when Captain "falls in love" with agent Carter's granddaughter, a woman he has just met and barely spoke to. PS: this has nothing to do with queer theory, but can I just point out that Black Panther (as great as it may be) is still the ONLY Marvel movie that doesn't have a white guy as a protagonist. I'm not saying that the people who work there are racist/homophobic (I genuinely think that that is not the case) but we shouldn't yell "Hurray representation!!!" when they're just doing the bare minimum.

[@camf4962]

i mean, the first avengers is weirdly retrograde in this regard too. the hypermasculine jock bro gang spends the first two acts quipping at each other about whose comic book weapon is bigger until the biggest, jockiest bro there is settles the debate by beating up a prissy, flamboyant alien with bad farrah fawcett hair. and then they're all friends forever

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

That depends upon whether you are interpreting media from a heteronormative lens in the first place. Consider that most characters in visual fiction never have any sex, gender (or race, for that matter) explicitly attributed to them. It is also usually a guess how congruent the sex and/or gender of any given actor may be with the character they are portraying. And to what extent we trust apparent diagetic consensus about these aspects of the characters. For some of us, such categories tend to be blank unless made explicit. So, likewise, relationships can easily be seen as queer unless otherwise specified.

[@TheAwetist802]

True that! Disney-fied Marvel is not progressive at all. Now, Marvel comics, with Stan Lee at the helm, way back in the day, was hella impressively progressive in regards sexual orientation and gender identity, waaaaaaay before being open and expressive about such things was a thing media or the entertainment industry did. The current films and various tv spinoffs are pitiful by comparison and have set queer representation back 30 years.

[@laurenbastin8849]

I find it pretty fun to do these kinda readings, particularly with Point Break, since you can get both gay and anti-cop readings out of it pretty easily: not only is Sweyze’s character treated like he’s practically Reeves’ soulmate, but he’s also made very sympathetic and is explicitly stated to have never shot anyone in the start, but most of the actual violence in the film is the result of one cop playing the hero and getting himself, a random security guard, and two of the robbers killed, as well as causing everything to fall apart, thereby also being responsible for the other deaths. That combined with the fact that Keanu throws his badge away at the end after letting Sweyze die free rather than be imprisoned makes an anti-cop and queer reading pretty viable imo

[@Carltoncurtis1]

*THE MANLIEST OF SQUEEZES*

[@RogueSPiDER]

"Commando is- ah, let me check my notes here ... 'hella gay'". I loled so hard I had to pause the vid til I recovered. Instant sub, my dude.

[@sinachiniforoosh]

Literally all these justifications given in the text about "why it's not gay" are also what a lot of gay and bi people give themselves about their own same-sex attraction when in closet lol.

[@tittyitchy]

Me

[@dizzym9554]

The phrase "the late Alan Rickman" still makes me sad :(

[@neilpower60]

The Predator could be a metaphor for HIV/Aids in this context, an invisible killer that kills men with no mercy

[@mosthated.e.2422]

lmao 💯

[@tf7602]

Indirect and guarded friendships... I do kinda feel somewhat bad of what men can miss out on, because of its perceived gayness :/

[@JimJamTheAdmin]

@@tyrell. you've been watching too much gay porn, again.

[@angrytriangles]

the me who did gender studies in college: "male gaze" refers to the depiction of women in media through the lens of heteropatriarchal sexual desires my dumb brain: haha male gays that's what the video is about

[@brendanmccabe8373]

:( why are you laughing at me

[@SweetLitzLM]

About Male Gaze, I often feel unconfortable and disgusted rather than pleased when i see their depiction of women, even though I'm a lesbian. I feel those woman are being used only as "sexy objects" and it just doesnt sit well.

[@Timeforthaunted]

Fantastic essay. This and Ellis’s video on Transformers Queer Theory are best friends (gay? 🤔)

[@oof-rr5nf]

the truth come out does video essay is gay? 🤔🤔🤔

[@c3r6s9]

the inherent homoeroticism of the video essay

[@reaganbartels9993]

Get Maggie Mae Fish's video about RoboCop and you get the gayest of threesomes

[@AlexAzureOtaku]

This is Chuck tingle levels of meta

[@nickpastorino5370]

If you want to hear unintentionally gay stuff in real life, work a construction job. "You guys go get wood!" "Nail that board good!" "Screw it tight!" "Come on guys, get it up!" "Use the hand jack to lift it up." "Now, ram it in there!"

[@ashkuigp]

Queerest movie of 80s? Easy. Top gun.

[@johnyonghwang6112]

The amount of bare chested testosterone unintentionally made it quite gay

[@eoincampbell1584]

People, don't comment before you've watched the video.

[@adamandanna]

True but watch the beach scene in Rocky III that is a close second ha ha

[@gokinsmen]

21:18 Interestingly, the tender (forehead) kiss between Frank and Jackson in Bloodsport lacks any "no homo" commentary. It's played completely sincerely between the two male characters and the female character watching them.

[@BenjaminGlatt]

Quick, somebody with talent: write an action flick where the hero is a power-bottom catboi who rescues his bear boyfriend from the CIA or something.

[@acehealer4212]

God, do you ever just read something and realize you never knew how badly you needed that thing in your life?

[@howaboutnow1895]

With a ace women sidekick that hacks.

[@the_demon_cat337]

I want this so bad.

[@vfaulkon]

I am a professionally-trained writer. This future is on your head. TO THE WORD PROCESSOR!

[@BP-vc4em]

The phrase “it wouldn’t play well in china” is just a way to justify structural biases against depicting actual non heteronormative relationships in a meaningful way by deflecting the blame on to “those people” (ie:using racism and xenophobia). This is why you get the “trade federation” (clear racial stereotypes of east asian people) in phantom menace but somehow they will be okay in china (from all the later additions that were made to the old star wars why didnt the filmmakers “fix” these racist depictions from the prequels?).

[@raminybhatti5740]

The clamour in recent months to denounce the "Red Menace" in Hollywood is a red herring, lol.

[@ElCanalacoDeRaul]

Sometimes a jungle vine is just a jungle vine

[@KorbenD3P0]

I meannn.. 50 bucks is also 50 bucks.

[@toppersundquist]

@@KorbenD3P0 I didn't want to laugh at that... but I laughed at that.

[@MaleTears]

there was soooo much queer undertone in the 1980's. I grew up watching action films with roided out hunks and their muscles AND NOW HERE I AM.

[@margaritam.9118]

80s was a relatively conformist, conservative decade, so I am not surprised by the amount of repressed gayness on screen. It’s like those old Victorian photos of male “platonic friendships” with dandy-looking guys sitting on each other’s lap, staring in the camera seductively. Yeah, guys, you’re Victorian, but you’re totally fucking behind the closed doors.

[@duffman18]

It reminds me of 80s wrestling too. There was so much homoerotic undertones to it all. Being a more explicitly gay character meant you were automatically the bad guy or the "heel" back then, e.g. The Genius was played incredibly gay. But the good guy wrestlers who were friends in the story and who would come out after matches and hug each other with their big oiley muscley bodies, I dunno maybe it's just me and seeing what I want to see. I didn't realise till years later that I was attracted to men, and back when I watched wrestling I was a teenager who'd vehemently deny being gay or bi because if you were back then, you'd be a social outcast. But damn, go back and watch 80s and 90s wrestling and tell me there's not homoerotic undertones all over the show.

[@MeltingIcecapsDrawmybabyUps]

Hahaha... love how your voice sounds like you are trying to hold a straight face through out the entire video. Laughing is the only possible reaction once you realize these aspects of these films. And thanks for your work!

[@margaritam.9118]

Laura Braga Straight 😏 face

[@leijten]

Good morning, now this is something to wake up to.

[@TimothyCHenderson]

We need to expand the term "camp" to include straight camp....

[@kireharvey6844]

Are me and my male friends odd; i mean we say i love you; we talk about or feelings our sexual desires and all we hug; now i admit we dont talk about these things to everyone but it feels strange when talking to people about this because it such the opposite of my experience; now we do fall into the trap sometimes of calling some one gay or something when we express our feelings but 8/10 we just let it be like its just a normal conversation; i dont know it feels harder to have these conversations with my female friends maybe its because of perceived judgment or real but it seems much easier to talk about how i feel with my close male friends.

[@Jibiez410]

You would be considered odd by normal standards but at the same time your friendship can cause some serious envy from others from how open you guys are with each other, I'm the same way with my best friend to the point where we literally call each other besties around other people. From my opinion I would take being "odd" as a plus since you're literally close enough to people who you can freely express yourself without being judged.

[@diddles3383]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with you and your friends being very open and vulnerable with each other. In fact, it's actually very healthy for you guys to be that way! I myself am a nonbinary folk (assigned female at birth) and me and my friends, my best friend in particular, are very affectionate with each other - I also say that I love them rather regularly. But, of course, in the eyes of society, your bond with your friends will most likely be perceived as not conforming to the norm, which is rather stupid and downright ridiculous, if you ask me.

[@jonnysac77]

It's odd but it should be the standard

[@sahelichowdhury]

It all depends on where you live - your society and culture. In some cultures homosociality is a normal thing even among men (it is normal among women everywhere).

[@danthefan28]

0:09 This may arguably be the funniest line in cinema history.

[@literallygaston2489]

Daniel Diaz I love the guy’s reaction, his smile is so genuine.

[@whoisbatman]

But why?

[@renegadecut9875]

Showdown in Little Tokyo. It says so in the video. You actually have to watch the video. :)

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

@@NoirpoolSea - True, but Marvel movies are from Atlanta, not Hollywood, FWIW.

[@danicajekic1595]

Yeah, speaking as a bi woman, male-gaze scenes generally make me too uncomfortable to pay attention to the attractiveness of the women. I do think part of this is that I perceive women differently. I need more than visual stimuli to get interested. That’s partly why I’m so into the main women in more recent female-led action movies (like Wonder Woman, Captain marvel, and Star Wars). They’re not objectified, i can build connections with these characters and fall in love with them, and their outfits and the cinematography don’t make me feel like a piece of meat.

[@TheMorganVEVO]

I agree!

[@fromthehaven94]

You'd think some audience members would be okay with that. But a certain a-word comes out of their mouths every time.

[@altertopias]

Can relate too. Like I'm SO attracted to powerful women and the male gaze *hates* that.

[@TheAwetist802]

"Yarn-mail" had me howling with laughter! Brilliant video. Having come of age in that era of the 80s and 90s I remember just how thick the homophobia was and just how much posing went on in order for so many (supposedly) straight guys to maintain their manly (hetero) "cred".

[@skeevysteve8245]

Christ dude...why don't you have like half a million subscribers yet? Coming from someone who just doesn't often consider a lot of social issues day to day when they don't affect me personally, these studies are extremely entertaining and thought-provoking while never being judgemental or heavy handed. Thanks for another great video.

[@CassieVulpine]

GOAL: Use the word hornt in proper context.

[@tangledfish]

John Berger would be incredibly proud of the work you're doing here.

[@chilispillin]

Thank you so so much for bringing up the antagonist’s from commando clothes it was always been the funniest thing in the world to me

[@kinnikufan]

4:46 - Wait, Dolph Lundgren did what now? Is he actually even cooler than I thought he was?

[@stanconnorstan4266]

This video is me in my AP Literature class. We love making Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown a guilty closeted gay man.

[@dankahraman354]

With all the conditioning and constant reinforcement of heterosexuality one wonders if heterosexuality is really normal.

[@chrisfarmer6893]

The show Brooklyn 99 has my favorite portrayal of a close male friendship, between Jake and Boyle. I can't think of another example of male friends who are so close and without any homophobia in their relationship.

[@WoAS_Necksus]

"Do not blame me for a lack of lesbians in this video" -- HAHAHA, you've fallen into the VIEWER trap i set for you! I ALWAYS blame you for lesbians in your videos, whether they are absent or not, and while I don't explicitly tune in to your channel for their inclusion, I won't get personally upset at their exclusion... THIS time. /s Keep up the great work

[@aria5614]

We shouldn't care so much about pleasing China as we do. 😑 Let the boys be vulnerable!

[@ChristyAbbey]

Nicely done. I guess I should see Point Break at some point.

[@renegadecut9875]

It's pretty good.

[@daiklaive]

it will make you wanna roll on your back and shoot a gun into the air whilst screaming 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!'

[@Handmethekeys]

@@daiklaive 😄😄😄😄😄

[@vfaulkon]

I can also recommend Hot Fuzz as a dessert after watching Point Break.

[@somedudefromTX]

You put into very eloquent (and often hilarious) words the thoughts so many people have had about these hypermasculine movies and films.

[@LesShipsAhoy]

I've been waiting for this one!! Thank you and added props to you for adding that disclaimer. I love your thought provoking analysis of films .once again...thank you😊😊

[@willkoestner4159]

I really like how you put on screen side notes to address legitimate points that were asides to your point. Really helped streamline your point without being dismissive, or inviting criticism that is beyond the subject you were addressing. And also having the more dense or specific definitions clearly defined. I'm not a well educated person. Really made it easier to digest

[@kashiewm]

Point Break is great and Kathryn Bigelow is great. Strange Days is one of my all time favorite movies. It is incredible. Both films use action movie tropes in interesting ways, not only in terms of the genre but gender as well.

[@Namorat]

As a heterosexual cis male with almost exclusively female friends, many of them queer or bi or any other variation than heterosexual, I talk about the male depiction of male friendships every now and then. I personally am sad how few male friendships in media are allowed to be shown as deep and emotionally affectionate. The thing is, that I yearn for real friendship in movies and shows and such, while many of my friends want these budding friendly relationships to mean more, to have a romantic part, because they want gay representation. And while I understand it and agree that we need more of that as well, pure male friendship seems to be something that may be lost here due to a certain lack of nuance, since those male friendships often either turn romantic or need the "no homo, bro" validation.

[@Ramsimation]

Must resist archer reference Must resist archer reference Must resist archer reference Must resist archer reference

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

Do you want Archer references? Because this is how you get Archer references.

[@KorbenD3P0]

This is why we can't have nice Archer references.

[@aidanobrien9226]

I would love to see an 80's stye action movie that just unabashedly accepts the fact that so much of that genre is homoerotic.

[@milkenobi]

Like, typical 80s masculine action scene plays out. 2 guys who look like He-Man action figures are surrounded by fallen goons, then they just passionately kiss

[@Sammy-The-Watcher]

I'm loving these video essays, but I so often can't hear the difference between "gays" and "gaze" so some sentences come across as really weird before I rewind XD.

[@kendallfield9557]

This and ‘The Gay Nightmare’ are my favourite videos of yours

[@charlieni645]

Loving your channel even more after the relaunch, Leon! It's so nice to see your personality shines through in the latest videos.

[@Blarmenify]

"commando is... Let me check my notes her ... *Notes rustling about* HELLA GAY." Instant like comrade! Keep up the rad ass content.

[@carlcarlington7317]

"who uploads KZbin videos at a.m.?" Lefttube: "oh boy 3 am!"

[@marsduke8244]

the really gay part of the top gun volleyball scene is that taking part in the volleyball game makes tom cruise late to a date with his female love interest, showing how he values his relationships with men over his relationships with women.

[@Modern_Robot]

Then there's Jean Claude Van Damme.

[@ToruKun1]

Besides being Grace Jones' bodyguard, I think her and Dolph Lundgren dated for a while (that must've been how they hooked up LOL)

[@digapygmy70]

I've never seen Predator (I grew up on the Internet, do I really need to see it?), but it definitely makes a lot more sense to me now why Mac basically watches Predator on repeat on It's Always Sunny, for more than the muscle-bound dudes. Have you done a video about 80s hair metal and the same issue? You can go back to the New York Dolls in the 70s, who dressed in drag and wore makeup, but were virulently hetero; by the 80s, the biggest acts in rock such as Def Leppard, Poison, Motley Crue and countless others (look up photos of early Pantera for a good laugh) were dolled up just like pretty girls (albeit with a noticeable bulge in their leather pants) but were incredibly misogynistic and heterosexist, and they were sex symbols! I'd be interested in a comparison to glam rock to hair rock, because a lot of glam artists were either queer or also flirted with more androgynous imagery, but it was seen as more alternative or fringe? Is it because hair rock was more traditional in its maleness underneath a feminized exterior, or because they actively bashed anyone outside the norm? Anyway, just something your video made me think about! I bet you could knock this one out of the park! (Also thank you for using the term "heterosexist" because I think it's a lot more accurate than "homophobic" but I also feel super pretentious when I use it. Thanks for helping normalize it a little.)

[@FamiliarFacesChannel]

I looked away at my phone for a second and read "Male Gaze" as "Male Glaze"

[@margaritam.9118]

😏😏😏

[@alexjohnson2527]

This is just my opinion, but I feel like "it wouldn't play well in China" is a double-edged sword that just perpetuates itself. I know that there have been studies done on including minorities in film (TV shows and movies), and the results with the audience were similar to if they had those minorities in their friend groups, even if they didn't actually know anyone belonging to those minorities. So shows and movies including more honest portrayals of minorities can actually any sort of prejudice or bigotry some audiences might carry for those minorities, which results in less hostility towards having those minorities in shows/movies in the future. By not including them, that opposition towards having them will continue exist. Whereas if they are included, there might still be a few years of harsh opposition, but that opposition will stagnate and die down soon enough. So basically, the best way (in my opinion) to fix "it wouldn't play well in China" is to just include them anyways. If China refuses to turn out for movies because of it, then there will be a lot less movie options for them to see if the inclusion of minorities are seen across the board. And for those who still go to see the movies, it will only help in less hostility against it in the future as it becomes more and more normal in the industry. Especially in future generations, who would have grown up with that inclusion and likely see little to no problem with it.

[@pagesegovia2026]

Idk man Avengers had some pretty gay stuff going on with the whole entering Thanos' ass meme

[@MaleTears]

i loved every second of it

[@bevanurielpetersen6255]

Lets be honest no one denies that Captain America had America's ass, now to that was the gayest thing i saw in the movie

[@literallygaston2489]

Page Segovia My favourite was that Thanos wore a buttplug to protect himself from Ant-Man

[@oof-rr5nf]

Let us not forget all the "America's Ass" talk. Like Tony..... I will rat you out to Pepper.

[@leannkennett905]

I’ve gotta bring up Boondock saints and Detective Paul Smecker. You have scenes where he is displayed as hyper and extremely intelligent, he sometimes speaks with a feminine lilt to his voice, you see him engaging in intercourse with a man, you also see him dress as a woman and seduce another man. But on the Heteronormative side you have him berate the other officers for their lack of intelligence, engage in alpha male behavior, refuse to cuddle after intercourse and say “I’m not a faggot” (I know it’s derogatory but it’s a quote and not my personal feelings.) he also beats the second guy senseless after he discovered he was a man. (But he seemed eager to engage in sexual behavior until that point.)

[@tuxedojunction9422]

I'm not sure what it says about me (straight female) that all my favorite 80s and 90s action flicks are featured here. Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and Point Break (in no particular order) are among my all-time favorites. Maybe I just like seeing men express vulnerability in a homosocial context?

[@TheParadoxGamer1]

The line “Commando is… let me check my notes, (tippy tappy of a keyboard) HELLA GAY.” Is easily the greatest thing to come out of KZbin ever

[@GeneralBulldog54]

I wonder. Do you think the writers and filmmakers of Captain Marvel sought invert the 80's/90's partner formula with Carol and Maria?

[@Davesknd]

Point Break? Damn you, Stark!

[@brankeane2830]

Brilliant video-essay, love the analysis and approach. One thing: I’d like to send this to a friend of mine who’s deaf, as he’d appreciate it a lot. But youtube’s auto-generated captions are a nightmare for him (and frankly anyone who’s hard of hearing), so I can’t. Any chance you could upload your scripts as captions, or provide them in another way? It’s a little extra work, I know, but would be worth it for the accessibility…

[@renegadecut9875]

I already caption all of my videos. It just doesn't happen automatically. After I upload the script, KZbin's transcribing process takes a while. It should be ready today.

[@s-nooze]

Clicked for Top Gun and was not disappointed. I love your analysis of some of these others especially Commando.

[@alchemicpunk1509]

10:51 Watch Rammstein's music video for Mann gegen Mann for the most fun reinterpretation of that one.

[@chibijotaro9054]

Your video essays are absolutely fantastic and criminally-underrated - keep up the good work!

[@maryjane89]

I love hearing the joy in your voice in this video - made me smile!

[@DavBotsArcade]

Now I really wanna see a super gay super explody action film. No disavowels. Just straight up, "nice dick bro" "thanks bro, you too. let's go mess these bad guys up." Insert guns and explosions. The world needs this.

[@Crizakafrijolito]

Sometimes I tell myself that I'll watch a little bit of your videos and then come back in order to pay full attention to all the info but most of those times I tend to end up just watching all of it. Your content it too good. Thanks for all your work!

[@justlittletalks4962]

This was a really good video, I'm just kind of surprised you didn't mention Laura Mulvey's work (more specifically, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema) as it fits really well with the argument you're making, as well as illustrating the point of the camera as inherently enacting a male gaze. It could have really easily been mentioned during your discussion of Top Gun and The Terminator.

[@margaritam.9118]

21:00 actually, it’s even frowned upon in movies portraying heterosexual relationships! Men telling women they love them or expressing their feelings in an open manner gets a movie labelled as “chick flick”. Like, what women want a man to be, but not “how a real man should be, who cares what women want”. Stereotypical, over-the-top, even ridiculous (to the point of exclusive homosociality) masculinity is portrayed as absolute good and the best thing a person can achieve in this world. Harms men A LOT. It is funny how some male directors and screen writers try so hard to distance themselves from feminine and “gay stuff” at the same time, but end up obsessing with male bodies and masculine traits like the gayest gays ever gayed. Very interesting topic)

[@pluto545]

America has weird Puritanical issues with gender, gender roles, sex/sexuality, and personal expression.

[@wandanemer2630]

"Michael Bay has entered the chat"

[@froglaine]

Good video. Man I wish I knew how to be closer to people in general. Its hard to be unguarded, or even understand what that would entail.

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

It's a balance! If you succeed in becoming unguarded, people will feel threatened because you overshare.

[@pooplenepe59]

This explains a lot about everything

[@bell_u.sanchezh]

"cough" the captain America trilogy "cough" "cough"

[@lalolindu]

i'm kinda mad he didn't mention it because they gay subtext in those is a LOT

[@warrenpowers108]

I'm shocked Bad Boys didn't make the cut 😂 brilliant as always ♥️

[@anacc9261]

Wym ?

[@Simon-ow6td]

I found your musings on hetero-social relations and the general expression of affection and intimacy in friendship relations very enlightening to my self on a very personal level. I kind of just realized that there is a very strong division between how I interact with friends and specifically how I show affection. I am far more comfortable with showing overt and strong acts of affection towards and with friends I became close to post high school than relations I formed before or during high school. The contrast is surprisingly stark regardless of gender or other traits of the person (Though it might relate a little to seeking of different types of friend groups post high school). It appears to showcases a clear development from a more “anti-emotional” way of interacting and forming friendships, to one far more open to explicit emotional exchange. Yet, this old idea of self still lingers firmly through the relationships I have already formed in this different context. Can anyone else relate to this feeling?

[@devilinav7494]

Simon Sjöström-grönkvist Yes.

[@DianaBell_MG]

I still find it really funny you're showing Point Break and say there's no lesbians in this video ;)

[@RichardHannay]

“This happens...Yup! Yup, yup yup” LOL

[@totaldestruction152]

You have a very appropriate profile picture for this video lol.

[@Taradoxxi]

I don’t think I’ve ever clicked the notification faster, this is my JAM

[@mjtraveler3313]

I just find your channel and can't stop watching your videos. Just wanted to say thank you and you are doing a great job

[@cldrbsk]

This is by far one of your best videos. Hilarious, well researched, everything.

[@chapterblaq]

This video hit the spot tbh. Keep doing the lords work.

[@svenylford4047]

I remember reading an essay years ago about how Predator, an invisible killer of men in homosocial relationships, is an allegory for the AIDS crisis.

[@onedimensionalchess4373]

All I know is that I am strongly attracted to videos featuring Lazerhawk.

[@unchainedwiththecapt]

Lots of great insight here. Well done sir!

[@harperwelch5147]

Great film. Interesting and fresh interpretation of how male sexuality is portrayed in movies. I'd never thought about these patterns and clearly as the author here makes it, they are revealing. Nice work. Thanks for putting this together.

[@bruh666]

can someone pleaaaaaase tell me what the music is that starts at 17:02 ?

[@joshhutto2069]

Interesting take on that Lundgren/Lee scene. I always assumed it was a not so subtle racist way of establishing the superior size of the white man over the Asian.

[@blurelic4]

BINGO. Which also highlights how racism, sexuality, hypermasculinity and perceived dominance most often coincides with one another

[@RTU130]

Hmm

[@alexbristol4413]

Very informative, interesting, and genuinely funny at times too!