Episode 25: Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Is romantic love like an addiction? What is the nature of anti-gay prejudice? How do people come to understand their own sexual identity? Paul and Eli revisit “Brokeback Mountain” in preparation for its 20-year theatrical re-release, while marveling at some truly legendary performances.
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Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel
Intro
1:10: (Eli) Who are the characters and couples?
2:15: (Paul) 1-minute plot recap
3:25: What is our relationship to this movie?
What the movie gets right
6:50: (Eli) Passion is akin to an addiction
Love addiction is linked to compulsive behavior review by Dr. Earp
Intense love activates brain regions that also activate in cocaine craving study by Dr. Aron
13:15: (Paul) The nature of “coming out”
What predicts coming out? review by Dr. Chaudoir
LGBT people come out at much younger ages these days study by Dr. Bishop
History of homophobia and prejudice review by Dr. Herek
18:00: (Eli) The changing nature of anti-gay prejudice
Anti-gay prejudice has declined substantially since 1900 study by Dr. Charlesworth
The decline in anti-gay prejudice also emerges on implicit measures study by Dr. Charlesworth
21:45: (Paul) Precarious manhood
The status of “manhood” is hard won and easily lost review by Dr. Vandello
23:20: (Paul) How people respond when their partner has a same-gender affair
Surveillance and compensation responses to infidelity study by Dr. Denes
Misconceptions in the movie
25:20: (Eli) Relationship passion tends to decline over time
Passion fades as partners become more familiar with each other book by Dr. Aron
27:20: (Paul) Sexual orientation and rough sex
Gay male sex isn’t more aggressive than other types of sex study by Dr. Herbenick
29:00: (Eli) Do women fall in love with fun?
Yes, for sure study by Paul
“Are we ok with this?”
31:00: (Eli) This movie probably contributed to a warmer social context for gay people
33:35: (Paul) It’s meaningful that straight, A-list actors played these major gay roles
37:25: (Eli) Despite everything, Ennis and Jack are responsible for the mistreatment of their wives
Relationship Quotes!
40:00: (Paul) Stigma makes relationships harder
42:45: (Eli) Belatedly, Ennis makes a confession and a promise
45:55: (Eli) Without commitment, fate holds the reins
What do we wish we knew?
47:00: (Paul) Why is Jack more willing than Ennis to break the rules?
50:30: (Eli) Can we sustain passion for decades if we only saw our partner a few days a year?
51:00: (Eli) Might opportunities for consensual nonmonogamy have helped here?
Stars (1–5): The hosts rate the quality of the movie
Rusbults (1–5): The hosts rate the accuracy of the movie’s ideas about relationships
Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons
Artwork by Katie Keil
Hello! I love your podcast and share it with a lot of friends. One of you (sorry I don't know which one) mentioned Romeo & Juliet once or twice. I know most of the world doesn't want to re-read Romeo & Juliet, but I would encourage you to re-read it before comparing classic novellas/films to it. I think (and this is just an opinion, although I am a literature teacher) that R & J is a comedy wrapped in a tragedy. They are teenagers, they behave like teenagers (impulsively), and there are a lot of dirty jokes. Yes, they die at the end, but that's almost also done comedically (again, IMHO). Possibly worth re-reading BEFORE watching the movies to see what you think. Thanks! Shakespeare understood real love (we read/hear that in the sonnets) and his understanding of love is not demonstrated in R & J.
Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments; love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no, it is an ever-fixèd mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.