X-Men: Promoting Homosexuality

[IamthePope]

I just saw the last X-men movie a few days ago. I wasn't expecting much but It was surprisingly entertaining in a shallow way. Anyway, I got the distinct impression that throughout the film the mutants were supposed to represent gays. I had always thought that It was a commentary on the civil rights movement of the 60's with Prof. Xavier representing MLK and Magneto representing Malcolm X. But as the movie progressed it became clear to me that Mutation were in fact and allegory of homosexuality.

Heres why:
-Mutants become aware of there powers at puberty just as homosexuals become aware of their sexual orientation at puberty, whereas Blacks are borne into a separate culture.
-There is a scene in the movie with a young angel looking boy, where he's trying to hide his powers from his parents. This would not be the case with Blacks.
-There's a scene in the movie where Storm argues that Mutation is nothing to be ashamed of, just as the world is currently arguing about the moral validity of homosexuality.
-The movie has a "cure" for mutation. It might be feasable to "cure" homosexuality, but it's not possible to "cure" an ethnic difference.
-All the men in the movie have an effiminate, metrosexual air to them. Not sure if this was intentional but it was unsettling.

If the X-Men are to represent homosexuality, then the movie, as well as the comic series, portray the X-Men and their cause of homosexual acceptance in a favorable light. It also portrays the oppressors of the mutants, and by extension the moral outrage of traditional culture, in an unfavorable light.

So If have two questions to discuss:
Is the X-Men actually a subtle promotion of homosexual acceptance?

And if homosexuality could be "cured" as mutation was in the movie, would it be desirable?

[Atheist Peace]

I don't really think it's supposed to be similar to homosexuality. If it is, it obviously doesn't matter though. Homosexuals are people who are mistreated and oppressed by bigots, like mutants are... not really a big deal that there's a similarity.

[IamthePope]

I don't really think it's supposed to be similar to homosexuality. If it is, it obviously doesn't matter though. Homosexuals are people who are mistreated and oppressed by bigots, like mutants are... not really a big deal that there's a similarity.

Isn't that the problem? If the X-Men are to represent homosexuals, then the X-Men series portrays people who disapprove of that lifestyle as prejudiced bigots as if homosexuals were unjustly discriminated against in the fashion of African Americans. The majority of Americans disapprove a homosexual lifestyle. The X-Men series would have you beleive that the majority of Americans are bigots, and that Homosexuality is a justifiable lifestyle. The issue is important because it is a subtle promotion of homosexuality using a popular allegory. People don't recognise the implication of the story, and parents and readers alike don't realize that the X-Men might have a political agenda.

[Atheist Peace]

Isn't that the problem? If the X-Men are to represent homosexuals, then the X-Men series portrays people who disapprove of that lifestyle as prejudiced bigots as if homosexuals were unjustly discriminated against in the fashion of African Americans. The majority of Americans disapprove a homosexual lifestyle. The X-Men series would have you beleive that the majority of Americans are bigots, and that Homosexuality is a justifiable lifestyle. The issue is important because it is a subtle promotion of homosexuality using a popular allegory. People don't recognise the implication of the story, and parents and readers alike don't realize that the X-Men might have a political agenda.

So, what about movies that promote a heterosexual agenda? What about movies that portray heterosexuals as protagonists?

The X-Men series would have you beleive that the majority of Americans are bigots

A large majority of Americans are bigots. Just look at how many people voted for the oppression of gay people.

[Mangalore]

Isn't that the problem? ... The issue is important because it is a subtle promotion of homosexuality using a popular allegory...People don't recognise the implication of the story, and parents and readers alike don't realize that the X-Men might have a political agenda.

No.

So what?

If people don't understand the implication of the story, they don't get the message which was attempted to be transfered via the implication and thus it is as if the message did never exist which leads to the unescapable final conclusion: So what?

[Last Roman]

I don't think it is. The X-men comics started long before homosexuality became a big issue, though I can see how some of the characters may have been influenced by past historical figures (Xavier=MLK, Magneto=Malcom X). And even if it was [promoting homosexuality] (which it isn't), I don't care.

Personally, I think you are being paranoid.

edit: or are the greatest satirist in history

[MasterAdnin]

No offence, but I think you are seriously over thinking the movie. It's an action movie which is meant to have fun. I do not think they would put subtle messages of homosexuality in there. What's the point? It's probabaly nothing.

Peace,
Adnan

[.Socrates]

An action movie isn't supposed to be thought about. You watch, like/ don't/hate it, and move on with your life. Hell, I could probably say that "Over The Hedge" has sometihng to do with organized crime. But it was a comedy, so I ignored it.

@H&G- The same was for Star Wars III- Revenge of the Sith. Just with politics this time. It must be a slow news week.

[Richard the Lionheart]

No offence, but I think you are seriously over thinking the movie. It's an action movie which is meant to have fun. I do not think they would put subtle messages of homosexuality in there. What's the point? It's probabaly nothing.

Peace,
Adnan

He's not over thinking the movie. There is actually an MSNBC article about this.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12956661/

[Last Roman]

He's not over thinking the movie. There is actually an MSNBC article about this.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12956661/

that author is retarded. He's basically looking at coincedences and then linking them up to the movie.

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Why do people always have to think there is some alterior motive/message? I saw the movie and enjoyed it for what it was- an action movie. Did you ever think that maybe the reason why they introduce the powers emerging at the time of puberty could possibly be related the target audience ? Perhaps the reason is because most teens, at least I was, are confused about thier individuality and are afraid they won't fit in-they are afraid to be called ostracised from the group. This isn't necessarily stemming from someone discovering thier sexualtiy, but just the ackwardness that is the teenage experiance. The X-men dates back to the 70s I believe, I don't think that people back then questioned the comic book about promoting homosexualty back then. Spiderman is the same, an ackward kid who is forced to deal with changes. So the real question is, what if they made a cure that allows you to fit in?

[Eric]

[Trolling removed] Personally I believe the X-Men to be allegories of all civil rights movements, womens, africans, homosexuals, etc. And promoting homosexuality, though strange, isn't at all wrong. There is no 'gay agenda'. Though there are gay lobbyists, you know, those imbeciles who claim that every great figure in history, from Alexander (bisexual, and that's the end of it) to Napoleon was 100% gay and didn't even look at women or men (if the great figure was female, such as Boudicca)

[Richard the Lionheart]

Moved to Ethos.

[Sétanta]

If it is, then fine. So was Star Wars.

I have not seen it yet, so cannot draw conclusions. I suspect that there is some meaning behind the movie though.

[Hub'ite]

I just came back from seeing the movie. I kinda thought it had a hidden message, not just homosexuality, but all oppressed people. Still a great movie. Wolverine was awesome! Who cares if it was about homosexuality, its just a movie.

[InvaderCanuck]

X-men alludes to ALL civil rights movements, regardless of your own personal beliefs. Stating that X-men is only about homosexuality is rediculous.

I think this has more to do with homophobia and right wing christian bigotry than anything. I bet it burns you that Sir Ian Mckellen is homosexual too.

If it were possible to "cure" people of their reliance on religion, would it be morally acceptable to do so? More wars have been started because of religion than all other causes combined. More people have been killed in wars started by religious differences than all other wars combined.

Personally, I think homosexuals are pretty harmless. Its people like you that frighten me.

[Richard the Lionheart]

Personally, I don't like to think too much when watching an action or fantasy movie.

[Hub'ite]

Personally, I don't like to think too much when watching an action or fantasy movie.

Especially when Halle Berry's in a tight, leather suit.

[Publius]

-The movie has a "cure" for mutation. It might be feasable to "cure" homosexuality, but it's not possible to "cure" an ethnic difference.

Are these really your beliefs? Do you see homosexuality as needing a cure? I envision some long winded battle of the keyboard will ensue as to how right or wrong either of us are, but why can we not live and let live? Must we always try to make others conform to our personal standards or the standards of society?

[Richard the Lionheart]

Hey guys, please don't start attacking individual members. Discuss and debate about the movie's possible messages all you want, but remember to be nice and respectful to each other. :original: