Comparisonist Westerns Are Brokeback Mountain And Little Big Man

Traditionally the western film genre is a place where societal boundaries are pushed. Traditional Westerns are usually the rancher vs the farmer in the typical plot. The rancher, a frontiersman who wants large open lands for his cattle to graze. The farmer, a frontiersman who wants land that is fenced and a more domestic life. Traditional roles for a traditional western. Then the genre of westerns would take a shift. The genre would allow new westerns to challenge not the west, but societal expectations for women and men in their traditional gender roles. This would be called the “revisionist” western. Two films that fit this category of “revisionist” Westerns are Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Little Big Man (1970). In the film, Little Big …show more content…
The film would allow the display of a homosexual man but only in a comedic light. In the film, we see the homosexual man as Native American or a heemaneh portrayed by Little Horse. A heemaneh is a man who takes on a role that mixes much of the behavior, dress, social and sexual roles of women and men. Little Horse, a heemaneh is accepted by the Cheyenne community, not excluded. Traditionally a heemaneh is the one who takes care of orphaned child or does pottery and have a clearly recognized and accepted social status and special ceremonial and religious roles. The film does not use this role, instead Little Horse is a homosexual stereotype, having mannerisms such as fluttering his eyelashes, being flirtatious, and lisping his words. The film had good opportunity to flush out the stereotype of a typical homosexual male, rather uses the stereotype for comedic relief. Though the film brought to life in the western, the homosexual man, the stereotype would not be addressed until the film, Brokeback Mountain