Sexual orientation is ones sexual identity in accordance to their sexual and erotic affections and attractions. According to Garnets, “sexual orientation is determined by multiple influences, including a wide range of sociocultural factors.” (Garnets 297) She notes that you must incorporate these factors including race, gender, and class when you consider one’s sexual identity instead of examining it alone. These factors play an enormous role in the portrayal of sexual orientation in film. This occurs in Rush Hour 2 and Love is Strange as sexual orientation is depicted in both films, heterosexual orientation in Rush Hour 2 and homosexual orientation in Love is Strange both of which vary in illustration based on race. In Love is Strange, the
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Carter is portrayed as the stereotypical over sexualized black man and Lee is portrayed as more of a calm and mellow heterosexual. This becomes abundantly clear in the Heaven on Earth Massage Parlor when Carter and Lee get offered any girl as their masseuse. Carter becomes entranced in the opportunity presented before him and decides to greedily choose multiple girls. Talking along time, the uninterested Lee tells him to hurry up and Carter responds, “Man what’s wrong with you? You don’t jump in front of a black man in a buffet line, calm down!” This quote boosts the difference in sexual orientation portrayed in the film is based on race through the stereotype of the over-sexualized black male. It also exemplifies the relationship between sexual orientation and minorities in film as they used stereotypes to illustrate a minority’s sexual orientation. More so in Rush Hour 2 with the stereotype of Carter being an over-sexualized black man than in Love is Strange where the only minority is Roberto who doesn’t really exemplify any Hispanic stereotypes or characteristics in relation to sexual orientation. Garnets does suggest that “just as stereotypes have often depicted racial minorities as hyper sexual “breeders,” so too stereotypes of homosexuals have also emphasized sexuality.” (Garnets 303) The first does occur in Rush Hour 2 with Carter, however, the latter definitely doesn’t apply to Love is Strange as it’s obvious none of the homosexual characters are portrayed as being more interested in sex than in actual love (Garnets
Carter is portrayed as the stereotypical over sexualized black man and Lee is portrayed as more of a calm and mellow heterosexual. This becomes abundantly clear in the Heaven on Earth Massage Parlor when Carter and Lee get offered any girl as their masseuse. Carter becomes entranced in the opportunity presented before him and decides to greedily choose multiple girls. Talking along time, the uninterested Lee tells him to hurry up and Carter responds, “Man what’s wrong with you? You don’t jump in front of a black man in a buffet line, calm down!” This quote boosts the difference in sexual orientation portrayed in the film is based on race through the stereotype of the over-sexualized black male. It also exemplifies the relationship between sexual orientation and minorities in film as they used stereotypes to illustrate a minority’s sexual orientation. More so in Rush Hour 2 with the stereotype of Carter being an over-sexualized black man than in Love is Strange where the only minority is Roberto who doesn’t really exemplify any Hispanic stereotypes or characteristics in relation to sexual orientation. Garnets does suggest that “just as stereotypes have often depicted racial minorities as hyper sexual “breeders,” so too stereotypes of homosexuals have also emphasized sexuality.” (Garnets 303) The first does occur in Rush Hour 2 with Carter, however, the latter definitely doesn’t apply to Love is Strange as it’s obvious none of the homosexual characters are portrayed as being more interested in sex than in actual love (Garnets