Homosocial Desire in the Films of Kevin Smith :: Essays Papers

Homosocial Desire in the Films of Kevin Smith In present society, any composition who loves another man is designate a homosexual. If a man is not a homosexual, then he is not allowed to display any form of affection for another male. If a man does go beyond the boundaries of showing affection for another man, that man runs the risk of being labeled a homosexual. However, there are those who see the error of this and indispensableness to change this societal viewpoint. Two examples of individuals who have strikingly similar views on this issue believe that there can be a balance in the midst of homosexuality and heterosexual male bonding. In relation to this balance, the term homosocial recognizes bonds between persons of the same sex. Even though these two individuals come from completely different ends of the spectrum, they twain agree that homosocial desire allows desire between two men to exist in a form that incorporates love between men without sexual attract ion. writer Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick and film director Kevin Smith both display through different types of media that homosocial activity can evolve from male bonding to exist in the same range as homosexuality. Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick writes about the term homosocial desire in her book Between Men. The word homosocial is used in science to describe social relationships between persons of the same sex. While it shares the same prefix homo with the word homosexual, homosocial has different connotations in present American society. Kevin Smith uses film to show up his ideas about homosexuality and homosocial actions. Smiths first film, Clerks, was shot in black and white and lacked talented actors and good cinematography. However, Smiths smartly written script and flare for humorous storytelling soon turned this low budget, independent film into a cult classic. The movie revolves around the lives of two best friends, Dante (played by Brian OHalloran) and Randal (dep icted by Jeff Anderson). Dante works in a convenience shop while Randal works across the street as a video letting store clerk. Their friendship is filled with stereotypical male bonding practices such as playing hockey together and reading issues of Playboy behind the store counter. However, while the two exhibit many jocular actions, their relationship is a good example of the notion of homosocial desire.