This scene from "Will & Grace" demonstrates the conflict between societal constructs of homosexuality and two homosexual men. Will, who identifies as homosexual finds issue with his friend Jack's overtly homosexual behavior. In response to Will's derogatory comment, Jack protests with a stereotypically "straight" act at the gym. Here, we see that although these two men both identify as homosexual, there are various internal pressures and insecurities each face. Will struggles to maintain an outwardly "normal" appearance, while Jack embraces his homosexuality. Both use different means to embracing their homosexuality.
Thanks for the video Alex-
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great example of the way internalized oppression can make us act differently in different spaces. From what I've seen of the show, Will doesn't get angry at Jack for acting "homosexual" in other environments, and I doubt he would use that word anywhere else. I feel like Will is embarrassed by Jack's behavior specifically because they are at the gym, a space with very rigid gender norms. You could even say (maybe) that people go to the gym specifically to better fit normative gender standards. Some people go to look and feel more masculine or feminine. They way I see it, Will is disturbed by the way Jack's queer gender performance reflects on him in such a pressured environment. Will might not be trying to hide his homosexuality at the gym, but it might be important to him to project something similar to a standard heterosexual masculinity in that space specifically.