Here’s an absolutely terrific article about homophobia among a certain segment of Bond fans (whom the author amusingly terms “Bondamentalists”). (Hat tip to CBn for the find.)
The author rightly points out that a strong voice among Bond fans is disturbingly homophobic. I’d say they see Bond as an “ideal man” and they don’t want that “tainted.” (The anti-Craig freak out, by the way, is about an on-screen kiss between Craig’s straight character and another man.)
During the endless post-Die Another Day, pre-Craig chatter about casting a new Bond, the name Rupert Everett came up many times, and each time, a massive wave of homophobic diatribes was unleashed.
“I’m not homophobic,” they tend to say, “It’s just ‘not Bond’.” Except we’re not talking about Teh Gay on-screen, just in the private life of the star. Who is also, yo fanboys, ‘not Bond.’ So yeah, it’s homophobic. Different than ordinary run-of-the-mill, I’m a snotty teenager who says disgusting things and sometimes beats people up homophobia (which is, I think, mostly what John Ruch encountered on the homophobic anti-Craig site to which I will not link).
Homophobia comes, in part, from our ideas about manhood. As Dan Savage said, it is inextricably tied to misogyny (and is therefore a feminist issue). And Bond is hyper-manhood. So whatever homophobic leanings you might have, even if they’re totally under control and you recognize them for what they are and you’re a Sensitive New Age Guy and you do 50% of the housework in your marriage, those leanings come out when confronted with Teh Gay rubbing its dirty hands all over your icon.
(I just paused in my writing to ask just such a feminist-minded male, with impeccable credentials, what he thinks of an out gay actor playing Bond, and he said no. Any other straight role yes. Superman, sure. Batman, no problemo. But no gay on Bond. “It sullies the archetype” says he.)
I’ll add that I don’t think the CraigNotBond assholes are actually selling homophobia as the reason Craig should not be Bond. I think they are so consumed with hate that they’re using their incidental homophobia as ammunition. Seriously, if they had a picture of Craig jaywalking, they’d post it and say Craig shouldn’t be Bond because he’s a criminal.
All of this is about our ideas about maleness and straightness and yes, archetypes. Don’t kid yourself; if people can be gay but icons can’t, that’s still a form of homophobia. We have a long, long way to go.
well, a gay actor playing Superman or Batman would just be Gay Overdose. 😉 Since those “icons” are pretty gay anyway.
It’s amazing the possessiveness straight culture has on “their” icons. I commented to a straight friend on how gay Depp’s Jack Sparrow was, she blew a fucking gasket. Kept ranting about gay people “ruining” straight culture by laying claim to characters like Sparrow. She literally could not enjoy Depp’s performance if it was read as gay. I was pretty dumbfounded. All I was claiming was that Depp was a genius for making his pirate role a bit swishy by incorporating coded gay behaviors.
This whole “sullies the archetype” attitude is a bit similiar to the whole “I don’t mind them as long as they don’t flaunt it” attitude. Keep gay culture safely ghettoized so I can easily ignore it, or something like that.
Andygrrl, I both agree and disagree.
Yes, Jack Sparrow is the Flame of Flaming Flames, and more attractive for being so. And people freaking out about it…I blogged about that in the past (kind of, more about not noticing).
But Bond is a special case, as I do find that even people who are happy to have Jack Sparrow be coded gay and discuss the homoerotic content of Lord of the Rings without batting an eye still can’t quite go there for 007. Maybe because he isn’t just a maleness icon but a heterosexuality icon. Part of the point, after all, is all the sex with “all those willing women.”
Back to misogyny. Our culture fears the swish. I think a butch lesbian would be more James Bond than a gay man, because the terror is of being “unmanned.”
Culture is so complicated…
Sure Bond is an icon of masculinity. But it’s acting, folks. Acting!
I just asked Mr. Shakes (who’s a Bond fanatic) how he’d feel about an openly gay actor playing James Bond. He looked at me like I was nuts. “I doon’t give a shite,” he replied. “That’s why it’s called acting.”
He started to walk away, and then added, “I joost want soomeoone good.”
Yeah, my husband’s reaction was similar to Mr. Shakes. And you know we’re Serious Bond People. I’ve also asked Mr. Bond (of the orange tabby variety) and he doesn’t seem to care either.
You may also be interested in this; a discussion of another Daniel Craig man-kiss.
Shakes, Mr. S. may be very pleased with Craig. The trailer and the buzz is excellent, and the guy’s a real actor. I was very anti-Craig to start with, but I’m getting converted.
Actualy I find it so sad that there are poor fellows who are so insecure with their sexuality that they are terrified of the idea of a gay playing James Bond.
Personally I think these silly fellows should realise by now that the only thing you have to do to be a man is to be born a boy and then to grow up.Of course for such people the second part might never happen.
It seems like homosexuality is only acceptable when it is staged for comedy or pornographic pleasure (think Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct). People are far more willing to accept straight actors playing gay roles than the opposite.
I think Rupert Everett would have made a very swanky Bond. Not a big Craig fan (yet), but willing to give him a chance. And totally agree about homophobia being a feminist (and a Pagan) issue.
And look at Rupert Everett; since he came out, he has had nothing but “gay friend” roles. The public seems to think he can’t “play straight” (as if gay actors haven’t done that for decades—Rock Hudson, anyone?).
I do think we have to get to the point of handsome gay actors like Everett playing straight in regular films before the public will trust them with iconic roles.
Fucking public.
BTW, I was not in favor of Everett for Bond. Too swanky in my opinion, too much the Roger Moore type, and too slight of build. We needed someone who could do dark and feral. I favored Hugh Jackman or Clive Owen, but I’m willing to give Craig a chance. He doesn’t look the type but he has the acting chops in abundance.
I don’t have a problem with a gay actor playing Bond. Just as long as they don’t have some gay guy playing Gandalf.
Joking, of course. The whole idea is just too silly for words. Mr. Shakes is right: that’s why they call it ‘acting’.
BTW, I was not in favor of Everett for Bond. Too swanky in my opinion, too much the Roger Moore type, and too slight of build. We needed someone who could do dark and feral.
The most interesting suggestion I’ve seen recently is Idris Elba (and if you don’t know who he is, you must watch The Wire–in fact, you must watch The Wire anyway–and keep in mind that despite his flawless American accent he’s actually a Brit), who I think would be fantastic: just the right combination of intelligence, cruelty, sophistication, brutality, and all-around cool. He’s also black, which a lot of people might have a problem with.
I think the next Bond should be 47 and look like Santa.
Well, both black and Santa would definitely sully the archetype. I’d rather Bond remained (or was restored to) the character Fleming created, who was a particular age, race, height, personality type, etc. Otherwise it’s just “plug in the action hero.”
We can talk about a gay actor playing a straight role, but, while I’m sure Idris Elba is talented, I don’t think he can play white. Persuasively. And if the producers decided to go in that direction Colin Salmon would be a much better choice and a fan favorite.
Joe did a lot of filming for the Wire.
And I don’t think Hugh is any less gay/slight than Rupert, but I understand this is a touchy subject for you.
Hey, slightly off-topic… I’m thinking Xander and Dawn get together in season 10.
Think about it.
(heh heh… slightly)
Actually, Barbara Broccoli (co-producer) said she rejected Hugh because he wasn’t masculine enough (code for “played gay on Broadway, sings, dances”).
Hugh is straight (unless you’re going to go for the wife is a beard argument) but apparently, playing a flamboyant fag is too gay for some people.
The world, she is weird.
Season TEN? Your depraved imagination filled in THREE YEARS?
Just enough to figure out that she’d come home from college and they’d have a moment.
She did always like him, after all, and he always got a little thrill from that.
and Huge’s quite a ‘mo.
HAHAHA I said Huge!
Huge is so not a ‘mo.
Huge’s wife is named Debora. I am so in there.