Toy Story 3 Toys With Homophobia
by Dana Rudolph July 09, 2010 11:57 AM (PT)

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/emtoy_story_3em_toys_with_homophobia

I took my son to see Toy Story 3 the other day. I've always loved the franchise — and Pixar films in general are cleverer than the average kids' fare. I was happy with one point about gender that the latest installment showed — but I was also disappointed that it resorted to what could be seen as old LGBT-phobic gags.

snip

The treatment of Ken (as in "Barbie and Ken"), however, was for me very troubling.

The movie plays Ken — depending on how you read it — either as the ultimate metrosexual, obsessed with fashion and in love with Barbie, or as a closeted gay man or transgender person.

Quote from: perlita85 on July 10, 2010, 09:39:13 AMSo what is wrong with Ken being metro, Homo, or trans? or in love with Barbie or obssed with fashion?  Perhaps you can describe your ideal Ke sould Pixar had consulted you!!!

I can see that she would be disturbed if they are playing it for laughs, which they seem to be doing. But I haven't seen the movie, and I'm not likely to. I didn't see the first twelve Toy Story movies.

I just read that article, and I think the author is making a mountain out of a molehill. It seems to me she is reading way too much into it, and taking the films imagery far too seriously.

As George Carlin once said, "anything can be made funny, it all just depends on how far the exaggeration is." There's a difference between simple humor and malicious intent, but many take them as the same thing.

I think the author needs to relax and just laugh at the movie, as I don't think it's intended to be seen as a serious social commentary.

~April~

Quote from: AprilDawn on July 10, 2010, 10:08:21 AMI think the author needs to relax and just laugh at the movie, as I don't think it's intended to be seen as a serious social commentary.

Heh. All movies are serious social commentary in one way or another, even if they don't know it.