Love Exploring the complexity of love through film By Tyson Koury

1. Love Exploring the complexity of love through film By Tyson Koury

2. LoveShow Spelled [luhv] noun, verb, loved, lov·ing. 1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. 2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. 3. sexual passion or desire. The main purpose of this PowerPoint presentation is to analyze the themes of 3 specific films: Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Juno and Brokeback Mountain. • Vicky Cristina Barcelona • Polyamory • Marriage • Dating • Sexuality • Brokeback Mountain • Homosexuality • Self-Acceptance/ • Self-Acknowledgement • Juno • Teen Pregnancy • Adolescent Love/ • Relationships • Contraception

3. Vicky Cristina Barcelona Marriage: The film focuses specifically on 3 types of marriages. The long-term and seemingly “stable” marriage of Mark and Judy. The young and idealistic marriage of Vicky and Doug and the passionate ex-marriage of Maria Elena and Juan Antonio. The film analyzes 3 completely different types of relationships within marriage and discusses issues such as: Polyamory, co-habitation, sexual exploration, & extramarital relationships. Vicky & Doug The relationship and soon to be marriage of Vicky and Doug seems perfectly planned and balanced, but their high and idealistic expectations lead them to disappointment. Vicky and Doug’s relationship depends on the structure and detail that gives them both a sense of stability and balance. When Vicky is forced to spend the weekend alone with the passionate and spontaneous Juan Antonio she is lets go of her structured and meticulous ways and gives into passion. Her sexual encounter with Juan Antonio leads Vicky to doubt her marriage to Doug and to ask herself what she truly wants.

4. Maria Elena & Juan Antonio “We are meant for each other yet we are not meant to be together” - Juan Antonio The film explores the ex-marriage of two individuals who are entangled by their passion and art yet torn apart by their equally passionate volatile outburst that enable them to get along. The relationship between Juan Antonio and Maria Elena is one of passion, lust and love, however; these seemingly fundamental and necessary aspects of a loving and sexual relationship are not enough to keep the two lovers in harmony with one another.

5. The long-term marital relationship between Judy and Mark seems stable and mature but the film exposes the reality of their relationship as one that was once began due to love but has slowly lost its charm and remained simply because of the time they have devoted to one another and because of the commodities they share. Judy & Mark Sexuality & Dating Nearly every character in the film explores their sexuality in one way or another in the film. Dating provides the freedom and the possibility for this to happen. Some find extreme satisfaction and pursue their sexuality further and others are left with a feeling of guilt. This guilt typically happens when sexuality is explored outside of a committed relationship.

6. Polyamory Is defined in the textbook as, “Multiple consensual sexual relationships of trios, groups of couples, and intentionally created families that emphasize emotional commitment.” This type of relationship is explored by Cristina, Juan Antonio and Maria Elena. The relationship seems to satisfy all 3 members equally and it creates a harmony and balance that enables Juan Antonio and Maria Elena to be together. Although the relationship is gratifying to all its members Cristina soon realizes that it is not the type of relationship she wants to be a part of forever and after her departure things return to their previous condition with Maria Elena and Juan Antonio.

7. Juno This film analyzes adolescent love and sexuality, adolescent pregnancy & contraception. The film begins with the outcome of adolescent love and sexual exploration due to a lack of contraceptive use by the young couple. The film portrays the relationship of the young teens as they struggle to deal with the consequences of their actions. The film clearly portrays the hardships endured by the teenagers, particularly the young woman, Juno. The film ends with the most difficult choice of all, giving the baby up. The film explores the life of an adolescent dealing with an unwanted pregnancy and places a strong emphasize on the importance of contraception use among teens.

8. Brokeback Mountain This film deals with the journey of self-acknowledgement and self-acceptance of two homosexual individuals as they explore and discover their sexuality. The film also deals with the lack of tolerance and the struggles that they must endure because of the negative stigma that society places on homosexuality. The film shows the difficulty of self acknowledgement of each individual and coming to terms with their sexuality and accepting themselves for who they are.

9. Homosexuality The films main theme deals with the struggle of two homosexual lovers due to the intolerance and lack of acceptance of their society. They struggle to reject and fight their romantic and sexual urges for one another in order to remain as accepted members of their society as well as due to fear for their lives. The lack of acceptance of their sexuality by their community leads them to create lives for themselves that fit societies construction of a normal loving relationship. This creates an unfair and painful life for both these men, their wives and their children. The negative effects of a community and society that has no tolerance for any other type of sexuality and love other than what is deemed “normal” are very clearly seen in this film.

10. Human Sexuality The films all differ from one another drastically some discuss teenage pregnancy and contraception, homosexuality and even Polyamory. Yet the films all share two important concepts the exploration of sexuality and the concept of love. The films explore and analyze different relationships that portray the versatility of love and of human sexuality. All 3 films are able to establish a complex and unique concept of love, sexuality and relationships. The films help to establish important concepts covered in the book by applying them to realistic situations and giving examples and portrayals of these concepts. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Brokeback Mountain & Juno all explore the sexuality of different individuals and the wide variety of relationships that can be formed. Ultimately the films lead the viewer to see the versatility of human sexuality and the complexity of love.