UNC-CH and Duke seemed to have the same idea – using a film series to explore issues in LGBTQ studies. Their approaches are wildly different.
UNC’s film series, “Global Queer Cinema Film Series,” sponsored by the UNC Program in Sexuality Studies, takes its topic seriously. The films explore the serious tensions between gay communities and tradition, religion and culture around the world. Many of the films are documentaries, one of which chronicles the dangers of coming out in the developing world.
Duke’s approach seems to be to simply sensationalize and shock viewers. There’s even a disclaimer about the first film:
Due to the graphic nature of SHORTBUS, only viewers 18 years of age or older will be admitted.
Other films have titles like “Savage Nights” and “Wild Side.”
The film series’ sponsor, a student group called DukeOUT, hopes to “bring together” the LGBT community with its allies, but I’m not sure this near-pornographic film series is the way to do it. UNC’s approach seems like it would probably work better.
