WST2611 7 11 - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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Taught by Dr. Kelley in Summer B 2019
Analyzed - Short Story: “Territory” (1982) David Leavitt...

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WST2611: 7/11 Territory by David Leavitt Professor at UF Opening lines: Neil’s mother sits on lawn chair and she continues to move back into the shade Light foreshadowing “shining light” on the sex (motif): maybe there’s something we don’t know about her, “light” aka enlightenment - she wants to remain in the dark, she isn’t enlightened in terms of Neil’s sexuality His mother is very important - Mrs. Campbell, she’s formal, respectful to her, married Neil does the opposite, moving his towel into the light constantly - accepting of himself bathing in the light, despite his mother potentially not being accepting of him Moving away from the son vs moving toward the son (sun - play on words) Neil says cruel things about himself He is bringing home wayne, his boyfriend, home for the first time - he is nervous Coming out scene - dog dies, Neil comes out - back turned Afraid he disappointed her - parents absentmindedly put expectations on their children that reinforce heterosexuality “One day when you're married...” - straight privilege: less anxiety not having to come out as straight “It’s okay” - you’ve got a defect, but I’ll still accept you - projecting her own homophobia on her son - she thinks she is “woke” and not homphobic, but she is She is blind to how much she is hurting him - they mutually love each other Father is absent: Neil loves his mother and wants to make her proud but he cannot because of who he is, something he cannot change, he doesn’t do anything wrong, however She fails him: failing to say “Good. Cool.” and move on Self hatred: “He wonders if she would have given birth to him had she known what he would grow up to be.” - culture viewing homosexuality Dogs: symbolism - the dogs are all female dogs, the dogs are aggressive to Wayne - alpha girl dog Abby pees on Wayne - Airdale dogs when challended is not afraid to stand up for themselves, similar to Neil who is sweet but knows how to stand up for himself (perhaps he is the 4th dog of Mrs. Campbell) Dogs bark - waking Mrs. Campbell - “a darker dark” their eyes have to readjust - she has to realize her son is gay Darkness spirals down Acceptance in theory vs in practice: parade, president VS intertwined with another man “I lead a quiet life” - doesn’t fit in with her, I like to say I support my gay son but I don’t need to see it Luis is a dog groomer, attractive but repulsive - self hatred, assumes Luis is dirty bc he is gay Neil in the parade, Mrs. Campbell is proud, Bologna is “proud” but she is meaning the opposite You’re gay, my son is gay, don’t all you gays know each other? Neil’s mother sees Michael and his mother, jaw dropped - you can accept that?? “Speaking as a mother” she is Neil’s mother, not Michael’s

Making the assumption that being gay is bad, what does his mother have to be brave about? All she has to do is love - it takes a lot to be his mother, she has to be “brave” She judges Michael and thus falls onto her son In a homphobic culture: even if you’re accepting, not everyone will be - she is scared for how others will treat him - all the more reason to support him, be the grounding force for him making her son’s sexuality about herself (selfish, how are people going to see me) The Territory: Movie theater (towards the end): Neil puts his arm around Wayne (grabs his hand) and his mother (uncomfortable, light on screen on her face - she’s terrified) “I can only take so much” claims to be a good parent, but she sees him as flaunting, he wants her to accept him like she would a straight son Theory vs practice; selfish Guard yourself against “Mrs. Campbell moments” His love with Wayne could heal Neil - finding his own family - holding hands going home - fully into the light - making his own family “She is no longer the woman who hugged him and kissed him” (Leavitt 9) 1

“Later, she said to him, "Carmen Bologna really was proud, and, speaking as a mother, let me tell you, you have to be brave to feel such pride." Neil was never proud.” (Leavitt 17) 2

“"I lead a quiet life," she says. "I don't want to be a disciplinarian. I just don't have the energy for these - shenanigans.” (Leavitt 20) 1

His mother argues with Neil that she is not equipt to have a do deal with the “shenanigans” Neil gets himself into because he is gay, explaining that she "lead[s] a quiet life," and she doesn’t want be a “disciplinarian” (Leavitt 20). Neil, however, is a grown man and doesn’t need to be disciplined by his mother like a child would....