Realism and Intersection

            In class, Dr. J asked us if we thought that this story was much different than a story about a white teenager coming out, and I’d like to discuss that more. At first I thought it wasn’t that different – many of the other aspects of this movie, like marital problems, happen across races. However, I think Pariah differs significantly from comparable white stories in two ways, namely the issues of intersecting oppressions and its lack of romanticization.

            Oftentimes in bildungsroman stories with white characters, whether focused on LGBTQ issues or not, are shown through a hazy lens that glorifies being a teenager. Many of them are set in the summer and involve amusement parks and/or jobs with eccentric characters, and are neatly resolved at the end – see Edge of Seventeen and The Way Way Back. While these movies are nice and fun and make coming out and other issues easy to swallow, the realism Pariah provides is important for people who are really dealing with these issues, and it does so without sacrificing humorous moments or good writing. In class, someone expressed that they felt this could be based on a true story, and from Alex’s post we can see that it is indeed semi-autobiographical.
           The intersection of race, gender, and class with sexual orientation also sets Pariah apart. While it’s certainly not impossible to have a movie about a white working-class teen coming out, I have yet to see this representation. Laura’s struggle with bills as well as the representation of young Black female sexuality in different aspects are very important representations that needed to be added to the conversation. Lupita Nyong’o has spoken many times about how seeing Black women in movies made her believe for the first time that she could be an actress. This is only one example of the hope media representation can give people, and it is likely that Pariah has reaffirmed validity and a sense of community for people who face multiple intersecting oppressions.

            Has anyone seen any coming out films about a white character who is disabled, poor, or has other intersecting oppressions? Is Pariah the first of its kind? Do you think this more realistic portrayal is important or is the John Green genre just as valid?