The significant beginning of progressive inclusion of queer themes in film found its start in the 1940’s; not in the mainstream media but rather through low-tiered, independent filmmakers, such as 17-year-old Kenneth Anger, who created the homoerotic film ‘Fireworks’ (1947) in his parent’s home. The film stars Anger as he explores themes of homosexuality through a dream-like state of consciousness, using images and context with implications to the United State Navy and Fourth of July. Outside of those involved in the community, the film was labeled as “obscene” and “lewd” due to its themes and inevitably led to Anger’s arrest after it’s release, and a lawsuit filed against manager Raymond Rohauer of the Coronet Theatre (where ‘Fireworks’ was first screen). Despite the backlash of the film, it is claimed as one of the first to open the door to a new …show more content…
This new wave came to its peak during the late fifties and into the sixties, with more and more predominantly homoerotic independent films being released. It enabled the community through providing representation and identification to characters and stories that during the time were rare to find (a given, since homosexuality was still considered to be an illegal offense in a majority of the country). Andy Warhol’s 1964 ‘Blowjob’ became one of the iconic films to the culture during that decade; the 35-minute silent film features only a single scene of a man’s face as he receives fellatio. The significance of the piece is that it takes the audience members out of a traditional viewing mindset, leaving as much imagery up to the minds of the audience as possible, and while it is not the first of this style, it still stands as one of the