The staged reading of Beyond Brokeback has been accepted by the 15th Annual Matthew Shepard Symposium on Social Justice at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, April 6-9. This is a wonderful honor.
Because these programs are workshops, the scale won't be on the level of the... Autry, but still very potent
Those who wish to come to Laramie can register on the symposium website. We are booked for the afternoon of April 8th.
http://www.shepardsymposiu
In "Beyond Brokeback: The Impact of a Film," journalist Dave Cullen and the members of an online forum have fashioned together a valuable and illuminating collection that proves testament to the very impact "Brokeback" had on so many lives. This anthology of intensely personal stories, selected from contributions to the forum, offer illuminating commentary on the impact of Annie Proulx's unforgettable story and Ang Lee's landmark film. The deeply personal approach speaks to fans of the film and story alike. And in doing so, further exposes the poison of "the closet," as well as its destructive, far-reaching effects on society as a whole.
These stories of regret, loneliness, sexual conformity and hidden truths harbored are intensely personal, and do perhaps more to sting your heart. They feature their own distinct experiences, views, and voices and are impossible to shake. While some prove deeply uplifting, in others there lies a sense of hopelessness that leaves scars. We come to see what many have withstood and what they have given up and it is inescapably heartbreaking. These voices tangibly remind us, through stories of real life hardships and life altering reactions, that both literature and film can reverberate our own emotional struggles through art. "Beyond Brokeback" is sheer testament to it.
http://www.amazon.com/Beyo
