As another blogger already posted, I too investigated the recommended The Brandon Teena Story (1998) of Netflix. Director Susan Muska chronicles the real footage and story of Teena Brandon. Watching the documentary absolutely reaffirmed the actors accurate portrayals of the real people involved. Little things all the way down to how the actors/actresses dressed and reacted.

But what really left me conflicted was the actions of Brandon. In the Brenda Cooper article, she is arguing that Boys Don’t Cry (1999) the film rewrites/challenges the heteronormative narrative through 4 channels (dismantling the myth of “America’s heartland”, problematizing heteromasculinity, centering female masculinity [instead of heteromasculinity], and blurring the boundaries of female masculinity). I can see how one could take that stance and argue it but, how do the masses respond to a movie like this. My real interest sparked when I thought about the specific decision and responsiblity the director had to make Boys Don’t Cry. The image of Brandon Teena was not a golden one: he forged checks, drank, flirted with any girl, smoked, etc. Being that this was a breakout film, what image did that lend to the national uncovering of transexuals? or even the midwestern part of the states? The conflict is…was this the story that should have brought attention to this social crisis.

( I will be adding to this post, stay tuned lol)