LGBTQfilmstudy

Introduction

Similar to other class activities this term, this page will contain a detailed analysis of a novel or film that holds significant and influential commentary on sexuality, gender roles, and mental illness. In this case, the chosen source is both a film and a novel; Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (aka Perks) explores how all of the above intertwine in young people’s lives to create hardship, intimacy, and opportunities to grow as they strive to emerge into self-actualized adulthood. The film was especially well-received for its ability to connect to a large population of young adults and bring them along on an ultimately happy coming-of-age story that didn’t shy away from nor glamorize the sheer depths of the ubiquitous, yet devastating, teenage struggles that often leave life-long scars. For this reason, it serves as an excellent resource for delving deeper into the media portrayal of mental illness within and surrounding youth LGBTQ social groups, and for how such portrayal can either help or hinder development of widespread acceptance and assimilation of such groups.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Plot Summary of Perks of Being a Wallflower

The story follows the quiet, observant, passive, heterosexual protagonist Charlie through his first year of high school, which begins soon after the suicide of his best and only friend, Michael, and the resulting psychiatry sessions for Charlie that followed. Also, latently impacting the young student is the death of his favourite Aunt Helen in his childhood years, which causes depression and a lack of social connection. Initially through pity and later through mutual admiration, Charlie is befriended by an openly gay male senior student, Patrick, and Patrick’s same-aged step-sister Sam, who Charlie gradually develops sexual attraction towards.

While navigating his new friendships and old familial issues, namely an absent mentor-like older brother and a sister involved in an abusive relationship, Charlie begins to realize that he relies on others for experiences and that he is a spectator in his own life. Multiple depressive episodes coinciding with separation from his new friend group are intersected by stretches of growth, emergence, and learning for Charlie, as he helps Patrick cope with a reluctantly gay jock boyfriend (Brad) and Sam with a past and present of self-destructive relationships. Highlights include Charlie stepping in and breaking up a beat-down of Patrick at the hands of Brad’s football teammates following their relationship ending and being experimentally kissed by Patrick in an effort to climb out of his state of crushing loneliness.

Near the end of his school year, Charlie deals with severe anxiety at the prospect of his friends all leaving post-graduation, which culminates in a sexual encounter with Sam that evokes vivid flashbacks leading to the realization that his beloved Aunt Helen consistently molested him as a child. The novel ends on a positive note, explaining that after a violent mental event caused by this recovered trauma that left Charlie hospitalized for weeks, he has found acceptance for Patrick and Sam’s new schedule and that he will begin to participate more actively in his life, ending his phase as a wallflower.

Mental Health

The three main characters of Perks cover such a wide range of mental issues and illnesses that the vast majority of its audience can relate to at least one of their stories, either personally or through a close friend or family member, which allows the message of the film to reach as wide a circle as any social education program. Sam has consistently put herself into unhealthy relationships with men who degrade her and it’s implied she was sexually assaulted prior to the events of Perks. Patrick struggles with drug and alcohol abuse as a way of coping with the stress of being queer, unwanted by his romantic partner, and liable to swing into depressive states. Charlie suffered childhood molestation and the suicide of his closest companion, which causes depression, anxiety, and occasional episodes of traumatic flashbacks and “out-of-body” experiences. These characters and the storyline they lead are designed to pull the audience in, to display some of the common hardships faced by teenagers, all with the purpose of showing in the final minutes or chapters that friendship, community, and time can conquer most mental and social obstacles.

The most vitally important aspect of the story as an inspirational resource is how viewers are dragged down along with the characters they empathize with into the raw, painful depths of loss, betrayal, and isolation prior to the happy ending. Helicopter parenting, referring to parents shielding their children from anything too real, too adult, is a phenomenon far too prevalent in Western society that prevents young people maturing. The stubbornly pink and positive theme of breast cancer; the euphemisms used in place of words like death, abortion, and disabilities; and the general PG-13-ness of Western speech, media, and culture are all examples of detrimentally hiding youth from real world situations that would cause growth and resilience. Perks is so compelling because of its willingness to portray symptoms and impacts of mental illness as close to reality as possible. Young people suffering or learning about mental health need to see what it genuinely looks and feels like in order to understand and accept their own individual challenges, and Perks provides just that.

LGBTQ Culture

Perks uses a small-scale, limited-character portrayal of the trials caused by being either a social outcast, queer, or both to create an unquestionably positive atmosphere of acceptance within the story. While being a somewhat common trope of one openly queer person engaged with one hiding their sexuality, Patrick’s tentative and eventually unsuccessful relationship with Brad explores the themes of social hierarchy, stereotypes, and perceived shame. While Patrick is flamboyant, into theatre and alternative music, and fully comfortable displaying his sexuality, Brad falls into the opposite jock and tough male from a traditional family stereotype. He remains guilty of being gay throughout the story, which eventually leads him into a metaphorical ruin at the hands of shame, loneliness, and suppressed emotions, evidenced by his attempts for romantic intimacy with strangers after separating from Patrick. While not the focal point of the story, Brad’s decline serves as a warning and a call to action to viewers to not accept parental or societal oppression. In contrast, while Patrick experiences the same lows, he is buoyed by his support network, further emphasizing how solidarity is the best solution for isolation and otherness.

It is also worthwhile to discuss Patrick’s character himself, because he is the story’s primary link to real LGBTQ audience. He is portrayed as a thoroughly stereotypical gay man; feminine, emotionally expressive, and looked at differently by his peers. Interestingly, he has no unique traits that make him a compelling character; the audience isn’t forced to connect with him due to something like bravery in the face of a chronic illness or pity after an undeserved wrong. Instead, Patrick is merely a likeable, relatable young adult who acts as an everyman, giving any person, LGBTQ or otherwise, a role model to learn from, which is a powerful distinction between Perks and many other pop culture portrayals of queer characters.

Extension to Real-World Youth Development

The Perks of Being a Wallflower provides both impressionable youth and nostalgic or self-improving adults with a template for understanding and accepting mental illness, LGBTQ culture, and social hardship. Similar to how the film The Breakfast Club is considered an informative masterpiece regarding social segregation and the film Juno created progressive conversation about abortions, Perks and its diverse range of characters offer a compelling argument that actively partaking in supporting relationships can help any type of person overcome any type of problem. It also helps normalize LGBTQ sexuality by creating characters who are likeable for their personalities alone and don’t need the tag of minority or oppressed to invoke support.

Since the film’s release in 2012, the range of content with similar messages has grown exponentially. The novel and subsequent television series 13 Reasons Why is one such offering that speaks towards bullying and suicide, while LGBTQ characters are commonplace in nearly all new film productions. Popular media has more influence on young adults than ever before, and this progression towards gender and sexuality equality is more important than ever as a result. While all of the social rights messages are inspirational and effectively shown in the film, the true beauty and value of Perks is in its accurate, heartbreaking, and relevant portrayal of human hardship, loneliness, grief, and subsequent triumph. Above all else, young people need to see that they are not alone in their struggles, for nothing is as all-consuming as one’s own problems.

Resources for Mental Health and LGBTQ

Bell Lets Talk Canada- https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/

Pflag Canada- https://pflagcanada.ca/resources/

Crisis Services Canada- http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/