The Butch Factor (2009)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Sadly Over-hyped

A Masterpiece!

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

A construction worker. A cop. A cowboy. Some leathermen. Mercifully, they stopped short of involving a Native American in this exercise in defining different aspects of masculinity. A lot of generalizations, not many specifics. I stayed with it the whole way, but I didn't come away with any new insights.

I have a problem with people who leave overly negative reviews about documentaries. The simple reason being that people do not seem to know what a documentary is supposed to accomplish. Documentaries are not objective narratives, structurally. Documentaries are essays. They present a thesis statement, support that thesis with background research, present the supporting evidence and draw a conclusion from that thesis based on the evidence presented. The ultimate arbiter of the success of this argument is the viewing public. Objective narrative is still only the province of journalism and tax reviews. If you feel you did not see enough support of "the other side" you are watching the wrong film. In a few words, "The Butch Factor" was excellent. I have shared this film with many people to see their reactions and this will really touch off a lot of discussion to hash out next time you are at the pub. As to the film itself, I was at first a little put-off by the hyper-kinetic feel of the film, but it settles down quickly and looks at the recent "discovery" that gay men can be gay and masculine at the same time. Or more to the point, "The Butch Factor" wants to start people talking about what does it mean to be masculine as a gay man. What does that even mean in a larger context when the majority culture judge gay men, by definition, as less "manly" than any straight man just for being gay?It is a fact that masculinity is prized in N.American culture over femininity in men. So I was initially concerned that the conclusion of the film would be that one is better than the other. That does not happen at all. In fact the TRUE meaning of the conclusion of "The Butch Factor" is the part that will start all the best pub arguments.I was relieved by the amount of respect that was shown for feminine gay men by the other interviewees. Presenting as a masculine male allowed many of these men to avoid the pitfalls and outrages that happen to us growing up; for more feminine men, passing was impossible. Often the more "butch" men in the film say how the feminine men they have known are tougher, more resilient men for being who they are and that message was gratifying to hear. One interview subject, who presents as feminine brought up the fact that gay men's defensive use of caustic wit and flippancy is "often put on as a mask that protected them from being hurt growing up and too often we take that to our community and turn our ammunition on each other." It was a refreshingly honest answer and one that more people need to hear in the community. Was this a flawless documentary? No, there were many points they could have fleshed out more that seemed to zip right by, but on the whole it was a quick, fun and thought-provoking documentary, one that I recommend and one that also wants me to seek out more of Chris Hines work.

Who gets to define maleness, anyway? In the United States, many think that to be masculine, one must be heterosexual. You're tough, athletic, a bass or baritone, and ruggedly individualistic. If not, once you hit middle school, you just might get hurt."I was labeled a faggot before I knew I was gay," says one young man who got bullied straight out of elementary school. Ironically, perhaps, it's such abused souls who may know best what it is to be a man. As someone quoted in this program points out, the ostracized must learn to "stand alone and be strong." This program also examines femininity, guy-style. We learn that girlish behaviors often trigger violent responses in hetero males and that effeminate guys must be hyper-vigilant to attack -- even in a gay-friendly town like San Francisco.As a hetero woman in my 50s, I found this show sensitized me to topics I hadn't considered before. Helpful viewing.

It's a challenging undertaking to examine "the butch factor" as it relates to gay men, and the filmmakers have done an OK job. They interview all kinds of gay men: guys who play football, rugby, guys involved in rodeo, and other stereotypical masculine pursuits. This is balanced somewhat by interviews with "feminine" men. Also included are interviews with sociologists and others who study masculinity and gay culture.However, the "movie" has an "E channel" look and feel. Lots of gratuitous shots of chests, butts, etc. Is this a documentary, or is it selling itself as fun to watch?