Maybe I'm not reading enough into this

[tinpra]

But this op-ed article in CNN about the modern, secular flavor of Halloween having its roots in a specific aspect/timeframe of gay culture doesn't seem to be picking on homosexuals...or anyone. Yet if I were to believe the comments, the author is purposely targeting homosexuals in a negative way. I think the commentators are reading too much into this, but I'm willing to be wrong if someone can point out how. I mean, what if the article were "Rock n' roll craze started in Black culture" and all the other points of the article went into detail about what the music scene had been before Black influences, the worldwide growth of rock, its roots in Black culture (particularly a certain time and place in Black culture), and the subsequent "forgetting" of same by non-Black culture, would that article be considered anti-Black? I don't think so. Informative, but not anti- anything. Which is how I read this article as it stands.

On the other hand, I'd like to note that I often find the commentators on CNN articles to be off the wall.

But, seriously, I'd like people's own reactions.

Comments

[jaguarx13.livejournal.com]

I don't see the article as picking on homosexuals either, but I think the theory that modern halloween is the result of gays making it more mainsteam and the straights followed is a bunch of nonsense. But what do I know, I'm pagan :P

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

Ha!

I do wonder why he made the correlation... Actually, I was going to post something asking flisters and passers-by why they celebrate Halloween if, unlike you and at least one other person on my list, there's no religious purpose behind it. And this came along and sorta gave an answer if why.

[jaguarx13.livejournal.com]

I have to say, it's one of the strangest hypotheses I've seen, lol.

[wrenel.livejournal.com]

An interesting if odd article. And I think he's off base. From entertainment articles in old womens magazines and theme-party tips from an old book (alas, now purged as clutter), I know that "straight" adults were enjoying Halloween from at least the 1950's: dressing up as pirates, gypsies, and various other costumes; serving spooky foods and treats; dressing up as a fortune teller and reading guests' palms or giving out faux fortunes via crystal ball; playing creepy parlor games and telling spooky stories; etc. I have no problem giving credit where credit is do, but I really think the modern adult Halloween industry has less to do with the gay subculture and more to do with marketing more and more junk to nostalgic boomers. Besides, with so many fantastic science fiction and horror movies to feed our collective imaginations, coupled with technical expertise in a costume industry that just didn't exist on such a large scale a few decades back, we just have so many more options than showing up as hobo, a cow poke, or half of a horse.

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

This makes a whole lot more sense than the guy's gay-theorizing. Besides, if you had the choice of dressing up like a horse's behind and dressing up like a modern peacock (http://www.costumesupercenter.com/womens+costumes-humorous/7691M-peacock-adult-costume.html) I'd totally be a peacock :D

[wrenel.livejournal.com]

Now that is a really cute costume!

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

Isn't it!