Themes In The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Queer Studies is a unique discipline, because it really questions the way that each person’s identity frames the way one perceives and views literature. Additionally, sexuality is often considered a private subject, but Queer Studies includes studying sensitive topics which is a reason that makes Queer Studies an interesting discipline. When reading the Queer Studies chapter of Robert Parker’s text, How to Interpret Literature, I could not help but think of the novel and film of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I find Perks to be groundbreaking in terms of representing the homophobic cultures that are found in America’s high schools. There are several instances where subject material can be applied to situations within the film, but I found cultural resistance to be prominent theme within the story. Sexual identity is a large aspect of adolescence. In the adolescent years of life, one has questions about their sex, sexuality, and sexual identity. Perks has scenes to display all of these questions, but homophobic ideas leading to cultural resistance is key point that caught my attention. Patrick, an outcast, is having homosexual relations with Brad within the story. Brad is the star quarterback of the football
Later, Brad is faced with either defending Patrick, or siding with his football teammates. Brad chooses the latter and this subsequently results in the queer bashing of Patrick by Brad’s teammates. Parker states that homosexual panic, “refers to the fear by people of uncertain sexuality that others might think they are lesbian or gay in a homophobic culture” (209). Could it be that Brad’s teammates were questioning their sexuality when they bashed Patrick? It can certainly be interpreted that way, seeing that Patrick was assumed as a gay man by the homophobic culture within the