English 100: College Writing Study Notes for Dead Poets Society: Disclaimers and Textual Incoherences Hysterical Text: Repressed sexual content that manifests itself through the “textual incoherences” and disclaimers in the film. The work requires a close “reading” of the semiotic signs to interpret their systematic significance. DCS items in red font. Textual Incoherences: Disclaimers: Text, scenes, characters, dialogue, and actions that exist Duplicitous meanings; these point to the subtle instances to reassure the viewer that we are watching a film about of homosexuality that viewers can typically locate only male heterosexuality. These moments in the film tend to by looking “beneath” the text, by “lifting up” the obvious be on the surface, blatant, deliberately obvious. plot line and looking underneath and interpreting what the signs mean. These, obviously, are not blatant nor on the surface.  Neil wants to play the role of Puck (a “fairy”) in A  Knox’s pursuit of a romantic relationship with Chris Midsummer Night’s Dream  Charlie brings a nude centerfold to the first DPS cave  Charlie brings Gloria and Tina to the third cave meeting; reads a poem “about women”; most of the boys seem fascinated by the nude image because they meeting; changes his name to Nuwanda (New Wanda) are “poking” at the image with their flashlights (phallic  Radio scene: Meeks and Pitts are dancing, holding symbols) hands  Mr. Keating’s photograph of a women on his desk  “what will your verse be”—Keating looks at Neil, and Neil smiles.  Party that Knox attends o guys and girls making out with each other  Neil’s reaction to the thought of Gloria and Tina o Knox consumes hard liquor with 2 football “jocks” joining the DPS o Knox caresses Chris’ hair and kisses her forehead  Significance of the pipes, cigarettes, the saxophone o Chet beats Knox as a sign of protecting Chet’s (phallic symbols) “possession”, as a sign of male jealousy, and  What yonic symbols exist? (images that are concave) Chet’s dominance  ‐‐the cave  Charlie invites girls to the cave (3rd cave scene)  ‐‐the ash tray in the Perry’s house—what’s in the ash  Keating’s writing a letter, presumably to the woman tray?—cigarettes whose image sits on her desk  The inverted V scene at the end of the movie  Charlie writes article in school newspaper about  Mr. Nolan tells Charlie to “assume the position” as allowing girls to attend Welton Academy; he also Nolan administers corporal punishment. (submission acknowledges the article when he accepts the call to male authority‐‐sadomasochistic scene) from God  Mr. Nolan thrusts fountain pen at Todd to sign his  Neil’s father informs Neil that he’ll be attending the name nearby Braden Military Academy  Neil wants to tell his father how he “feels” (not  Family photo reinforces a traditional heterosexual how/what he “thinks”) family (nuclear family) with mother, father, son  “Chris” is an androgynous name  The boys write (read/recite) poems about girls  Keating keeps a picture of Walt Whitman in front of  Keating says we use language to “woo women” the classroom  Chris always wears a pink blouse  Keating identifies with W.W. in the familiar form  Charlie masculinizes the red lipstick so that he can (uncle) wear it as war paint  Tossing of desk set signifies that Todd’s parents don’t  Charlie seems to be the alpha male (he has the larger “know” him; signifies first time Todd is taking control pipe as represented by the saxophone) of his identity; Neil says the desk set “wants to fly”;  flying represents freedom from restraints  Neil’s suicide might represent a gay person not being able to deal with the outside world not accepting him 